Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1873-05-15
ATvTEM Pr TO H RESCUE A MURDERER
The Rcscuer shot and Killed.
From the Sacramento Union, April II.

The Rcscuer shot and Killed.
From the Sacramento Union, April II.
A daring attempt was made at half-past
one o'clock this morning to rescue Charles
Mortimer, the murderer of Mrs. Gibson,
from the County Jail. The effort was frus-
trated and the principal actor killed by the
vigilance and decision of Deputy Sheriff
Manuel L. Cross, who was on duty mt that hour.
On the west side of the Jail is an open court
or jail yard about 80 feet square, which is
surrounded by a brick wall 20 feet high. A
man, whose name is believed to be Finn,
scaled the wall by means of ladder taken
from a grocery store in the vicinity, leaving
his hat and boots on the outside TO accom-
plish this feat he placed the ladder on the
west side of the wall in the rear of an un-
occupied building where his movements could
not be discovered from the street Having
reached the top of the wall he passed to the
roof of shed in the Jail yard, used as
boiler house, and lowered himself by means
of stout wire guy, attached to the smoke
stack, which had extended across it, but
which he broke off at one end. This much
was accomplished without alarming in any
manner the jailer on guard. The main hall
of the Jail in. which the cells are located is
connected with the yard by a doorway, which
the inside and wooden door on the outside.
The iron door was locked and the wooden
door closed but not locked Deputy Sheriff
Cross was inside of the Jail, when the bell
was rung from the door which opens from
the court to the open yard on | street. The
officers, it appears, had some reasons for ex-
treme caution, fearing the possibility OF IN
attempt to rescue the prisoner. Cross un-
locked the inner door, and with his rcyol !er
pushed the wooden door open suddenly, but
saw no one in the yard. He cautiously step
ped forward and looked along the wall OF the
building in each direction, but still saw no
one He then started to go across the yard
to the gate, distance of sixty feet. When
about ten feet from the door he glanced his
eye backward and saw a man without hat,
and with his face masked with white hand
kerchicf, advancing from around the corner
of the building. He had covered the officer
with pistol, and commenced some eXcla-
nation or sentence which was not understood.
Cross instantly wheeled and fired, dropping
on his knee at the same time to dodge the
ball of his adversary. Finn staggered but
still kept on his feet, and moved toward the
door as though to gain access to the Jail.
Cross fired second shot which also seemed
to take effect. Finn still kept on his feet
and passed into the jail, running across the
hall directly to Mortimers cell, which was
about sixty feet from the door. AS he
reached the cell he grasped at the wicket, but
fell and died in few minutes. One ball had
taken effect in the right side and one in the
mouth. A purse was found on his person
containing $27.SO. The principal reason for
believing that this man is a brother of Nor
timer is that he had several keys on a flat
steel, on which was engraven civilian j.
Finn, Lynn, Mass" On the arm of Morti-
mer the name of "Charles Finn" is marked
in India ink. He had been to see Mortimer
two or three times since his incarcerotian.
On his person were found two revolvers and
knife. One of the pistols was Colts five
shooter, and the other a Wesson seven
shooter 1t has been ascertained that this
man has been stopping at the City Hotel on
X street under the name of Williams. The
jailcrs seem to think that Finn had no ac-
completes in his daring undertaking, and that
he rang the bell by reaching the wire in the
yard On the other hand, there are reports
that several men were seen to run away
from the vicinity when the shooting took
place. The intention was no doubt to have
subdued or killed the jaiIer, and then to have
secured the keys with which to have effected
Mortimer release.