The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-22
81. clair.yille IaiI pellrery.


Chroniele Of yesterday.
On Tuesday night, between the hours Of
II and l2 O'Clock, four prisoners confined
in the county jail made their way out OF
the bastile, and into the free air. 1t has
been the custom of iailors to permit
prisoners during the daytime, to have free
access to the area between the cells on
either side OF the iron cage in which they are
confined, and at night to lock them up.
On Tuesday night about 8 o'clock, after
the adjournment OF court, Sheriff Kinney
went to the outer door OF the cage in which
were the prisoners, and ordered them into
their respective apartments. Each man
retired to his cell ut once, and apparently
pulled the, door shut after him, when the
Sheriff pulled the leaver Of the shifting
lock, which operates to secure by three
bolts in each door the entire row OF cells.
Subsequent developments, however,
| lead 10 the belief that by previous arrange
ment and Immediately before the lever
was pulled, four OF the cell doors were
pushed little ajar so that the bolts OF the
lever lock would miss the stay and pass on
the inside OF the door,, thus leaving the
prisoners free access to the inner court.
The escape from the heavily latticed iron
cage into the yestibule OF the Jail was ef-
fected by taking up small piece OF wood
floor in the southeast corner of.the cage,
which was done by cutting it oil at one
end and burning It Off the other, which
they could not reach through the bars, by
pouring kerosene oil upon 1t and setting
Il on fire repeatedly, thus charring 1t so
that il would break easily, and the removal
OF a piece OF the stone flooring beneath It,
nearly 3 feet long, feet wide and 10
inches thick, and extending under the
iron work into the other chamber. 1t
was also necessary to get rid OF a heavy
piece OF timber at this point, which they
succeeded in doing by sawing it off with q
saw made OF strap iron which they had
torn from the bottom OF bedsted and
backed in some manner so as to make the
edges jagged. -,
Through the aperture thus made, which
was but ten inches deep in one direction,
access was gained to the outer hall OF the
Jail, and from this an easy ascent WAS
made to the roof OF the building, and then
by means OF ropes manufactured from bed |
clothes, they reached the ground in the |
iail yard and made oil, it is supposed in the |
direction OF Wheeling, as such a party was |
seen making tracks at lively speed going |
out OF the east end OF town about that
time OF night. :.
The prisoners who escaped are John W.
Fl. Reese, negro from Bellaire, who was
incarcerated on the 18th OF June, for shoot |
ing with intent to kill boy at that place,
d short time before.
John Taylor, who was brought up from
Captina on the 10th OF this month, charged |
with burglary.
John Bowen, brought from Monroe
county for safe keeping, October 80,
charged with horse stealing, and John Eos
ter, from the same place, with petit lar
ceny.
Bowen is large man, probably six feet
high, weighing $50 pounds, and must have |
had pretty tight squeeze to get out OF the
small hole he did.
Officer Umstead started in pursuit about |
10 o'clock yesterday morning, but it is
hardly likely that he will oyertake them
soon, after giving them ten hours start. |
It is probable that the prisoners were sew
eraI days in making their arrangements,
and in doing their preliminary work be:
fore their delivery, taking advantage OF
the absence OF the officers, and adroitly |
covering their operations.
1t may be said here that all the escapes
from our Jail OF recent years, and they |
have not been infrequent, have been effect |
cd through the roof OF the building. With
small outlay the Commissioners could
remedy this defect in the prison. 1t should
be done at once,