Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-09-15

confinement in tn Owenten Jail Of Blu.
ford Woods, Joe Clark, ESQ, the eff.
cient deputy sheriff Of this county.
assisted by several citizens, crossed the
Kentucky river into Henry county and
arrested Bill Razor, Jim HOskiRs and
" uiam NalstOu, charged with partici-
patton IN several Of the recent outraRes.
These men all 1--we in or near I.ockport.
and were apparently unsuspicious Of the
officers approach until arrested. They
were taken TO OwentOD the evening Of
tue same day, and lodged in Jail.
THEIR ESCAPE.
They remained in durance vile. how
ever, but . short time. effecting their
escape next morning, Monday. between
abe hours Of nine and ten o'clock. In
order 20 get a fair and accurate account
oi this sudden jail delivery, I visited
o|eut7l this morning, inspected the
Jail IN company with the jailer, and
heard his defense Of himself against the
suSp,cl5us which naturally attach to one
inLrl5ted with his important office. He
assured me that until their confinement
lh Jai ne had never seen either of the
three prisoners, and could therefore, a.
he tlmatod, have no interest in their
release.
THE JAIL
Is a small one-st0ry brick building, situ-
ated on the south side of the public
square about one hundred yards from
the courthouse, in the suburbs Of Owen
ton. II is divided into two apartments,
the one on the left occupied by William
Riley, the jailer, and his family, while
the right wing is divided into cells for
the custody Of prisoners. The building
j. entered by a wooden panel door open
lDg Into the main hall Parallel with
this and in font OF the cells is another
han, which Is entered through a sin.
gle door made of latticed iron
rods, so far apart, however, that
one can thrust his hand and arm
through with great ease to the
shoulder. This hall is divided into two
small apartments, each with an eud
window OF similar construction with
the ball door, and consequently one on
the OEtside Of the jail can pass almost
any tool % an insider through either Of
the windows. The door, strange to say,
is fastened with q paddock, and yet pris-
oners are sometimes permitted 10 Occu-
py this Enclosure whilst the cells are
undergoing a cleansing, though gener-
ally under the eye Of the jailer, or one
Of his deputies.
THE JATLER's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Biiey's statement is that on the
occasion mentioned the three prisoners,
Razor WalstOn and HOskins, were occu-
pying the hall. He, believing them
perfectly secure under the paddock, went
10 mis- stable, about one hundred feet
from the jail. He had not long been
a. D.
out at the main front door, whom he
took TO he one Of the citizens. In
another moment, however, the first
prisoner was followed by the other two,
the three passing around the right
rapid strides for the rear Of the
jail lot which is inclosed by
low plank-fence. All st once the truth
flashed on Mr.. Riley, and he says he
gave alarm and pursuit instantly. But
the fugitives had only few steps to 90
before crossing the fence into heavy
field uf green corn, In which they were
securely concealed, and through this,
into a strip Of dense wood, they com
pletely eluded pursuit. / hardly think
IL just that
SUSPICION OF COMPLETELY
in this iail-delivery should attach to Mr.. !
Riley upon no better evidence than the
simple escape Of the prisoners. He
pursued them fOr nearly two miles, and, I
knowing how important it is that these
men should have a fair and impartial
trial, If possible, he must have c0mpre- l
henced the responsibility resting
upon himself The theory to some Is
that one Of their friends, as the prisoners
were taking breakfast, handed them q
key, or some other instrument, in
through the window; or that one Of the
prisoners mot having been closely
-earched) had key on his person when I
arrested sufficient 10 open a common
paddock; OF that with a pOcket-knife
which each was allowed TO retainl they
accomplished their egress, is more just,
ii not reasonable, than 10 lay the blame
on an officer who has heretofore ac.
quilted himself well OF his duties. That
he is amenable to the charge Of careless /
ness is evident; but as he himself says, /
nobody had ever picked that lock be. /
fore, and he supposed the prisoners, be /
fore being committed 10 his custody, had I
been thoroughly relieved Of every in |
strument which might be turned to such .
account.
UNDOUBTED KUKLUX.
That all Of these prisoners could have .
been convicted Of violation Of the ku-
kluE act, and one OF more as pdrticeDs .
eriDtiais in the murder Of Lewis Wilson, /
Is pretty clear from the er p0rte evil 1
tence thus far delivered. That the peo- /
pie Of Owen are mortified at their es-
cape is sufficient toaen Of their deter
ui alton to b. .H.ir officials ia all
eases where the can be arrested.
elleve that tie = .'e courts are ample .
Tor all purposes Of trial aud conviction
n the counties Of FTukliD, Henry and
Owen; il only needs that criminals be
brought to the bar and secured until
ne day Of trial