The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-03-17

The public was somewhat surprised a. an
early hour on Sunday morning last by TIE
announcement that y. NJ Yergcr had eaca-
ped from jail. and various and contradictory
were the conIectures and rumors that pre-
vailed during the day concerning the event.
IL appears that the prisoner had become
impatient under the several postponcmenu
OF the hearing Of his petition for BAH, under
Wia OF haoeas corpus, and was especially
indignant toward his counsel on Saturday
iast lot having agreed 10 the postponemeut
OF the case for stu another month. He'd
terlnined 10 make hls escape, aud lntimat
as much 10 MS counsel and perhaps 10 on
ers. When the prisoner was placed In m,
custody Of the sheriff, he was confined
other prisoners; but the rules OF the IA.
were greatly relaxed I'm his favor on tb
pledge Of his counsel that lac would not al
tempt 70 escape, or avail himself OF any CD
portunity Of doing SO. AMER the proceed
ings OF Saturday, aud the threat OF the
prisoner TO escape, the sheriff was notified
by his counsel that they would no longer be
responsible for his remaining Ia conane-
ment. Acting upon this notice. sheriff
Lake and his deputy visited the jail about
eleven o'clock on Saturday night with
view 10 securely locking up the prisoner
They found him insenslble from drink or
fcignedly 50, and could not remove him 10
cell without lining him bodily They very
reasonably concluded that he would be
harmless until morning and 20 LEFT him
For all this, and the general management OF
the jail, sheriff Lake has been made the SUBJ
ject Of much gross and absurd abuse. We
are no champion Of his or Of any other APP
pointece of the late Gen. Ames, but oocu-
pying an important public oilce as lie does.
we are surprised to see such wholesale de-
nunciation of him from a quarter where his
loyalty should have been better understnod
aud better appreciated. Tho appointment
Of Mr.. Lake To the Office OF Slierin was only
one Of many other outragos pcrpotmted
upon our people, but that lac has not been
efficient and faithful In the discharge Of his
duties has been first discovered by brethren
OF his own political household. 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 re-
sponsible counsel, and when like pledges
fer good faith on the part Of the prisoner.
were made him. He was, nevertheless. Ie-
gally responsible for the safc-kcoplng ofthe
prisoner; but certainly there appears mo-
ground for criminal conniyancc on the part
Of the sheriff as has been unchariably, and
we believe, uniustly insinuatod agdinst him.
The prisoner len the jail about five O'Clock
a. m,haying evidently scaled the high plank
fence by the aid Of barrel box aud bucket
placed against Il. The fence Is about TWEEN
" feet high. IL seems that he had prevailed
upon the jailor 10 20 10 the market house
near 10y 10 procure him a cup OF coffee. aud
during his absence made his escape. ne
proceeded up President street, 10 Tie resl-
dence of Mrs. Buck, which hc entered. visit.
Ing several rooms and inquiring for friend.
He continued up that street. aud when lust
north of the Ponltentiary wall, met a gcn-
tleman ON horseback. This proved 10 be Mr..
Wilson, now occupying the residence OF
Mrs. Clark. lie was on his way 10 market.
He spoke 10 Nerger, asked him how lac wa4
getting along, etc. supposlng that he had
been admitted 70 bail, and was taking q
morning walk. Ito asked Mr.. Wilson 10
dismount, TO which the latter objected, re-
marking that sickness la his family required
HIM TO hasten back trom market. Nergcr
NiANii NAAfl'N AttAA 70 AlrNiONNNH anu WfLLfnW
on the horse rode on with all possible speed.
As soon as the sheriff was Informed OF hlH
flight couriers were dispatched In all dlrcc-
tons, and armed guards were employed du-
ring the day in searching private residence
under the belief that he was yet within the
city limits. A liberal reward will doubtless
be offered for his apprehension and noeiiort
will be spared 10 obtain Il.
Mr.. Ncrger certainly could not have beof
advised by any Of his friends 10 take ftel
so exceedingly foolish. An the probabuI
ties were that In few weeks he would
10 bail untll such time as the Grim,
OF which he stands chorged could be- fairly
and dlspasslOnately considered by jury o.
his countrymen. lie now occupies the un-
and unenvlnble attitude Of r. fugi-
tive from justice, with the chances Of ar
rest and re-incarccratlOn greatly against
him.