The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-29
ESCAPED JAIL BIRD.
INDIANA,s DEsPERADO.


PLOTS.
The telegraph has brought news of the es-
cape from the Jacksonville penitentiary o
Bill Rodifer, a most noted robber and high
waymsn. Ofthe manner of his escape and
his previous history the Courier-Journal of
the 23d inst gives the following particulars:
One of the most daring and successful es-
capes which have occurred in this vicinity
for long time was made from the state
prison south, in Jacksonville, early yester-
day morning, Bill Rodifer, noted and des-
perate convict, thereby gaining his liberty.
The particulars of the escape are as follows:
At the usual hour yesterday morning the
cell house was unlocked to take the
convicts out to their breakfast. AS
they were coming out, Rodifer and another
of the convicts slipped away from the body
of men, their disappearance being unob-
served owing to the darkness of the morn
ing. The two men by some means procured
short ladder and placed it in position upon
the platform that leads up to the cupola on
the foundry, which is situated and con-
nected with the water-tank, which is di
rectly by the side of the outer wall. Having
reached the top wall, they slipped down the
iron pipe outside of the wall, which leeds
the water-tank. While the men were
scaling the wall, the guard on the top dis
covered one of them and fired, which
caused the man he had discovered to slide
back again on the inside, and make his
way back into the foundry. The
guard, supposing that he was the only man
| who was attempting to escape, paid no
! further attention TO the matter, except to
notify the officers of the prison that a man
had attempted to escape. In the mean time,
Rodifer had made good his escape. He was
missed in about twenty minutes, his jacket
being found in the street few hundred
wards from the prison. The alarm was i'm
mediately given, and in less than ten min
utes the guards were stationed in pursuit.
The police of Jacksonville, New Albany
and Louisville were notified.
REWARD OF 5000.
was offered by Warden Shuler as an incent-
i've for prompt action and the capture of the
noted prisoner Mr.. Sam McCastlen, fore
man in the Southwestern Car Works Com
pany, while going from his home in Jeffer-
sonyille yesterday morning to his business
at the prison. saw man running down the
Jacksonville railroad track in the direction
OF Jeffersonville. The man had his coat off
at the time, and was not recognized by Nc
Castlen. Subsequent facts, however, leave
no doubt that the running man was Rodi-
| fer. The woods around Jacksonville were
secured all day yesterday, and every avenue
from the city closely guarded. Bill Rodi-
fer, the escaped convict, is regarded
as the most noted and desperate man
in the state of Indiana. and is well
known in st. Louis and the entire
West. A brief account of his life will be
found interesting. He was, until yesterday
morning, serving out his third term in the
prison. His first term was for two years
for grand larceny in Putnam county, Ind.
He had been in the prison but eleven
months, when, in company with two other
convicts, he escaped by scaling the wall.
The other two men were caught, but Rodi-
fer struck out for the woods, and, after hid
ing until night, made his way to the house
of farmer in Claik county named " halen.
That night it happened that Mr.. Whalen
was entertaining three of his friends, stock
dealers, and they we're all seated in the
house when Rodifer knocked at the door.
/ Mr.. Whalen opened it and Rodifer uncere-
moniously walked in the house. He boldly
informed the company that he was
AN ESCAPED CONVICT
from the state prison and that he had been
bounded down all day. al wish," ne said
to the company, "to deliver myself up to
you. Guard me closely until morning and
then take me back to the prison and you
will receive the reward offered. Have no
1 fears that will attempt to escape. i only
want to Sleep" Mr.. Whalen gave him a
bed in the room and ne Immediately retired
anu WAS SOO0, 10 oil appearances,
asleep. Mr.. Whalen and his friends agreed
TO keep guard alternately, and each one that
acted as guard placed his chair against the
door facing the bed where Rodifer was
lying. One of the guards, however, fell
asleep, and when he awakened he discovered
to his surprise and chagrin that the bird
had flown. He aroused his friends, when it
was found that Rodifer had not only gone
himself, but that he had taken a full suit of
clothes and S65 in money, belonging to one
of the stock men. The four struck out to
hunt him down, but after a fruitless search
of several hours gave up the chase. The
next time we hear from Rodifer he Is in st.
Louis, and known as desperate character,
being caught in several burglaries in that
city, but, by the shrewdness of his attOr-
neys, escapes punishment. While here he
planned with his pals the robbery of
STORE IN TERRE HAUTE, IND,
and they ali went to that city to execute the
burglary. The police got an inkling of the
intentions of Rodifer, and on the night set
for the deed he was arrested in the act. after
desperate resistance ON his part, in which
he knocked down three of the police before
he was secured. He was placed in jail, in
default of bail. and had only been there a
few days before he attempted to escape.
About this time Col. Shuler, warden of the
state prison, heard of his arrest, and sent
after him to serve out the balance OF
his two years sentence, thirteen months.
Rodifer was brought down to the prison and
closely watched, being always regarded as a
desperate character.
VI A BIT OF BAD LUCK.
At the expiration of his two years SEN
tence he was brought out of the prison in
the office and set at liberty. Just as he was
going out of the prison door into the free
air, as he thought, free man, he was ar
rested by the sheriff of Clark county FOR
stealing the suit of clothes and S65 at the
{ farmers house the night of his escape. He
was taken to Charlestown and confined in