Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-11-27
4 AsBOI.D EEFoRT.
Two Prisoners Make q Strike for
Liberty, but Fail in the At

tempt.
A report circulated very quickly yes
morning to the effect that two or three
men had endeavored to break from the
county jail, and an investigation de-
yeloped the following facts: George
alias ..Spooney" Butler and John alias
'sSupar Jack" Condrey are confined in
the county Jail for implication in the
LANCE burglary some time since, the lat
ter now under conviction for the bur-
plary and held to testify against
the former. About 3 o'clock yester-
day morning Charles Daily, the watch
man, was hailed by man named Long
and asked to give the keys OF the cells
toa negro named Banks, to give the
men same water, and as the request at
that time of night was rather singular.
his suspicious were aroused and he set
about TO satisfy them. Proceeding eau
tiously to the rear of the building and
into the engine house, he discovered
Butler with his
HEAD AND SHOULDERS PRoTRUDINd
from back window, unable to proceed
further. He gave the alarm, and sum.
moned the jailer, Pat Daley, and
Sheriff Tingle. Butler was handcuffed,
offering no resistance, but the
united efforts of all present were
unable to release him from the
situation. Condrey was found near
him waiting to escape in his turn.
Their efforts, which were so nearly sue
cessful, had been carried on as follows:
On the second floor and in the rear of
the Jail, is corridor, into which, cells
open on each side, among the latter one
used as Mushroom, and which is never
locked, The men engaged in the at
tempt to escape took advantage OF this
room to work at night. The jailor passed
! through and examined every cell to see
that all were safely housed, and know
ing the number OF occupants, would
look under the doors and count legs.
The men contrived an
INGENIOUS PLAN TO BE COUNTED
in their cell, and really re-
main hidden in the wash cell. Their
pants and socks would he taken oil and
and stuffed, then hung on the edge of
Eheir beds, so that the jailor, unable to
see above, would count the correct
number OF legs, and retire, then work
would begin. In some way they had
contriyed to conceal two case knives,
which, with the edges nicked, formed
substitutes for saws. Patiently for
weeks they had toiled at their work of
CUTTING THROUGH INCH BARS,
and on double windows, in the day
time filling up the incision with SCOT.
They even worked through the day, one
Of their number standing guard at the
door, and with a string around his ankle
would jerk his foot and warn the work
ers of the coming OF the watch.
Finally the time for action came; the
bars had been so nearly severed that Il
Jerk would complete the fracture, and
all was ready for the escape. Condrey,
the smaller man, should have gone first,
but was afraid of shot from the watch
man, so the bolder one made the start.
1t is incredible how he Il man of lG5
pounds could force his shoulders through
an aperture OF only by l0l inches, but
by stripping his upper clothing and lay
ing on
COAT OF SLIPPERY SOAP
it was done. He claims that in ten
more minutes he would have been free,
but this is not likely, as it took black
smith two and q hall hours to cut an
other bar and liberate him.
As punishment they will remain in
their cells for thirty days. Butler, with
out much effort, broke the ordinary
handouts with which he was secured,
but upon being threatened with the en-
brace of the MAYHEM cuffs, an unusu-
ally strong pair, promised to remain
quiet. He is very much depressed, and
thinks he will never get out OF prison.
When brought here from Pittsburgh,
the authorities OF that city gave warn
ing that he was desperate OF unusual
ability, and that no ordinary Jail would
hold him. He is probably safe enough
now, as extra precautions will be taken
to prevent q recurrence OF this nearly
unnnnSSful Of