, 1875-10-02
CORRESPONDENCE.


know how to answer: Why is ia
that this Territory is being infest-
cd with thieves and desperadocs.
from the adjoining States? Is it.
because our jailS are not fit to hold
them when arrested, or is it be-.
cause our shcriTs and those who.
have to guard them are careless
to their trust? Il is time this.
matter was thoroughly inyestiga-
ted, and the blame brought home,
where it belongs, for it is getting
monotnous. Once upon a time,
when prisoner escaped from Jail
it was the topic Of conversation,
and every corner had its group of
anxious citizens discussing the
matter, but alas! it is no ones
business now. If a prisoner es-
capes you may hear some one say
so and so escaped last night; or,
may be, see the sheriff looking
around for the irons, which he
hopes the prisoners would be kind
enough to drop before they went
too far, for that would be a county
loss and he would be responsible;
or, may be, they were his own pri-
vate property. The jail is patched
up, and things move on again till
the next "escapade." 1t is no use
to send prisoners 10 the county
Jail for such trifling crimes as
murder or burglary, for they are
not deemed of sufficient import
ance for close watching, and if,
perchance, they should conde-
scend to await trial and be con-
Yicted they are sure to get away
even if the Governor don't pardon
them. But let a poor fellow be
caught selling an Indian bottle
Of whisky, woe be unto him, for
he has sinned against a higher
power, the great U s., and Indian
agents, church dignitaries, mar
shals, and the whole moral sua-
sion are aroused. He is hunted
down and brought to trial, con
vieted, sentenced in a few days
and sent to the penitentiary on
McNeirs Island, where he will re-
main and serve out his time, with
no hope Of escape. But waylay-
ing and killing a man is a differ
ent thing. He may be arrested.
and committed to await trial. He
is passed over to the proper Off
Ger, and taken to the county cage,
locked up in common with. those
who may be there for smaller
crimes, outsiders may converse
with tbenE, plans may be concoct-
ed, tools passed in, and those who
prefer the outside may walk out,
kill or rob some other man, and
make good their escape.
A few months ago a man way
laid and killed another in Port
Discovery, and it 50 happened
that the court was sitting at the
time. He was tried, convicted
and passed over to the sheriff for
safe keeping. Shortly after he
gave the sheriff the slip, but was
Afterwards taken at Port Discoy-
cry and placed in Jail again. In
the mean time a noted house,
breaker was arrested and commit
the to the same Jail. They con
cocted plan-probably assisted
from without-cut through two
12xlz's, with a jack-knife, and ess
capped. After getting out Of jail
they went to Port Discovery and
remained several days, entering
any house they pleased, taking
provisions and guns, and other ar
ticles which they needed, the Ter
ritory and county doing nothing
toward their arrest. The court
meets ard a reward Is said TO be.
offered Though the general
public knew nothing Of it,
most singular proceeding) too
small to make it interesting. In
the mean time the convicts change
their base; they go to Dungeness,
pass from there to Port An
gelos, and from thence to Elwah;|
went right into a mans yard, were
asked in TO supper but declined,
stole a canoe from the Indians and
tried TO 60 down the Straits. A
strong wind drove them back, and
yesterday they visited Port Anee-
los, entered Jack Dunn's, or Jack
mans house, and got a supply of
everything guns, ammunition,
provisions, blankets, groceries,
&c, and are now camped some-
where in this vicinity, and may
rOnain and take a ranch until
times get better in their old busi-
ness They will make a splendid
team to work together; one can do
the Killing and the other the clean
ing. aV fa
They are both well acquainted
with British Columbia and will not
go there, knowing that their show
would be very small for getting
AWAY. "a our Ennliah nn,1.hh....