The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-04-12
4 Condemned Murderer's Desperate
Effect to Escape.
from the Virginia City Ch7onicle.I

from the Virginia City Ch7onicle.l
\ desperate attempt to break jail was
made at the county prison this morning.
About s o'clock the Jail was in the charge
of Henry Kirsch, the day keeper. Two
TRUSTEES, as prisoners who help the Jaliers
are called, had, as usual, been released
from their cells at an early hour, to pre-
pare breakfast, which was ready to be seFv-
ed at s O'Clock. The keeper, Kirsch, then
proceeded TO open the cell doors, to allow
the prisoners TO 60 to the breakfast table
One cell, occupied by three or four ordlna-
~ prisoners, among them one named Mel
son, confined for petty larceny, had been
opened, and its occupants were at large IN
the corridor The keeper then went TO the
first cell on the main corridor, in which
Harrington. the condemned murderer was
confined. One of the TRUSTEES occupies this
cell at night with Harrington, but he had
been le, out at o'clock to help prepare
| breakfast, and from that time Harrington
| had been alone. His ankles were confined
!
them together, but not so as to interfere
with his walking. His hands were free.
As the keeper opened the cell door, Har-
rington, at once appeared in the doorway,
fully dressed, and with large six shooter
in his hand, which he instantly levelled in
the face of the keeper, and called out,
"Throw up your hands" The keeper was
taken completely by surprise. His own
weapon was tucked away in a hip pocket
and unavailable in the emergency. But
with commendable presence of mind he
threw himself upon the desperate prisoner
and catching his right wrist, turned the
pistol downward A shot was fired at this
instant, but whether it took effect or no
cannot be determined.
A desperate struggle at once began be
. tween the two men-ftenry the keeper
, who is a powerful man, seeking 10 disarn
> the prisoner, and Harrington, who is
small, supple -limbed and active fellow
trying to shoot the keeper. At this mo
g ment the prisoner Nelson came to Han
. rington's assistance and clapped his hand
: upon the keepers mouth. In this way tn
three men struggled and fought along th
corridor to the door Leading into the kiteh
r en-, and through the door into the apari
r ment. Harrington fired as often as he coul
: raise his weapon SO as to give any promis
of effect, but the strength of the keeper wa
: so great that Harrington could not releas
q his hand, or raise the pistol to Il level
Il One of his shots, however, took effect
is Kirschs right thigh, cutting an ugly gas
q just below the hip-joint, but not hitting th
h bone. Another struck the keepers thigl
but was prevented from inhicting an
wound by plethoric pocket-book or wa
let which the keeper happened to have
l. his right hand pantaloons pocket. Th
wallet contained $500 in $50 gold pieces
y The ball struck it tearing it to pieces an
3 scattering the coin; but the coin also ware
). ed off the bullet, which fell harmless upo
,s the floor.
n While this struggle was going on Il
4 TRUSTEES ran to the rear of the Jail to kee
,e out of the way of the bullets. as they sa
None ofthe other prisoners, expect Nelsc
D. took any part either for or against Il
4 keeper. City Jailor Carpenter, who WI
"a preparing breakfast in his apartment of IL
,r prison, hearing the shooting hurried to tt
relief of the county keeper.
" AS he entered the kitchen he at on
a. drew bead on Harrington and fired. tt
"a ball took effect, and Harrington let go h
if hold of his pistol. A second shot effect,
~ the absolute release of the keepe
n the thief, Nelson, letting him go, viii
ID Harrington ran to the southeast CO
n ner of the room and picked up an emp
10 candle box, which he wildly threw at t
,e keeper OF Carpenter. Then Carpenter fir
in his third shot, at which Harrington cri
ri out. "You sons of -" and staggeri
ad to the stove in the southwest corner of t
AZ. room, overturned kettle of boiling wat
% and then ran back to his cell and thr
be himself on his bed, bleeding in the vici
n ty of his right temple, right ear and
10. hind his shoulder. The wounded keel
er, at once locked the cell door, leaving
he miserable man to suffer the consequence
10 his folly. Nelson was then placed in
on heaviest irons the institution possess
- and locked up IN another cell, and all
lat other prisoners were secured.
INT When Harrington retired to his cell
AZ. of threw himself on his bed and lay mott
,be less and speechless as if dead. Indeed,
nd a long time it was supposed that he
'us dead, but by close watching from the
=, door it was seen that he was still bres
ion ing. DIR. Bergstein was summoned.
ct- found the prisoners wounds not by
for means serious. One ball had struck hi1
,,ies the left shoulder behind, and passing
one der the skin had lodged under the shou
ore joint.
The Mines of Durango.