Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1883-08-17
THE ESCAPED MURDERER.
The County Jail Insecure for the Con.
hnement Of Prisoners.

The attention of the County Com
missoncrs is being given to much
needed improvements in the county
Jail. These improvements will con.
sist of iron plating the cells that pris.
oners may be securely held, especially
when confined on commitments for
murder.
George Pierson, who broke jail last
night just after dark, was confined on
an indictment for murder in killing
Johnny Behind-the- Rocks, year ago.
His case was appealed to the Supreme
Court, where it now rests. He was a
man needing to be we'll guarded, and
was guarded as we'll as the facilities
of the Jail permitted.
Up to the present writing no clue
has been found of his hiding place,
though it is believed to be in the
brush and timber along Wood river
toward Bellevue, or below that point
Some twenty armed men searched for
him last night, and several officers are
out to-day along Wood river.
An inspection Of the Jail shows that
Pierson had only to cut through a
one-nch board to escape. The cells
are made Of two-inch plank, lined on
the inside with inch boards. In the
center of the cell windows arc cut
through the planks and boards and
barred with iron. Below these win
dows the plank, which were nailed at
the floor and ceiling, are only left
nailed at the floor. The plank are 8
inches wide, and kept in place by be.
ing nailed to the inch board inside
and not in any other way secured.
Pierson had been helped to a knife,
formerly hunters knife, which had
the blade ground down to a razor
edge and the handle covered with
+ cloth several folds deep. With this
knife he readily cut through the inch
board from the window to the floor,
and when this was done the plank,
which was nailed to that part of the
board, was removed with the board,
leaving an opening A. feet long and
s inches wide, through which he
crawled. Pierson is "a heavybuilt
man, weighing 1876 pounds, but he got
through into the outer room, and see
ing the keeper at the top OF the stair
way, climbed out through ventilator
window in the rear way, and then
reached the sidewalk. The keeper,
Mr. Stanton, heard the noise and
reached the cell as Picrson reached
the walk. 1t is only a month since
Officer Campbell caught him in an at
tempt to escape by cutting out Of the
adjoining cell, and he very nearly
succeeded. Officer Campbell had
been away on official business and
just returned as Person was about to
escape, and as Mr.. Campbell returned
last night after three days absence
at Muldoon, Pierson made his escape
good before Mr.. Campbell could again
examine his cell, as was his custom,
and which in an hour more he would
have done.
The Sheriff had just previously left
for Sawtooth, and Deputy Bingham
for Shoshone, on official business. Mr..
Campbell had just returned and left
Keeper Stanton on watch at the head
of the stairs for half an hour.
Where that knife came from is
question to be solved. The Sheriff
and Deputy have been notified, and
reward for Persons capture will be
offered, but the best move the Com.
missioners can make is to iron line the
cells and guard against a repetition of
such escapes.
Person had food done up to take
with him, but left it behind and his
coat also. He was therefore in his
shirt sleeves and with shackles on, but
it is believed he has friends at hand
ready to assist him in making good
his escape.
Far Sale