Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-05-25
LUTHER RADFORD,
OF CHRISTIAN, AND JAKE
JOHNSON. OF WARREN,
HEAD A PLOT no Els.
CAPE FROM THE
PENITENTIARY.
Fooled By a Timely Discovery,



and were making an attempt to scale
the walls. On the arrival of the fire
engines nothing to give rise to agila-
ton was discovered and quiet again
settled down upon the city. 1t de-
veloped, however, to-day that the ru-
NOR was not unfounded, but proceed
ed from threatened attempt on the
part of The convicts TO overpower the
guards and make their escape. A
little more than week ago Capt. |
Paine, chief of the yard guards, had
his suspicious aroused by number
of idle convicts closely observing his
movements. A day Or two after that
l. c. Radford, who was sent for life
from Christian county, noticing that
Paine had no pistol in his holster, and
said: captain, what have you done
with your pistol?" Paine then turn
ed his surveillance to Radford, who, it
seems, was often in the company of
Jake johnson, another life prisoner
who was sent from Warren county.
In the meantime an anonymous COM
munication was left OH the desk, sd-
dressed to Capt. Taylor, and inform
ing him that the prisoners had de-
termined to bid him adieu that they
had hoped that the Legislature, in
the Prison Parole Bill, would grant
them some relief, and that their dis
appointment had driven them TO des-
pair. Yesterday during the dinner
hour Capt. Paine slipped around in
the back part of the hemp house, and
in the third story, in an unfrequented
room, he caught sight of Johnson
quietly at work screwing cleats on
plank, after the manner of ladder.
Warden Taylor Immediately OH re-
ceiving the information notified the
fire department to be in readiness at
a moments notice, and told the
guards TO watch Radford and John
son in order that their confederates
might be caught. The alarm of fire
last evening proved to be false, but
the fire department, mistaking it for
the signal agreed upon, spread the
rumor, and set the whole town in
commotion. AS further delay was
useless johnson and Radford were
arrested and put in confinement at IL
o'clock this morning. johnson after
a stubborn denial, confessed his COM
lplicity in the plot, but would not give
the names of his confederates. lie
said it was their intention to make a
break either last night or to-day al
dinner, at the ringing of the bell for
meals. The hemp house was to be
fired, ladder placed against the
walls, the guards beat down and kill
ed If they opposed any obstacle to
their escape. II is not known how
many are in the plot, but the warden
thinks he might name a dozen or
more, while some of the guards say
they have received and intimation
, that upward of seventy-fve of the
most dangerous characters were
ready for the signal.
Both Radford and johnson arc
said 10 be quiet and well-behaved
prisoners. Nothing in their prison
conduct indicates that they would
enter into such desperate conspira.
cy except on one occasion, in trivial
quarrel, johnson plunged "a knife
blade into fellow prisoner. Rad.
: ford is the exact image of Alsop, and
belongs to one of Christian county's
best and wealthiest families. lie il
about twenty-four or twenty-five
years old. His aged father was in
, the city yesterday to see him. John.
! son is native of East Tennessee. liz
killed man in Logan county il
Fergnson's barn, in which Henry
Washington, who was recently takel
back there by Capt. Bligh, kill
: ed his man. lie made his escape a
the time, and after bloody cncoun
ter he was made captive in Cumber
land county and taken back TO Logan
from whence he got a change o
: venue TO Warren county.
> Warden Taylor called the AGO pris
oners into the chapel after Dime
and made an address to them, il
which he spoke of their folly in tax
ing such desperate chances. lie bad
n them 60 back to work and faithful,
perform their duty, for they coulC
}. rest assured that every precau
ton would be taken TO avert
y similar conspiracy. All Is quiet, AM
: it is believed no further attempt vii
l be made.
The terrible affair with Alsop ant
> his gang is still too fresh in the mind
of the officials to allow a repetition i
it can possibly be prevented. Capt
] Taylor is brave and fearless war
! den, and the confidence in his man
agement has quieted the apprehen
sions of the citizens more than any
i. thing else.
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