The New York herald., 1877-01-21
A GENERAL JAIL DELIVERY.
ESCAPE OF SIX PRISONERS AT ST. JOSEPH, MO-
DARING PLOT OF DESPERATE CRIMINALS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

ESCAPE OF SIX PRISONERS AT ST. JOSEPH, MO-
DARING PLOT OF DESPERATE CRIMINALS.
lpY TELEGRAPH TO THE nNEALpl
ST. LOUIS Jan. 90, 1877.
The city OF St. Joseph, No., Is wild with excitement
to-day over tho escape OF six prisoners from the
Buchanan County jail Tho job planned some
time ago, and an effort mado to escape
through the root OF the jail. The plan being rus-
racd by discovery and adoption OF proper precau.
ton in chat direction, Immediately aftcrward another
scheme was devised. which eliminated last night in
the escape Of all who desired CO. Those who took
advantage OF the opportunity John
Lawrence, under sentence Of death for the
murder Of his father, Hiram Lawrence, in Holt
county Charles c. Thompson old pcnientiary CON
vlct ,ndctcd for tho murder OF constable Green su.
vau in July last; Alexander Broughton held for CON-
plicy with Thompson both being daring dcspcradocs
and leaders OF gang OF )rse thieves; William John
son, indicted for highway robbery; John Sullis,
charged with horse stealing, and James Martin who
IS charged with grand larceny.
ENGINEERING FEAT
The escape was made through brick wall separating
the cell occupied BY Thompson sullis from un
occupied cell used for storing mattresses furniture
not IN use. The work was accomplished by means OF
chse and n butcher knife, each Of the prisoners
having previously prepared himself with
wooden key, with which At night they
unlocked their cells and entered the
cell OF Thompson and Sullis. The mrn worked
alternately and cvaded discovery by placing a box
over the aperture between the two cells concsallng
tho rubbish beneath the mattresses In corner Of
the unoccupicd CELL They penetrated the concrete
flooring aud proceeded to make subterranean cxeava
tiOn downward and the outside OF the walls then
upward to tho brick wall the side the build
in..
PARTING scENEs.
Tho remaining prisoners state that night before last
tho tunnel was completed, with tho exception OF
moving the bricks on the pavement outside, and all
things were In readiness for the flight Last evening
tho shern's deputy locked tho prisoners
tired IRON that part OF the building
locks tho doors noiseessiy opened the Grim
inals slipped quietly out and modo preparations to
depart Ono by one they shook hands with their
fellow prisoners, and told them that They had made
up their minds to got out OF the jail die in the
tempt"
FREEDOM
These prolimnarics over, one by ono the men eau
tously made their exit through the narrow opening,
found themselves untramnecd outside OF tho prison
bars, and took a h,rried hight A horse stolen
from stable opposite the jail and II is presumed
OF the iugitivcs took It, The all
said to be armed with rev0lvcrs, and Will
dio rather than submit TO recapture
but 1t s not probable that they will be found very
soon, for they had boon nearly twelve hours be-
foro their absence was discovered.
Tho jail Is not in good condition ms II should be
and tho Sheriff Is not considered blsmcablo for the
escape This is tho second limo johnson has broker
Jail and tho third timo for Boughton