Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-12-16
Crib Cracking.

There are now confined In the county Jail
at this place one Miller. who occupies a
cell on the lower floor, and Eugene Phelps
and Willis Hill, who together occupy a cell
on the second floor. TIL Jail is one of the
best in the state, being substantially con-
structed of very thick stone walls, with all
the openings grated with extra heavy iron
bars. In spite OF this, however, Phelps,
who is awaiting his trial for highway rob-
berry, determined that he would endeavor
to cut his way out with steel, and If neces-
sary, with ball. The second floor of the Jail
II constructed with a hall. at the ends of
which is heavy iron grating. with q long
and comfortable cell on each side Of the
hall. The doors Of the cells are close TO the
outer grating which looks upon the street.
By ascending to this and reaching In, the
prisoner at the same lime reaching out, .
confederate was enabled to supply b i'm with
. crow bar, q pair of six-inch navy pistols,
and a case knife, properly indente for use
As \ saw with which to cut the bars between
him and liberty. 1t seems that for some
weeks past the prisoner has been in posses-
sion OF a small piece Of iron, which he used,
having bent it into q hook, to hang y look
Ing glass upon, and with which he succeed
ed In picking the lock of the grated door to
his cell. SO that he has for quite a while been
able to unlock his door at pleasure; but L
addition to the lock the door was fastened
with q fve-eighth inch iron chain to the
outer CRATE. being attached to the door bv
. heavy clip-this Phelps succeeded In cut
ting In two. hi,iing his work from day to
day by filling the i~ncision made by the saw
with grease and dirt. For two or three
nights jaiIor Chinn thought that he heard
strange noises in Phelps cell, and be accor-
dinghy on Tuesday night sat near the graf
ing watching Tor developments, but could
hear nothing but q continual rafting at tho
stove, which was made to drown the noise
OF the saw, and occasionly a slight noise at
the cell door. On Wednesday morning at a
pretty early hour, he proceeded to the cell
with an assistant, as usual, at the outer
door; whom he tried the door 1t opened
slightly, and on examination he discovered
that the lock was picked and the chain
cut as above described. MIR. Chinn imme-
diately hunted up the sheriff and informed
him Of the status OF affairs. The prisoners
were removed to the opposite cell, and their
old quarters searched. The saw was found
concealed in a crack between the wall and
the iron ceiling; and the pistols, newly
loaded in every chamber, In the mattress OF
the bed; the crow bar Phelps had thrown
down the sink when the jailor went for the
sheriff. Phelps Intention must have been
to open his cell door, conceal the fact from
the Jsilor one day, gain access to the hall.
the next night pick the lock leading into the
residence part Of the Jail. As to cut the
doubled barred grat,ngs would be q hope
less task, then with pistol In hand the two
would have essayed to make their way out,
which would have been an easy matter. lu
the whole business Hill seems to have been
a passive assistant. He says, sthat II Phelps
had let him out he would have gone to JEFF
ferson City and demanded his trial." Phelps
says "that he does not care much that he
was frustrated in his attempt to escape, as
he would have laid around home, and would
soon have been caught and returned to jail"
He also says ''that he would not hurt the
TAILOR for the world. even if he had come in
conflict with him." They both talk very
much like sucking doves, but what they
Say must be taken cum grano sai,s. 1t is I'M
fortunate for both Of them that they made
this attempt, as it will, of course, aggravate
their cases In trial. and even though Phelps
acknowledges that he was the principal,
still Hill was Qartieeps ersminis, and will have
to bear some of the consequent blame. Hill
says that a person has been at the outer
grating of the second story three different
times prior to Wednesday morning, this
week. This person, whoever he may be, 10
in danger of suffering serious legal penal
ties, and had as we'll desist from his at
tempts. MIR. Joseph Chinn, the jailer, is to
be commended for his zeal and vigilance,
Tor if 1t had not been for his night watch
which confirmed his suspicious, the scheme
ml0hf hovs hoop o,,,aaoruI