Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-04-23
[From the Springfield Advertiser. April a2d j
GREAT Excl EENIENTi
Escape of the T1ertzIer murderers /,


Escape of the HertzIer Murderers!
At 8 40 last night persons casually walk
ing the streets, as is their wont on a fine
evening like last proved to Se, could not
but have their attention attracted by groups
OF men, in serious deliberation, standing on
various corners of the streets. This at first
led to surprise, and this again turned into
curiosity. These were both supplemented
in very few minutes by the ringing OF
the Court House, City Hall and fire bells.
our attention being attracted by the un-
usual state of things prevailing, we, on in
quiry, were informed that the jail had
been broken, and that five prisoners
had escaped. We soon ascertained that
these were Henry G. Roberts and Charles
Scott, the alleged murderers of the late Mr..
Hertzler, two persons awaiting trial on a
charge OF passing counterfeit money, and
another unknown.
Further inquiries at short time subse-
quent placed us in possession of informa-
ton enabling us to give more particular
account OF how the prisoners escaped, and
to be more concise in their names.
AS our readers are aware, the Jail is a
building having its front entrance on High
street. 1t consists OF two tiers of compart-
ments, consisting of three each, and run
ming north and south, and having a gallery
running the entire length of the building.
AS the visitor enters the jail, the compart-
ment occupied bv Scott and others, is the
second one to the right, to which an en-
trance is effected by the east hall. The cell
to the right of his is occupied by Mrs.
Moorehouse. The compartment to the north
of Mrs. Moorehouse was tenanted by Rob-
erts Ito be tried this morning.; Pope, also
mixed up in the Hertzler murder; Shoai
and Crowd, convicted few days ago OF
larceny.
Mrs. Moorehouse has for the last few days
complained of sickness, and out of consid.
Grafton to her sex, and believing her sick
ness to be real, and not feigned, the door OF
the compartment in which she is confined
was left open.
Between the compartments occupied by
Scott and others and Mrs. Moorehouse. is a
grating for the purposes of ventilation
(These compartments it will be understood
lie east and west) Between the compart-
ments occupied by Mrs. Moorehouse and
Roberts, Cloud and Shoaf. dying south and
north) although no regular grating, there
appears to have been slight opening
which the prisoners further increased tc
accomplish their purpose.
Mrs. Moorehouse's compartment, then
was converted into means of escape from
Roberts on the north, and Scott's on the
east; and the door communicating with
her compartment and the west hall being
left open, and upon Sheriff Albin's brother
going I'd Close IL, ScOLC, h0DerCS, ClOuO
Thomas Boyle and John Devlin, imprison
ed for robbing the till of Houghton 6 Dun
lap, rushed upon him and effected their es.
cape.
1t Is rather remarkable that Cloud, Rob.
ers and Pope being in the same compart.
ments, Cloud and Roberts escaped and Pope
did not
Mrs. Sheriff Albin, having her attention
attracted by the disturbance, valiently at
tempted to prevent the escape of the crimi.
nails, but was knocked down, and we are
glad to say, though slightly not seriously
injured.
AT 2:30 A. NJ, there are no reports of the
detection of any of the prisoners. Sheriff
Albin is using his best eXertions, and is il
hopes that the judicious disposal of the
force of special constables placed at hi:
command, will insure their re-arrest. These
special constables, which in number
amount to some two score, are now acting
as scouts in the woodland, in the vicinity
to which tits supposed the fugitives have
| taken for refuge, in hopes of ultimate
escape from the hand of Justice. Whether
they be picked up or Lot, we cannot bu
tender our thanks to Sheriff Albin for hi
courtesy and all information at his com.
mand.