The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-26
GREAT EXCITEMENT in ROCK
ISLAND.
TIE SHERIFF THRUST INTO A
PRISON CELL AND FASTEEED
THERE.
A MURDERER ANDA HORSE THIEF
ESCAPE.
The Fire Bells Rung.

Aur QIs1SAS036tS AasJ W NAASAAStS sh~ &s&Stutt~s
from Jail, in this city, of q noted female
thief under circumstances which unmistaka-
bly, indicated that she owed her good fortune
either TO the potent power of greenbacks
well applied, or TO the criminal carelessness
and incompeteney of Sheriff Peetz. Out of
charity we have been disposed to harbor the
latter idea. We are again called upon to
give the particulars of q still more aggravas-
ed case, which SO plainly proves that every
moment our present sheriff retains his posi-
ton, he does 30 at the peril of the public,
that we feel no hesitancy in declaring that
his immediate removal would be an act Of
prudence and necessity. But without COM
ment We prefer to give the facts to the pub
lie just as they are, and leave our readers to
Judge for themselves.
Several VIGOROUSLY desperate men have
been in confinement at the Jail for some
time past, charged with the worst of crimes,
awaiting their trials, and it has been well
known to our sheriff that they have been on
the qui cipe for the remotest chance of an
es cape, having no hope of a legal evasion of
the laws. In fact, one of them had declar-
ed that to gain his liberty, he would not
hesitate at the commission Of any deed, and
that the taking of q life would not be re-
Trained from, if necessary to accomplish his
purpose. Sheriff Peetz complains, with
some cause, that too much indulgence has
been extended to them in admitting every
pretext for postponement Of their trials,
and consequent multiplication of their
chances to escape.
To give proper idea of the manner in
which the escapes of last night were made,
we should state that each cell is provided
with two doors, the inner one composed of
heavy iron CRATES, and the outside one of
iron plating with no apertures, completely
closing up the cell. When both doors are
closed, the prisoners complain loudly of q
lack of ventilation, especially in warm
to shut the CRATE door in the evening, and
the outside one at later hour. At about
half past eleven o'clock on Monday evening,
his family having retired for the night, and
also Deputy Payne, Sheriff Peetz entered
the quarters of the prisoners for the purpose
of closing the outside doors we have men
toned. On closing the grated door which
prevents egress from the prison into the
quarters of the family, Peetz locked it, and
left the Key in the lock. On approaching
the second cell, with a paddock in one hand
and bundle of keys in the other. he saw
Elisha Renshaw peering through the CRATES,
and twisting his very light moustache in a
careless manner. Peetz swung the outside
door half way shut, when Renshaw, and
Homer Marvin, his cell mate, flung both
doors open, seized Peetz, pushed him inside,
shut both doors, and fastened the outside
one by showing a stick through staple
Peetz immediately commenced crying fire. p
murder" etc., and rafting on the door, but
On account of his close confinement was IN
able to create much of an uprosr. Renshaw
and Marvin then took the keys, and attempt
ed to hberate FL. P. Louis, one of the lie
Claire burglars, and Thomas Stevens, q
horse thief They had The proper key, but
the noise the sheriff made, and suspicious
sounds outside the prison excited them to
such an extent that they were unable to IN.
lock the door, and hastened to secure their
own flight before detected. On unlocking
the CRATE door into the front hall, where
Peetz left the key in the lock, they rushed
out into the hall, TO find Mrs. Peetz with a
heavy Colt revolver on the stairs, with a
servant girl behind her. She was unable TO
cock the weapon, and complied with their
demand that she should Immediately return
to her room. The two prisoners then en-
tered the dining room, carrying the Jail key
with them. They also helped themselves to
q silk-mixed cashmere coat belonging to
the sheriff, in pocket Of which was six
shooter. Passing through the kitchen they
gained the yard, climbed upon the shed, as
Mrs. schwenker did, dropped over the fence,
and fed, thus avoiding the danger of being
discovered by going ont upon the side
walk BY the front door. s-a-s -s
Mr.. Peetz shortly succeeded in rousi ag
suceor, when the fire bells were very fool
isifiy rung, no doubt to the great gratifca-
ton of the fugitives, as they could desire
nothing better than to have the streets filed
with people. A faint effort at pursuit was
attempted, but resulted in nothing. Marvin
and Renshaw must have had some outside
assistance. By means of some delicate and
hnely wrought instrument, they had sawed
through screw in the bolt of the inner
aoor' which opens in the middle like hinge.
Inc pieces dropped to the floor, and, with
.his screw Out, they could shove the bolt
backward and forward at will. 1t seems
that they had no desire to injure the sheriff,
and made no attempt At unnecesssrv vim
leTlee Fs 90 s
Homer A. Marvin has been confined
since the nth of last July, on a charge of
numbering Myron D. Hill, on the steamer
Muscatine, while crossing from Dayenport
to this city, last summer. He was to have
been tried Immediately. He is feet II
inches high, rs years of age, fair complex
Toned, has dark hair and eyes, an agreeable
countenance, very slight moustache, and
is said to be one quarter Indian.
Elisha Renshaw is charged with stealing
two horses Of Frank Bashaw, at Mt. Carroll