The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-07-01
ABROKE JAIL AND SKIPPED
George Blaine and j. A. Benin Make
Their Escape from the City Prison
--Other Police News.

Yesterdays ANGUS contained an ac-
count of the capture of George Blaine and
]. A. Benin by Officer Butler, in the rear
of the Union house, their actions causing
the officer to believe they were profess
sional burglars. That the officers sus-
picions were correct, was evinced by the
escape and fight of the prisoners last
night.
After the prisoners had been searched
thew were nut into what was con-
sidered a safe cell in the south>
west corner of the city prison.
The cell is the last of the tier of cells, and
on the west side is window opening in :
to the yard beyond. The opening, how
ever, is protected by heavy wrought iron
bars. But during yesterday the men hired
in building new sidewalks had pitched a
pile of old boards and timber near the
window. and it seems that about 1890
last night the prisoners secured large
piece of this timber by reaching through
the bars, and succeeded in prying the
bars far enough apart to allow them to
pass through and escape.
1t was about IL O'Clock when Officer
Bresnahan went to look after the prison
ers and found them gone. Marshal Eckt
hart was Immediately notified and the
city was thoroughly searched for the fu-
gitives, but without success. Marshal
Eckhart says he took water to them
about 10 o'clock and they were quiet and
all right then. Their escape shows theil
guilt, and they are probably wanted for
burglaries elsewhere.
The men are described as follows
Blaine about % years of age. light COM
plexion, about five feet six inches il
height, face smooth shaven. Benin, abou
26 years old, dark complexion, and dari
mustache, five feet eight inches tall
heavy build. This is the third time il
four years that escapes have been mad'
from this same cell, considered the strong
est in the Armory.
1t has been suggested-snd aptly, TOT
that if there was not so much sidewall
repairing to attend to, our police nigh
give more attention to police matters. w
believe this is the only city where the pc
| lice force have to act as sidewalk inspec
tors, city scavengers, bill posters, dog
catchers, janitors and runners for the cit
pound, as well as preservers of the peace
Rock Island should have city marsha
and chief of police separate and distinct
The police have too much on their hand:
now to do anything, as it should b,
done
POLICE POINTS
| Charles W. Jamison was sent to III
county Jail for thirty days by Magistrat
Bennett today for plain drunk.
Magistrate Benefits report for th
month of June shows $113S0 collecte
from fines and SIS 80 from police fee:
total $129.70.
During the month of June SO arrest
were made by the police-9S under tn
city and 20 under the state laws. TIL
charges were distributed as follow
Drunk and disorderly, 16; larceny, II
peddling without license, s; disorderly,
violating health ordinance and carryiI
deadly weapon. 4 each; assault and ba
terry, 3; indecent exposure, peace wa
rants and assault with deadly weapon,
each; abusive language, false pretens
and burglary, each. Number of nu
sances reported by the police, 225; NJ
sances abated, 210 Lights reported OF
"a. The fines collected by Magistra
Bennett amounted to SIG 80, and poll
fees 1850; and fine collected by Ju
tice Cooke, So making total of STAG
on