The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-02-03


.ssssvills csuriss. Journal. s7sh- \,
The facts of plan Of forty eonvIcis to
'scaps from the Indiana State Prison
south a. JsfIsrsonviile last night were
nsde public yesterday morning.
Tuesday Scott Thompson. alias Harry
Kelley, completed : tiree years sen
Iencs from Owen county on the charge
Df burglary. and was released. II 10 one
Df the customs Of The prison officials TO
examine al persens - they 60 out 10 see
II they carry on their person any contra
hand messages 10 outsiders. When
Was searched : Nat KEY Was
found secreied under his armpit. Wrsp-I
ped around the key WAS piece Of paper
the names Of convicts Will
liam Clark, sent from Putnam county i
James smith, from Bartholomew, and
John FORBES, one ef the confidence men
sent from Jackson county last August for
defrsuding old man Zach. Deputy out Of
IS 800 near Sey n'our, on the afternoon
OF Juus 30. last.
AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE.
Clark 10 one or the most expert safe
blowers in the country, and 10 now serv-
ing . long sentence for that kind Of
work. Thompson or Kelley. about .
wear ago, made the most daring attempt
g. escape from the prison ever planned.
At the risk Of his life he climbed from =
window in the hospital which is located
on the third floor OF one OF the buildings.
and swung himself 10 . stone coping
several feet away. climbed upon . water
pipe to the top Of the building, and then
lcrossed over the roof 10 the stairway
that goes down into The guards' quarters.
Getting In that apartment, he dressed
himself IN suit Of clothes belonging TO
gusrd, boldly walked to the entrance
gate, and wss allowed to 60 out BY the
sentinel on duty. He made bic way 10
HenryviIle, where he was recaptnred.
( One miscaIculnfion in the leap 10 the
narrow stone would have resulted in his
being dashed TO death on the pavement
below.
I The four persons named above became
\ intimate in their confinement, and con-
cocted the scheme 10 escape, which wa,
frustrated. KeIlev was allowed TO leave
the prison. after having the key tsker
away from him without any questioning
Smith, Forbes and Clark were cent FOL
in turn. and seeing their plan had beer
partially detected, weakened. Extraor
dinary privileges have been granted
IRON time to time to Forbes aud he VA
, reminded Of this. v hich resulted In III
| making clean breast Of the aGsir.
Al WORK ron soxs TIuE-
4 Forbes stated that the four had bee'
. al work for some time in getting up
Get Of keys Tor the outside gates. eel
| doors and range locks. These were q
, be used In letting out the conspirstor
. and Other cunvicfs who would nssis
| them. Thompson was 10 have reiurne'
. 10 the prison yesterday. disguised. an
seek sdmission ar = visitor He Was Z
!. lie armed with several revOIvera whic
|. were 10 he secrstiy passed 10 some 0f ID
I, leaders of The expected outbreak
" II Il the rusfoDi ~ the Prison SoutI
!. TO Isi out the occupants Of one range Z
!, cells every evening for the purpose I
4 being shaved. The range In which th
! plotters are confined was 10 be 0pene
Z lest night for sLis purpose. when III
Was done, they intended 10 make rus
lon the guard in charge, overpower hin
|, u necesssry. kill him, and with the key
: had in their possession release enoue
'men 10 take charge Of the whole place.
N Warden Patfsn tried the keys th'
: were delivered BY the men, and fcun
= that they fitted perfectly. Clark COZ
. tessed that he had made the keys and l,a
. used . patience in their inanutactuI
'-lthat : pers0n under any other circuu
's'seance would have loug since abandon
gled. lie said that he had nude . lsrs
u tlnumber II them before he could get on
~ 10 fit exactly . he wanted il 70. To 3
lt|shs patterns thin pieces Of pine boars
lslcoated with wax were used TO take q
=. e-.impreesions. Before the task was con
lel pieied, Guard Mcintosh had eDrpriss
o Clark while tn the set Of working
% one Of the keys, which caused the matt
: 10 bo abandoned until The official eeas(
D. 70 be % vigiIant.
Vel Al another time key was known
G. be In possession OF Clark but Was pass'
p. By him 70 another convict Who In tu
velkept Il going until lie location was lc'
y. I'm Clsrk's cell very fine drill and @
ss| we're found. The driIl was 40 fne
velsempered thst the case hardened stf
e bars used In tho construction Of the ce
n made but Iittie resistance 10 IL. II "
% intended TO use this IN case the ke
70 failed 70 work on auy Of the locks th
de desired 10 open.
> TWO OUTSIDE coSYEDERArEs.
Il was asccrtained that there were q
outside confederates. supposed 20 10 {
convicts, who sre now located IN Jen'
lt- sopvilIe. They were to supply the arm
NJ and when the break was msde were
'r- b on hand q . point near the pris
- with : carriage aud citizens clotf
b Tor Clark. Forces and Smith. AZ
n-lprice Of this assistance, Clark had ent'
~ "a into ! compact 70 aid them In OPP
'st Ing The safe u one Of the largest ben
lofthis city.
Thompson must have known oil 4
bylthsr attempts AFTER the discovery o.
lrs keys were futile, and hss since failed
bic make bis appearances u The prison
sst agreed.
The whole scheme was . visioni
one, and would never have succeeded
ith any great extent. II the designs Of
"a ~~--~f~~s~~~ L~1 49, ham Ifwsslwad ~