The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-16
Successful Escape of the
County Jail Prisoners.
How the Feat was Planned
and Executed.
Arrest of Five of the Escaped
inmates.

The whole affair, from its inception to a
successful termination was managed by the
prisoners with great care and judgement.
Not the least suspicion was excited on the
part of the sheriff or his deputies, although
the inmates removed stones and mortar
from the wall and placed a portion of the
debris in one of the unoccupied cells. The
first intimation, that such plot was in ex-
istence, was received, when the sheriff
was informed that the prisoners had made
good their escape.
Search was Immediately instituted, and
before night four of the seven prisoners
were recaptured, and taken back to their
cells
THE ESCAPE.
At IL o'clock Sunday, the sheriff con-
veyed to the sixteen prisoners confined in
the county jail their dinner. The meal
was completed, and the dishes were re
moved from the corridor. The door was
secured, and it was thought that every
thing within the building was in ship shape
order
At 2 o'clock Charles Sutcliffe, painter,
whose place of business is located on the
corner of Second avenue and Thirteenth
street, noticed q squad of men emerging
from the hall way of the jail building. He
had been employed in painting some parti-
tionof the Jail, and had seen the prisoners
He recognized the crowd as prisoners, and
started for the sheriff's dwelling which is
situated in the south western part of the
building. He found Sheriff Ankrum in
front of the dwelling, totally unconscious
that a successful Jail delivery had been &C
complished. The officer visited the hall
way between the circuit and county clerks
offices, and there discovered that an aper-
ture, in the east side of the Jail, between
the jail proper and the offices above noted,
had been cut, through. which seven OF the
prisoners had escaped.
A HAsTY EXAMINATION
of the premises revealed the fact that the
aperture in the stone wall was about
twenty inches square and the same opening
had been forced in the slight portion which
formed the walls of the hallway between
the county offices.
The opening in the stone wall had been
made by removing the stones and mortar
with some iron instrument. That in the
plaster and lathe partition. it was performed
by knife, as was evidenced by the sharp
cut edges of the laths which had been re
moved.
The most of the debris had been forced
between the wall and the partition, while
a small amount had been placed in one of
the cells fronting to the east. An inspec-
ton of the prisoners showed that Louis
Elkins George Harris, Dorsey Patten,
George Jones, Edward Stemple, John Riley
and Frank Martin were missing. Three
of the other prisoners, who were allowed
the use of the corridor. Mcdonald, WEIGH
and Reeder had the same opportunity
to escape as their comrades. refused to de-
part and were enjoying a social little game
of "seven up" when the officers made their
appearance upon the scene.
THE SEARCH.
The sheriff notified at once the police
and all of the deputies. The search com
menced at once. Sheriff Ankrum started
toward the river, and in crossing the rail
road tracks at the foot of Thirteenth street,
he discovered Dorsey Patten and John
Riley. He Immediately arrested the pair
and returned with them to the jail. The
prisoners offered no resistance. although
Patten stated that he thought the prison
ers had earned their liberty, and were play
ing in hard luck to be recaptured. Patten
was indicted for the burglary of G. w.
Sjobluds residence on the Goth of last
February. John Riley was under indict
ment for the larceny of some goods from
the cooperative store at Moline on the 5th
of last April.
Lewis Elkins was recaptured in the alley
on 10Th street, between First and Second
avenues He was first discovered by Ed
johnson, who attempted to cap
ture him. Elkins showed fight, and
a severe encounter followed during
which both of the combatants were badly
bruised7 Hull came to the rescue of John
son, and Elkins was soon returned to Jail.
He is in Jail, awaiting trial for the burg
larry of the Reese House in Moline last
April.
Frank Martin was captured by l. V.
Vincent, farmer living out near the Fair
Ground Vincent who had been informed
of the Jail delivery, heard dog barking
furiously on Sunday night. He went out
in the yard but failed to discover anything
He returned to the house, and was
a second time attracted by the barking of
the dog Mr.. Vincent secured colered
man named Lou Martin, and the two
reached the premises, and found the es
capped prisoner in the brush. They cap
tured him, and delivered him to the officers
Martin is under indictment for the burglary
of Mr.. Hayes residence in this city, on the
26th of last March.
THE THREE
not captured are Edward Stemple, George
Harris and George Jones.
The first named was serving out jail
sentence imposed by the county court, for
an assault with deadly weapon. He was
44cod eng opd uyec committed to the iail