Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1873-06-20
JAIL DELIVERY.
capture OF CHAs. CLAY.
CIay,s Account Of His Escape

On Monday morning our citizens were not d,
q little surprised to learn that Charles Clay.
who has been for some ime confined ii fl,e
county Jail, for attempting to take tile life 81
Constable Holt. had escaped. During the
day Sheriff Guy, Under Sheriff Blakely and
a number of Special Deputies were in search
of the prisoner but could get no trace of him.
Monday night it was SO dark tn at no object
could be distinguished even at short dis
lance and all efforts made that night to &C.
cure the capture of Clay proved to be rain.
On Tuesday Clay went to the ranch of Mr..
Chambers on Middle Creek where he was at
once recognized and word was brought into
town and his whereabouts made known by
Mr.. Howard, a Carpenter. who was working
there. As soon as possible officers started in
search OF Gay and shortly after shutdown on
Tuesday he was brought into town by spe-
cial deputies Thomas Lewis and G. T.. Clark,
ESQ.,, from whom we learn that they found
him secreted in q straw stack about mile
from Chambers ranch. The discovery Of his
hiding place was purely accidental. Clark g.
Lewis were drying in buggy when Lewis
noticed that some cattle standing near the
straw stack appeared to be looking at it as If
some unknown occupant was there. They
would approach the stack and then retire and
look at 1t FROM the distance. Noticing this
Lewis called his companions attention to
the fact and said "he is in there sure" They
drove up to the fence when Clark got out and
could see Clay in the act of raising UP. No
sooner did he get his eyes upon him than he
told him to come::out and give himself up or
he would shoot. This persuasive argument
had its good effect, and ia secord Clay was
In custody.
Tie escape of Clay is to be accounted for
In but one ,way--some one helped him out
but acho did the deed is at present unknown.
Clay says that he found an old file in the Jail
and with that succeeded in filing himself from
hls shackles, that he then took the handle off
Of a tin cup, opened the lock and escaped
He says he had only one biscuit when he left
and that no one helped him. This story is
altogether s'too thin" The shackles show
that new and sharp file was used and it is
evident that the spring OF the lock, new
one, had been broken. When CLAW returned
he wanted Under Sheriff Blakely ito get him
a new pair of pants, and gave him tile mon
ey to get them. Blakely thought too much
of his precious pet to 60, but sent gentle
man who was standing by after the garment.
The fact that Clay had money and provisions
when captured shows most concIusively that
he was assisted to escape, as he had no mon
ey at the time of his arrest nor has he hon
estly become possessed of any since.
Much credit is due to our officers and their
assistants for the capture of Clay and it is to
be hoped that he will not again desert his
quarters till he leaves for Deer Lodge.
We are informed that every effort ia being
made to ascertain who are the accomplces OF
Clay. and that if they are. detected they will
receive the punishment they so justly merit.
The refusal of our county commissioners to
build fence round the Jail, seems to be an
apt illustration of the old proverb, sPenny
wise and Pound foolish.' 1t certainly costs
more to catch an escaped prisoner than to
securely hold a dozen. The Sheriff desires
us to acknowledge his appreciation of the
services of Messrs. Tom. Lewis, job Harvey
and his under sheriff, Blakely, who were out
all night Monday. The public in general
will be appreciatiye enough to award to them
their full measure of praise. Under sheriff
Blakely says that no more able assistance
could have been rendered than that afforded
by Job Harvey and Tom. Lewis; that they
worked like men good and true. and In the
time Of need were not found wanting. But
then. every one knows there's good leather
in them felers," SO we can only say. well
done, good and faithful servants yeur re-
ward shall come, some day not far distant.