The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-22
Th, Escape Of Colonel YerSer.
The Caldwell Extradition Case.
Death from Hydrophobia.
Count" Won Below Again.
More Navy Yard Discharges.
HBears'' and "Short" Sales.
Etc, Etc, Etc., Etc, Etc.
COLONEL YERGER.
Particulars of his strange Escape from jail Ia
NliasiaHlDDi.

Particulars of his STRANGE Escape from jail Ia
Tue jackson (Miss.) Clarion, March Is, says;
Toe public was somewhat surprised at an
early hour on Sunday morning last, by the an
nou lcement that E. NJ. Yerger had escaped from
Jail, and various and contradictory were the
conleetures and rumors that prevailed
during the day concerning the event.
When the prisoner was placed in the custody
of the Sheriff, he was confined as other prison
ers; but the rules of the Jail were greatly re-
laxed in his favor on the pledge of his counsel
that he would not attempt to escape, or avail
himself of any opportunity OF doing SO. After
the proceedings of Saturday, and the threat OF
the prisoner to escape, the Sheriff was notified
by his counsel that they would no longer be re-
sponsible for his remaining In confinement.
Acting upon this notice, Sheriff Lake and his
deputy visited the jail about IL o'clock on satur-
day night with a view to securely locking up
the prisoner. They found him insensible from
drink, or feignedly so, and could not remove
him to cell without lifting him bodily They
concluded that he would be harmless until
morning, and so left him.
In our opinion Mr.. Lake did precisely what
any other sheriff would have done with any
other prisoner alike charged before the law,
when importuned by respectable and responsible
counsel, and when like pledges for good faith
on the part of the prisoner were made him.
He was, nevertheless, legally responsible for
the safe-keeping of the prisoner; but GER
tainly there appears no ground for crimi-
nal eonuivance on the part of the Sheriff
as has been uncharitably, and, we believe, un-
Justly insinuated against him. The prisoner
left the Jail about 5 o'clock A. NJ, having evil
dently scaled the high plank fence by the aid OF
barrel, box, and bucket placed against 1t. The
fence is about twenty feet high. 1t seems that
he had prevailed upon the jailer to go to the
market-house near by to procure him cup of
coffee, and during his absence made his escape.
He proceeded up President street to the resi-
dence of Mrs. Buck, which he entered, visiting
several rooms and inquring for a friend. He
continued up that street, and when just north of
the Penitentiary wall met gentleman on horse
back.
This proved to be Mr.. Wilson, now occupying
the residence of Mrs. Clark. He was on his way
to market. He spoke to Yerger, asked him how
he was getting along, ETC., supposing that he
had been admitted to bail, and was taking a
morning walk. He asked Mr.. Wilson to dis
mount, to which the latter objected, remarking
that sickness in his family required him to hasten
back from market Yerger then ordered him TO
dismount and getting on the horse rode OF with
all possible speed.
AS soon as the Sheriff was informed of his
flight couriers were despatched in all dlrec-
tions, and armed guards were employed during
the day in searching private residences, under
the belief that he was yet within the city limits
A liberal reward will doubtless be offered for his
apprehension, and no effort will be spared to
obtain il.
Mr.. Yerger certainly could not have been ad
vised by any of his friends to take step so ex
ceediugly foolish. All the probabilities were
that in few weeks he would be admitted t(
bail until such time as the crime OF which ht
stands charged could be fairly and dispassion
He now occupies the undignifed and unenyiabl'
attitude of fugitive from justice, with th'
chances of arrest and reincarceratlon great,
apalnst him,