Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-16
ANSCHLAG'S ATTEMPT
To Escape from the County
Jail
DISCOVERED JUST IN TIME.
He Breaks His Iron BedStead for
Implements, and Digs Out
the Bricks.

County Jail OF Anschlag, who is under
sentence of death for the murder of
Mr., and Mrs. Hitchcock at Garden
Grove, created quite sensation last
night. 1t appears, from the circum-
stances surrounding the matter, that
for some time past Anschlag has been
revolving in his mind either an es-
cape or suicide, proba..siiy the former.
Ever since tie time for his execution
was Set he has betrayed penchant
for strings of all sorts, and has fire.
quently asked jailor Russell to supply
him with shoe strings, alleging that
the old ones had given out. These
were supplied once or twice, and on
one or two other occasions he man
aged to get hold Of quite heavy cords
which he carefully preserved. As
time passed on he became
anxious to obtain the thirteen
or $14 which remained in Mr.. Rus
sells possession. Not knowing what
he wanted the money for, nor what
good it would do Anschlag to have
the money in his possession, Mr..
Russell refused the request. A few
days ago Anschlag wrote out tele-
gram intended to be sent to his
brother, asking him to come immed
lately as there was no hope. Appar-
emily giving this second thought,
he destroyed it and sent for his attor-
ney. This interview was apparently
not very encouraging to Anschlag,
who evidently from that time until
last night when discovered, has been
making active preparations to leave
the County Jail behind him.
He was confined in cell
to the left of the main corri-
dor, where, by the orders of
Sheriff Kays, who is bound to keep
him until he has executed the sem
tence of the court. This cell has an
iron door which, when shut, prevent
ed the prisoner from being seen by
any one in the corridor. At short in
tervals during the day Mr.. Russell
has opened the cell door and looked
in to see if Anschlag was all right,
and at night watch was placed over
him to see that he did not attempt to
evade the senterce in any manner
whatever.
Last night at half past seven o'clock
Mr.. Russell, as has been his custom,
opened the door of the cell and looked
in. Contrary to his custom, Anschlag
had his window open and seemed
rather nervous. This Immediately
aroused Mr.. Russell's suspic-
ions, and stepping into the
cell he said to Anschlag:
"What have you got your window
open for? It's pretty cold isn't it pam
schlag shrugged his shoulders nerve
ously and replied, "Me, no for stay"
at the same time moving toward the
open window. Mr.. Russell also
moved in that direction aud stepping
on the iron bed beneath it put his
hand on the window sill. The first
thing he felt was peice of iron about
an inch wide and a foot long. One
end of this was wrapped in an old
stocking which served as handle.
Anschlag pushed towards the window
and either endeavoured to take this
instrument or to shove it out between
the iron bars with which the window
was obstructed on the outside. Rus
sell pushed Anschlag back and call
ing for light discovered that in few
more hours Anschlag would have made
his escape if undetected. The window
casing on one side had been pried off,
leaving within reach the 12.pound
iron weight attached to the window
cord. This in itself would have made
a terrible weapon in the hands of so
powerful mao as Anschlag. About
two feet above the window sill two
bricks had been loosened. The NOR
tar had been dug out by the iron in
strument found on the sill. These
were about half way between the
fastenings Of the bars, and the removal
of two or three more bricks would
have made an Aperture through
which the murderer could have
crawled, and it was for such case as
this that the string had been saved.
| He evidently hoped to lower himself
to the ground twenty feet below by
means of the window cords and the
string.
A search of the cell disclosed the
source of the instruments with which
he was making such great progress
toward liberty. The iron bedstead
had been made to serve his purpose.
By continual working he had loosened
one of the iron bars Of the hard board
and by his immense strength had
bent and torn it from it's fastenings.
This round bar had been used in
breaking an iron slat underneath the
mattress, and this thin piece of iron
he had used to pry off the window
casing, and as this was on the outside
| it could not be observed from the in.
side of the cell and had it not been
for the sharp eye of Mr., Russell,
Anschlag's labors would probably
have resulted as he desired. ~
| The conclusion reached was that
Anschlag had asked for his money
with view Of being able to carry il
with him in his fight, and that he
destroyed the telegram while laborine
under tie impression that he would
be successful in his attempt, and
therefore would not need his brothers
presence. Immediately upon Mr..
Russell's discovery he ordered Ansch.
lag searched, and in his pocket was
found the cord and strings. He was
then removed to another cell in the
second story, and later his legs were
shackled to prevent future escape
Sheriff Kays, who was sent for, ordered
a watch to be kept both night and day,
instead of only at night. He said
he would keep Anschlag at the jail
until tho execution, and did not pro-
pose to run any chances. Anschlae
appeared to feel very b dly over the
discovery, and declined to answer
questions which were put to him by
th r, present. The date set his
execution is April 18th, and sheriff
Kays will make preparations regard
less of the statement that an appeal
is likely: Up to the present time no
money has arrived to pay the ex-
/ Oouaoa If tho onpao1 onI %bo~< - n