Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-02
JAIL DELIVERY.
FIVE PRISONERS ESCAPED BY DAY.
LIGHT YESTERDAY.
One of the Gang Caught, but tho Rest Take
to the Woods-How It Happened The
Peril of Holding Prayers in Jail-De-
ecription of the Escaped Birds.

At 5:15 P. N. yesterday afternoon five prison.
ers broke out OF the county Jail in manner
SO slick as to lead to the impression that they
were old hands at the business. Yesterday af-
ternoon Mrs. McMasters attended the Jail to
conduct a prayer meeting, which was held in
the northeast corner Of the main cell-room
floor. All of the prisoners did not attend the
services, but those who escaped, or portion
of them, danced, sang, laughed and whistled on
the south side of the cells This action must
have been assumed, as subsequent events
proved, for the purpose of drowning any noise
they might make in effecting their escape as
welt as to distract the attention of the turn
keys on duty.
end of the cell room, a hole had
been knawed through the floor by the rats
with which the Jail is plentifully inhabited
The flooring of the jail consists OF three layers
of boards, each layer having been nailed to the
preceding one, as the latter wore out. The
consequence was that the layers have rotted
away, and afforded not holding force upon the
nails retaining, or supposed to RETAIN the more
recent boarding. It was but the work of a
moment, therefore, to insert mans hand into
the rat hole, pull up the boards and thus gain
access to the basement, by dropping into it.
The basement gained, the prisoners prodeeded
to dig out the wall under the side of the south
east window, the softness and crumbled state
Of the mortar facilitating their efforts to
marked degree.
The first discovery of the escape of the pris-
oners was made by John Bloom, the Jail iani-
tor, who at work in the lower part of the
Court House square, near Fourth street.
Bloom saw Emanuel Harris, colored prisoner
crossing the square, gave chase, caught him on
Minnesota street and brought him back to JAIL
when it was apparent that the following had
escaped:
Thomas O'Brien, sentenced on June for six
months for stealing suit of clothes from John
Picha.
James Daley. sentenced on the same day for
the same time, for the theft of shoes from
Tmme & Schnittger.
Billy Hughes, held on juno 10 to the grand
jury, charged with the theft of an opera glass,
the property of Marion Dimmick.
Joseph Somers, held on June % to the grand
jury for tapping the till in Godfrey Elbels sa-
loon. The recaptured Harris was sentenced
on June 5, to three months for razor slashing
Harrls said that the others had just got out be-
fore him, and two of the turkeys started in
pursuit, tracing three of them into Gribben's
lumber yard, corner of jackson and Ninth
streets, to which the escapers went at brisk
walk, one of them leisurely pulling off his
coat on the way. Here the turkeys made a
sad mistake. Instead of dashing into the
yard, one returned for help, and the
other remained on guard. Shortly
the ex-prisoners emerged, divided and fed rem
derlng pursuit hopeless 1t is supposed, how
ever, the three subsequently united, as that
number OF men, answering to the description
OF the escaped prisoners, were tracked, toward
evening, to the woods back of Oakland ceme-
terry, but the whereabouts of the fourth is q
matter of mystery. The police of this and
neighboring cities have been notified Of the
delivery two trustworthy officers have been
dispatched to points of vantage, and other
means have been adopted, which, it is believed,
Will ensure the capture of the four.
Following is q description of the quartette:
Billy Hughes-about "a years of age, feet 81
inches high, weighs about $50 pounds pretty
stoutly built, short red hair and round face
without whiskers moustache, the second
finger of his right hand cut off az the second
joint. Thomas O'Brien, q tramp-about "a
years of age, 5 feet 81s inches high weight
about 100 pounds, we'll made, short auburn
hair, full round face with small light-colored
monstache. James Daley, tramp-about %
years of age, feet inches high, weight about
l4O pounds, square built, complexion and hair
dark, thin faced with a dark moustache: Jo-
seph Somers-about the age of the Others. s
feet 7 inches tall, weight $50 pounds, light
complexion and hair no moustache or whiskers.
sharp face, prominent nose walks with his head
down and slight droop of one shoulder, wore
stiff brimmed felt hat with a soft crown
colored cotton shirt and light pants.
Sheriff King offers reward of 1926 for the
return of each one.