The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-06-01
ESCAPE OF NINE PRISONERS I S
\ q 4 d : l v i Il !
a FALSE KEY USED
FOUR RtE.CAPTURED.
The Jailor's Family Maltreated.
PURsUERs KNOCKED DOWN.

Between 10 and II o'clock yesterday
morning the violent ringing of the Court
House bell gave notice that something,
extraordinary was up, and in a few
moments the report that large mum
Der ofthe prisoners, confined for various
ofienses, had made their escape, passed
from lip to lip and parties were formed
to 90 in pursuit
To understand fully the daring nature
of the escape, and that it was a clear
and cool head that planned it, We must
state that the Jail proper is secured by
an outer and inner door, made of iron
rods an inch or an inch and half in
thickness. The inner door is secured
by an immense lock, and the outer one
by iron bars beside the lock, the bars
being fastened, far beyond reach from
the inside, by padlocks Between these
ont and inner doors is a space of per-
haps two feet
Yesterday morning, as We are in
formed by the family OF Mr.. Faris, the
jailor, a small bucket of buttermilk
was left at the Jail for Herman Tristler,
committed with Captain Green to an
swer a charge of burglary at the resi-
dences of Mr.. F. w Basset and Fred.
Bashor. Mr.. Williams, the guard,
came to the outer door and asked Trist-
Ter, who was in the hall with the other
prisoners of the down stairs section, if
he would have the buttepnilk then.
He said mo. Pass tin at dinner time,
but afterwards changed his mind, and
requested that il be handed in at once
No sooner did Mr.. Williams commence
unboting the outer door than Bill IIar-
ris, Tristler and Green came To the
inner door, which they had unlocked
with a false key, obtained no one knows
how, and as soon as the bars were re.
moved and the door opened to admit Mr.
Williams body between the two doors,
than they threw open the inner door,
took hold of him and placed him in a
cell Mrs. Faris had prepared herself
for a visit to some friends in Centre
Wheeling, and was just coming out of
her room az she saw the men coming
out into the hal from the Jail. She
gave the alarm, and Bill Harris, who is
as strong as a lion, caught her 10y the
back of the neck anu choked he. His
grip on her neck was SO tight that it
took the skin Of The other women
and the children set up screaming
when the outlaws took them and placed
them in the cells of the Jail, and open
ing the front door, which unfortunately
was unlocked. made of Those max
ing their escape were Captain Green,
Herman Tristler Bill Harris, Mcmahon,
Charles Donovan John McPierce, VIM.
Austin, j II. Donovan aud William
Green.
As soon as they got on to the street
they took differnt directions, all center
ing for the Hempfeld tunnel, however
Pursuit was Immediately made. Bill
Harris ran up Monroe street, and on
the hill above Monroe street, was
caught up with by George Davenport,
Esq, who, although Bill was twice his
size and strength did not hesitate to at
tack him. Harris finally got blow in
on Davenport and knocked him clean
down the hill causing him to he con
sderahly bruised. Harris then man.
aged to keep those at hay who came to
Mr.. Davenport assistance with stones
until he reached the top OF the hill and
escaped
Captain Green very cody walked
through East Wheeling, stopping to
admire some house painting that was
going on and to compliment the work
men.
Bill Green, McPearce, Austin and J.
II. Donovan were recaptured. Two of
them were retaken by an engineer in
Mendle's furniture shop.
Mr. Faris was not at the Jail at the
time of the escape, and we doubt if his
presence could have prevented it. 1t
was a bold, determined, reckless effort,
made by bold, determined and reckless
men, who had come to the conclusion
TO get ont or die trying.
To Richard McCracken, confined for
killing Frank Mount, is due the credit
Of giving the general alarm Learning
from the row in the room below him,
and from Mrs. Farris' cries, that some
thing was wrong, he went to, the rear
window Of the Jail and by his shouts
attracted the general attention.
The Organ Concerts gather fresh liz
tcrc>t Mrs. Whitney and Mrs. Hen
negem and Mr. Whipple, accomplished
and popular vocalists, have kindly con-
nunt.l 4. .Ol.... =. IL ~ -