The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-08-02
j. Volney Ryan and Charles
Moore Break Jail
At An Early Hour This Morn.
ing and Make Their
Escape.
They are Being Hunted by Sew
eral Posses Of Armed
Men.
Sheriff Conner Offers q Reward o.
600 for Ryan and $50
for Moore.

! IOI 00OOT0.
! About 4:lO o'clock this morning Sheriff
Conner and his deputies we're awakened by
the screams Of Minnie Spuyer, who in
formed them that she had just seen a
couple Of persons
CRAWL THROUGH A HOLE
in the vest wall Of the Jail. On making
an examination it was found that heI
story was only too true--and that the tive
prisoners who made their escape were j
Volney Ryan, charged with obtaining
money under false pretenses, and Charles
Moore, who was awaiting trial for
KILLING N. }. DONOVAN,
at Jacksonville, Mo-, ON July 4th. 1880
deputy Sheriff Fred. Conner reported thu
matter at police headquarters and had an
alarm of fire turned on to bring out q
crowd from which he could select q POsse.
4 large crowd soon put in an appearance
and several posses were started after the
Jail breakers.
HOW THEY ESCAPED.
The culprits made their escape by saving
into lx3 inch bar OF iron that served rs
latch on their cell door, which let them
into the corridor where they sawed of an
other bar which let them into the hallway
around the cages, With nothing
to keep them from their liberty
bu, an eighteen-inch brick wall.
They took one Of their blankets out
OF their cell and spread it out on the floor
near the north window in the west end Of
the Jail, and here they dug out with a
chisel. The blanket being placed on the
floor for the purpose of deadening the
sound of the brick and mortar As II fell. IL
was while they were coming out that they
were discovered by Minnie Spuyer.
WHAT THEY WE'RE CHARGED WITH.
Charles Moore, one Of the missing Jail
birds. was confined in the Jail awaiting a
trial on the charge of murder in the first
decree-hsving killed NJ. J. Donovan, q
prominent business man Of HarrisOnville,
Cas- county, on the 5th day Of July, 1880.
The causes which lead to the shooting are
q mystery, as Moore was comparative
stranger in that city, and 1t Is thought
never met his victim until the day OF the
shooting. Donovan and Mr.. Deacon were
standing ON tho sidewalk talking about
wrestling, when Moore came up and made
some remarks, when Donovan said good
humoredly: sit is not your put in yet"
Moore instantly drew q revolver, shooting
Donovan, the ball
ENTERING HIS LEFT TEMPLE.
Moore made an effort to escape but was
overtaken in the outskirts of town BY
Sheriff Stevens, and lodged in Jail. The
excitement was intense, and threats OF
lynching were openly made, and he prObs-
Div would, had he not been brought to this
city.
Ryan is probably the instigator Of the
scheme TO escape, rs he is known to be q
a desperate man. He, as will be remem.
bered. organized what is now known As
the "Local Board" in this city, about
three months ago. He was arrested for
this transaction by Detective Tucker, in
St. Louis, and brought back to this city,
where he has been laying in Jail for want
of bail to await the action OF the grand
jury, on a charge Of securing money under
the confidence game.
THE TOOLS USED
were an ordinary chisel and q very fiRe
saw. They used the saw to cut the two
iron bars and the chisel TO dig through
the brick wall. The chisel was found
after their escape this morning. How
they obtained them is . mystery to the
sheriff and his deputies, as all the cells in
the Jail and the prisoners were thoroughly
searched ON Saturday evening last, and
again on last evening.
BOB. wooLDRIDGE's PROPHECY.
Before being taken to Fulton last Fri.
day night, Bob. Woodbridge, the crazy
negro. called to Sheriff Conner and told
him that Moore, Ryan, Grant and Mc(iraw
were al going to make their escape and
for him to keep a strict surveillance on
them.
THEY ATTEMPT TO LIBERATE MGRAw.
On examining the door to the cell in
which McGraw, the burglar, was confined,
this morning, il was found that they had
attempted to liberate him, As two Of the |
bars had been worked on with saw.
AGOoD REWARD.
Immediately after their escape, Sheriff
Conner had postal cards printed on which |
$1,000 REWARD.
Broke Jail on the night Of July -, 1881, |
Charles Moore, about thirty years old, six |
feet one or two inches high, rather slender |
built, light or sandy hair, whiskers the |
same-cut short, large blue or grey eyes,
pleasant appearance. Wore grey pants, |
dark coat and vest, and dark blue hat.
$4,000 REWARD.
J. Volney Ryan, about u years old, five |
feet 3 inches high, slender built, light COM |
plexion. light mustache, light hair, blue |
eyes. Wore blue pants, plug hat, brown |
buster and low shoes. will pay the above !
rewards for the return of the said parties |
to me at Sedalia NJ. s. CONNER,
Sheriff Of Petiis county.
no CLEw As To THEIR wHEREBOUTs.
Although several parties have been
for them. no clew Oi their where
abouts has vet been obtained. Sheriff
Conner has been doing everything within
his power to catch the escaping felons, and
says he will continue to do SD.
THE SHERIFF FINDS SAW.