Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-03-29
Broke Jail-Three Prisoners Ont.

Last saturday evening. about O'Clock
"hen sheriff Fletcher went into the Jail n
lock up his especial pets in their cells for the
night, three of them-'Doc.n Anderson. Ed.
Harm, and another-were absent, I-pou he.
ing asked, the prisoners remaining told
Fletcher that they were 'sup in the loft -
{ meaning the space between the ceiling of the
south corridor and the roof. Looking I'D,
! ne saw that hole had been cut through the
celiing, and be ran out for help. In few
moments 4 step ladder was brought and r.
W. "hltworth put his head into the hole,
discovering similar opening in the roof
| he alarm was given at once, and posses
started after the fugitives. Next morning,
| Mr. Andrew Campbell, living about six
miles below ironton, came to town and re-
ported that two horses were stolen from his
stable during the night. 1t was evident they
| hau been taken by the escaped prisoners and
gave clue OF the direction they had taken.
W. j. Coleman, who runs a saw-mill at
Ozark. saw two men about O'Clock Sunday
morning riding rapidly by his house He
came up toward Ironton next morning and
met one of the posses in pursuit, about five
hours behind the fu@itiye>. His Information
hurried the pursuers on, and ii i now prob
able they will overtake their men.
The prisoners chose their time for escape
with discretion. Supper is served at dark,
and after the meal is over, those in for seri-
Gus crime are Immediately locked in the
cells where they remain all night, being al
lowed the privilege of the corridors during
the day. While the other prisoners were at
supper, Anderson and his companions quiz
city made their exit. The ceiling of the cor
ridors Is composed of two-inch oak planks
covered underneath with sheet iron The
planks had been bored through with a half
inch anger during the day, the sheet-iron
having been first torn loose and held back
during the operation, but replaced over the
hole until the time for escape arrived.
Two of the three men We're in for murder,
and their escape is greatly regretted. Es-
pecially is this the case with regard TO An
derson who is notably "hard case''-a reg
uiar desperado, in fact. We hope they may
all be recaptured, but of course the result of
the pursuit is doubtful, to say the least
How and by whom was the anger conveyed
TO the prisoners: is a conundrum that will
probably never be solved. The jailor has al
outsiders tn communicate with the prisoners
keeping them, when visited, constantly I'M
der his eve. Two suspicious-lo charac-
tiers We're in town Saturday, visiting the va
rious saloons and stores. They had the look
of the swamps and woods about them, and
had never been seen here before; neither
have they since. Did they give outside aid
to the prisoners: If they did, they can con-
Cratuiate themselves upon the success OF the
venture, for Sheriff Fletcher is a careful
jailor.
LATER-ANDERSoN KILLED.
AT O'Clock p. NJ. Tuesday, the Sheriff re-
ceiyed the following telegram, ria Mill
Spring:
IVAN BUREN, No., March -, 1893.
".ShP1IT IRON C0a1itg-We have to- day kill
ed the alleged murderer with long gray over
coat and wound in breast, who BROKE. your
Jail a few nights ago. Let the proper parties
with proper papers come and get the body III
once. JNo. G. BROWN"
That means Anderson, and ends despcr-
ate career. More than one person will draw
Il breath Of relief a. he reads this result Of the
jail-breaking. for Anderson was not the man
who would let hiS enemies rest in peace No
news Yet of the other fugitives.