Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1884-10-09

colored man named John Anthony,
who was in jail. The three men were
confined on the north side of the Jail,
and through the aid Of confederates
outside the prisoners obtained files,
saws, burglars tools, ETC., and used
them effectually on tho bars of the
window on the street. A hole large
enough to admit of the passage of an
ordinary man was cut in the Jail win
dow, and it was stated by other prison
ers that
LAPPIN CRAwLED THROUGH IT.
Many persons disbclieved the story, as
Lappin weighed 235 pounds, and was
very short and chunky. 1t has since
been learned that man named Walter
Stanley took Lappin in a spring wagon
and carried him into tho northern part
of the state, where he kept in hiding
for some time, and at length they
escaped from the country and went to
South America together. Stanley was
an eccentric character, whom Lappin
had given employment in his office,
He was once a iilibuster, and was with
Walker in his excursion to Nicaragua.
Odcll, the colorod man, was sub
scquently arrested in Topeka, having
voluntarily returned, and he insisted
that Lappin was pulled through the
hole, adding: II thought they would
hear him grunt half mile"
Soon after Lappin's escape his son,
Grover Lappin, about l3 years of age,
ran away, having been led to do so by
the sneers Of his school companions.
He had a very sensitive nature, and
could not bear the insults heaped upon
him. He was aftcrward returned, and
led rowing life for some time, but
was finally arrested for robbing n
postOilice, and was sent to the peni-
tentiary, where he still is.
On Sept. l3 The Commonwealth pub
lished a letter from Walter Stanley,
describing the course taken by Lappin
and him after leaving Topeka. They
made their way to Canada, and thence
to New York city, from whence they
sailed, on Aug. IA, for Aspinwall.
They were joined in South America
by Scraflord. Lappin's brother-in-law,
and led precariOus life until the sum-
mer of 1878, when Scraflord returned
to Kansas, sending ahead of
him an announcement that he was
coming and desired trial, saying that
he was tired of trying to shield others.
On December 10, 1878. the case was
called in the district court of Topeka,
when the state filed an amended in
formation consisting of siXty-thrce
counts. 1t was intended, apparently,
to try Lappin practically while trying
Scrailord, result which would natu-
rally follow. In fact, the amended in
formation charged Scatlord and Lappin
with forging and causing to be forged
certain bonds, cnumerating them.
The defendant took the stand during
the trial and Sworc that he left the
country because Lappin said it would
be for his interest to do so. He said
that when he left New York for Aspin-
wall he had only 80 cents, and worked
his passage, shovcling coal six hours
on and six hours of all the way. He
said he met Lappin and Stanley in
Callao, Peru, and that soon after they
fell out and did not speak for several
years; that he cooked his own meals
and lived chcaply and made some
money, but lost it. The story of his
adventures as he related it to your cor
respondent was as thrilling as novel.
The trial lasted seventeen days, and
resulted in Il verdict of guilty. The
defendant at once moved for new
trial, which was granted, and was be-
gun July II, 1879, and terminated
July % In verdict Of acguittal.
Scratford at once proceeded to his old
home in Nemaha county, and went to
work with the industrious energy
which had been characteristic of him
all his life. His fortune, which was
large when he left, was wrecked by
his strange experiences and the vicissi-
tudes of years, but in few years
more he had got on well in the world,
and is to-day rapidly accumulating
another fortune.
Mr.. Lappin's family became scat
tered, his wife being reduced almost to
penury. The vast wealth which had
been theirs was used up in the settle
ment of the claims, and the household
goods were sacrificed to obtain liv-
ing. She is now residing in Illinois.
OF Mr.. Samuel Lappin various re-
ports were circulated from time to
time. He was last heard from in
Uruguay, and at last the story was
given out that he was dead. This be-
came the commonly accepted belief,
and he was rapidly passing from the
memory of the people, when Gov.
Click received information that he was
alive, and living in Tacoma, Washing
ton territory. An old neighbor of his
at Seneca is now mayor of Tacoma,
and it was he WHO gave Lappin away.
The necessary papers were issued and
sent from Topeka September p. There
are circumstances known to few per-
sons here which lead them to believe
that Lappin was in Ohio about year
AGO,