The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-08-18
Ben, TASkER'S ESCAPE.
What Sheriff COMBS has to say
About it.
BEAVER CITY. UTAH,
August Il, 1880.

August Il, 1880.
Editors Herald:
Knowing that you publish an indie
pendent paper, and are disposed t,
see eVen-hsnded justice melted cut Il
Jail, 1 take the liberty OF asking thr
favor that you give place to tle fol.
lowing:
1 see in the Tribune CT the I2;t
inst, an article relating to the escape
OF Ben Tasker. that is inconsistent
and glaringly false. In regard to the
matter, and in justice t. myself.
wish to place before the public few
iacts in regard to the escape.
On the Both of July last, Taskel
was found guilty of murder in the
fret degree; and was then turned over
to the care of Deputy United States
Marshal Pratt, and l and my guards
bad nothing further to Go with hun.
In proof OF tnis / send you a copy OF
an order Issued TO me by Judge Bore
man:
In District Court of Second Judicial Dis
triet July term.
On motion Of P. T. VanZile, United
States attorney, it is ordered by the
court that the TAILOR OF Beaver County
shall Lot, nor shall any other officer or
guard, allow any person to have access
to or communication with any prisoner
committed to jail by this court, or who
mi " ha al IN =.
unless such person desiring TO see q
prisoner shall bring written order from
the judge of this court granting him so to
do, and it is further also ordered by the
court that said iailor shall allow the
United States marshal or any of his
deputies to post and keep st, in and
around said jail, but outside of the cells,
as many guards as said marshal or
deputy shall deem advisable for the safe
keeping Of said prisoners, or any ofthem.
These orders are subject TO modification,
revocation at any time by the court or
judge thereof
JACOB S. FOREMAN, Judge.
In accordance with the above order,
the marshal hired and placed two
guards over Ben.
II
confined in their cells and my guards
sleeping by the cell door, and it was
Impossible for prisonerS to get out of
the cells without making sufficient
noise to arouse the most sound
sleeper.
Had Tssker been confined in his
cell where l kept him, before convic-
ton, and where be certainly should
have been after, he could not have
escaped. |
As to irons 1 had two pairs in the !
office where Ben was kept by the
The Tribune says Gan in vestigation
is needed" So say l. Let it come. !
want to do an act OF justice to one
Of the marsha's guards Geo. Tracey. |
He was placed in front OF the jail and
lid not leave hit post for an instant.
Had the guard in the rear of the
ouilding done the same Ben could |
not have got Out without being seen.
In regard to the marshal and my
self being at logg'rheads, Mr.. Snow
IS as ignorant of the CAUSE as he is
with the rest Of the information. Our /
Misunderstanding WAS not in regard
10 county prisoners. l SIN always
willing 10 receive them, the different
counties paying me for their board
snd guard. but objected to receiving
prisoners belonging to the maehal.
ls | very seldom get any pay for
keeping them, and l will not receive
hem unless | am secured. l hold
myself entirely blame!ess for the
escape Of Tasker and consider reports
o the contrary malicious and circu-
attd for political effect and meant to
lefest me in the election just past.
Had kept s prisoner in an open
,ffice. without irons on, who Was con.
'icted of murder, and he escaped, l
would be indicted for completely in
Iidipg the escape, but so long as it is
me OF the Liberal party, they try and
brow the blame on an innocent per-
on. This is in keeping with some
II the neiarious doings ofthe so-called
OF this county.
Holding myself responsible for the
Ibove statements, | sm,
Respectfully yours.
]. NJ. CooMBs,
Sheriff OF Beaver Co.. U. T.