Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-01-30
BOYD AGAIN.
Aa Effort for Freedom = Unsuccessful
Attempt 20 Break the Knox.
Vile Jail.
Two knives Found Under BOyd's Nat
tress-One Of Them Used as
FiIe-Yery Suspicious.
From the Knoxville Press and Herald.I

From the Knoxville Press and Herald
Shortly after one O'Clock on Sunday
afternoon, Mr. Richard Diamond, in
charge Of the county jail, hearing the
prisoners ia the upper tier singing quite
vocifeTously, came to the conclusion
that there was some devilment ITO
use his expressive language-going on.
Listening inteRtly lac detected a grating
noise, apparently caused by a saving OF
some hard substance in one of the upper
cells. Sheriff Gossett was notified and
the cell from which the noise proceeded
was entered, with a view of detecting
the origin Of the unusual sounds
There were six persons in this cell; one
of them named Mangum is charged with
robbery at Ebenezer, and the other
five were United States prisoners,
under Indictment in the Federal Court.
Among the latter was Thomas G. Boyd,
whose trial has occupied public attention
for several days. Upon entering the cell,
the jaileT noticed Mangum getting down
from the shoulders of another Of the
prisoners aad rstreating TO the corner of
the cell, where be stood with sheepish
look, as If suddenly detected in some
guilty act The jailer,on looking around,
observed an aperture in the sheet-iron
by some sharp instrument. Upon being
asked, Boyd denied that there were any
implements III the cell. Mangum was
ordered out into the middle Of the cell
and the taller searched him. There was
found under bis coat a Diston key-hOle
saw and a butcher chisel, which
ne had undoubtedly thrusted there on
the iaileT's appearance. A fur
ther search revealed a razor on
his person, hid beneath his shirt. An
examination Of the cell resulted in the
discovery Of one candle and two bottles
containing sand and water. Mangum,
upon being pressed, acknowledged hav-
ing cut the hole in the roof. He said
some Of the cutting had been done on
the previous night, but it being too dark
to prosecute the work with success, he
had waited until a favorable oppOrtuni-
~ in daylight. He accounted for the
possession OF the tools by saying they
had been drawn up through the window
grating with a string on the preceding
Thursday night, but refused 10 tell who
had furnished them. Inquiries made
resulted in learning that the saw
and chisel had been purchased on
Saturday last at Luttrelps hardware
store. The man who had bought
them also obtained at the same time
crowbar and two large-bladed pocket
knives. The buyer of the articles could
not be identified, being described merely
as large-built, countTy-looking man,
whose features were not particularly
noticed. Further examination of the
cell resulted in the finding of the two
knives bid under BOydis mattress. The
blade OF one Of the knives had been cut
into teeth, and probably had been
used. 1t was thus evident that Man
gums statement that the articles had
been received in the cell on Thursday
night, was false, as it was certain they
had been purchased on Saturday. But
nothing further could be obtained from
him. Boyd complained of being
sick, and insisted he had no knowl-
edge of the party who had fur
nished the articles, nor had in any way
aided in the attempt TO escape. To pre-
vent a repetition of the affair, with per-
haps a more successful result, all the
prisoners We're removed from the com.
paratively comfortable cell In the upper
tier to a cell down stairs, which is by no
means a pleasant place of abode, being
very damp and very dark. BOyds
friends absolutely deny any participa-
tiOn liz or even knowledge of the at
tempt TO aid the prisoner to escape. Had
the effort been pushed on Saturday
night, the chances are il would have
been successful, as the night was dark
and stormy, and there is no guard
around the Jail at night.