The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-11
MONDAYS SENSATIONS.
The Preparations Made by
Kelly and Christie
TO LEAVE THE COUNTY JAIL
And the Second Attempt the Same
Night to Rob the House of John
C. Hoffman, sr.-views of tho
CoincIdence-The Object.

The discovery of clubs, a knife, keys
and other weapons and tools in the cell
at the county jail occupied jointly by
Thomas Kelly and Harry Christie, the
convicted murderers OF Policeman Joe
Glenn, and the strange coincidence that
on the same night two other men tried
to effect an entrance into the same resi-
dence into which Kelly and Christie
were trying to break when discovered
By Glenn, whom they shot, were nat,
urally the absorbing theme OF converse
ton about the city yesterday. There
were many theories, a great deal O
speculation, but no new development o.
reliable character that was not covered
in the INrELLIGENCER's accounts OF these
occurrences, printed yesterday.
The authorities-both Sheriff Hand
Ian and the attaches OF the jail--were in
the dark us to how things could bt
passed to Kelly and Christie in theil
cell on the lower corridor until an IN
TgLLIGENcER reporter enlightened thu
Sheriff yesterday. The fact is that there
is Il loose stone in the floor OF the eel
Just override one the two prisoners occu
pied. By forcing this to one side I
pretty good crack could be made, and tht
stone-it is said on good authority-ha'
even been lifted out by prisoners wEer
it was desired to give those in the lowe
cell any particularly bulky object. 1t il
known that Christie carried on prettl
voluminous correspondence, passing hi
letters up and receiving the answer
down through the crack described.
Sheriff Handlan told q reporter yes
terday that no prisoner or ex-prisone
has ever given information tending tc
arouse suspicion against the two men, 81
far as his Ero Wedge goes. Jailer NiCholi
told him he had heard suspicious noise
in the cell, and also saw smoke issuing
from the grated door. 1t is suspected
the men were using the fire to melt lead
to be run into keys or for some similaI
purpose.
The statement that nobody gave thu
jailer or other official any hint as Il
Kelly and Christie's purpose to escape
seems curious in view OF the fact tina
ex-prisoners have told outside partie!
that the jailer would get into'trouble BY
combining the two men in the same cell
as they were planning and preparing t
'go out" and were not searched care
fully enough. -.-.
A reporter asked Mr.. John G. Hoff
man, ST., last evening, what he though
OF the second attempt, made the nigh
before to enter his house. He said hi
believed the men seen at his window
were the two strangers he saw in ALLEY
c, by his stable, last Saturday, and tina
they were sent here by Major William
G. Carman, TO make feint at burglary
to create doubt rs to the guilt Of Kelly
and Christie. Mr.. Hoffman is con
WINGED that these two men, as well a!
the two in jail, were members OF Car
mans gang, and were directed by hin
how to approach the house. Carman
he says, was in his house under the
guise OF n peddler of needles, several
times, and sold needles to members o.
the family. He also frequently passed
the house, always looking it over in such
u way as to attract attention. He re.
grets that his sons got excited and fired
at the intruders night before last, before
they got into the house, and thinks il
would have been wiser to have let the
two men get in the window and then
fired. The girls heard the two men in
the yard before his sons saw them ut the
window.
Mr.. Holman says there is nothing
in the house that would reward burglars
for visit, and rejects the idea that this
second visit was more than pretense.
Major Carman when in Wheeling may
have attracted other peoples attention
without their knowing who he was. He
is handsome, distinguished looking
man, OF military bearing, with snow
white beard and hair, and usually wore
back silk travelling cap on the street,
With tho general public the accepted
theory seems TO be one suggested in the
INTELLIGEHCER yesterday-that the two
men came here TO meet and assist Kelly
and Christie when they escaped, and
their plans being foiled, went to the
Hoffman, residence TO create diversion
in the prisoners favor.
It is believed by the best informed Of
the police that there are local crooks
who were either present when Glenn
was shot or ut least had some conneC.
ton with Kelly and Christie and the
extensive combination OF thieves Of
which they were part.