The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-08-31
q UH NJ n W JAIL
ALL SHOW AND NO SECURITY.
-Four Prisoners Come out with all Ease
at ii a. M, and walk Away.
FOUR PRISONERS

twenty-four hours after they had been re-
moved from the ''black hole" of the old
Jail to the new one.
FOUR PRISONERS
made their escape; one, g Mexican, con-
fined under charge of stealing pair of sad
die bags from V. E. Vaughan; John Red
ding, for robbing the Comanche bank and
turning Scott Cooley out of the Lampasas
jail; Joseph Van Wee, sentenced to two
years imprisonment IN the penitentisry for
stealing money in Austin, and in Jail await
ing result of appeal to higher court; and
McLeavy, confined under charge of a
murderous assault on Montgomery, last
VI ,rch, while asleep in his own house in
this city.
THE ESCAPE.
About II A. NJ. parties in the neighbor-
hood of the Jail saw four men descend by
a rope on the east side of the building, but
paid no attention to the fact, thinking they
were workmen who had been on the Build
ing repairing it. The discovery was soon
made, however, that prisoners had es-
capped, and pursuit was commenced. Deputy
Sheriffs Moore and Darlington, in very
short while, overlook three of them, the
Mexican, Redman and Van Wee, about
one mile from the city, near Judge Tur-
ner's place, and, after using some intimida-
tion with firearms, recaptured them and
brought them back to the farce of prison.
McLeavy was seen at his home, in this city
shortly after his escape, but has 50 far es
capped arrest.
THE so-CALLED PRISON.
Experience has proven that this new Jail,
upon which such a large SUN of money has
been expended, is a sham of structure,
and to speak Plqinly, upon investigation, 1t
is one of the timsiests pretexts fo- such
architecture, ever put up in any community.
1t is mass of stoze and iron, peculiarly
adapted to easy escape, and it is the
greatest wonder that every prisoner
confined in it has not long since secured
liberty. Within the stone walls is huge
stl ucture of iron cages, twenty -four . in
number, twelve below and twelve above.
These cages are hoored and covered with
sheet-iron, and around them, i'll two sec
tions, are two "run-rounds," enclosed with
two other huge iron cages, made of inch rods.
This all looks solid enough, but will not
bear close inspection. The work is
sighted in many particulars, and the rods
are not properly fastened and riveted where
it is required. The prisoners, properly
enough, were allowed the privilege of the
''run-round," and those in one section and
the other acted in concert in preparing for
escape. On one side rod had been sawed
away, next to the floor, and through the
opening thus made the four pris-
oners named passed out. next to
the outer walls. On the other
side the rods above door had been
found not fastened to the plate, and they
were wrenched aside far enough to admit
of the passage of a man. The four men
who made their escape found a ladder just
suited to their convenience in the Jail, and
with this they reached the ceiling, con
structed of the poorest material and barely
tackled to the sleepers. One of the planks
was easily removed and the men made
their way to the roof, finding the trap door
in the very condition it was left by those
who formerly escaped. They had torn a
bedtick into strips, and with rope formed
of these they descended from the roof to
the ground.
THE PUBLIC,
who have a right to inquire into the causes
which led to this easy escape of prisoners,
have been free IN passing judgmer t
upon the class of work which has
been imposed upon them. The county
court and building committee have
contided too much to Others. Not be-
ing builders or architects themselves they
have confided too much to the architects
and contractors on this work, and the re-
suit Is that the JOB, except the stone work,
is very poor one. The ceiling and roof
approach over the cages. The planks,
as stated, are merely tackled on and
the roof can be broken through at
almost any point. The cages are made
| Oh proper uatctiai, put poOAly ldo1OHON anu
riveted, and are an interesting study for
escape. There has been gross neglect in
the wood and iron structures, and itshould
be remedied without delay. The people of
Travis county are justly indignant at these
escapes from the new Jail, and the parties
responsible for this indirect interference
with law and order will be held
to accountability for it. The county court
and committee were excellent financial
hen, and handled the bonds of Travis
county to its credit, but not being
architects, they depended too much
upon others. 1t may be said that
this dependence, too, was upon men who
were interested. If they followed the in
structions of architects, the architects were
| greatly at fault If the authorities shaped
the construction, the arcnirects are ex-
onerated.
Transfers OF Real Estate
| Ranorted from the real estate and alb