Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-09
DIGGING FOR LIBERTY.
"BRoNcHo SHORTY" NEARLY Sue
CEEDs IN BREAKING JAIL.
He Dug Through Foot of the City
Prison Wall Before He was
Interrupted.

Jail-breakiug is becoming fashionable
again.
The recent escape of four convicts from
the Folsom Penitentiary, by means of q
tunnel, is still fresh in the minds Of the
public, and now aDother-not quite so sue
cessful-is discovered right here in our own
city.
a couple of weeks ago three men were
arrested by detective Burke of the railroad
fol breaking into freight cars. Burke re-
quested the officers at the police station to
have the men placed in separate cells, so
that they could not communicate with
each other.
One of the prisoners was W. R. Kelly,
known in tie thieYing fraternity as
"Broncho Shorty"
'Broncho Shorty" was placed in one of
the cells on the west side of the Jail, which
cells are considered the strongest in the
place. This particular cell faced upon the
Jail yard, being separated from the latter
BY a two-foot brick wall. The interior of
the cell is covered with half.inch sheet
"Broncho Shorty" After he had been IN
the cell about a week, he determined to
escape, if such feat were possible.
He started in by removing portion of
the sheet-iron covering, about foot square
Next to this was some redwood planking
which was easily penetrated, and then he
encountered the two feet of masonry. His
only tools were an old broken spoon, and
small piece Of steel which he broke of
his bed.
The cell is very dark inside and this is
probably why the officers in charge of the
Jail, who supplied him with his meals, did
not discover the operations.
On Tuesday of this week "Broncho" had
cut about half through the brick wall. On
that day, however, he was compelled to ap-
pear in the Police Court for examination
with his companions. They were all held
to answer before the Superior Court, and
tbis-alas, for "Bronchos" hopes-necessi-
tated their removal to the County Jail.
1t was while a trusty was cleaning out
the cell yesterday that the hole in the wall
was discovered, and there was considerable
excitement at the police station.
Had Kelly been permitted to occupy the
cell few days longer. there is no doubt
that he would have succeeded in making
his escape. As soon as the wall was pene-
trated he would have found himself in the
Jail yard, and the low walls surrounding
this would not have deferred him long.
Police Captain Lee said last night that on
Tuesday he prevented Kelly from escaping
just as he was leaving the Court room It
is customary, after the Court proceedings
are over, for the bailiff of the Court TO
bring the prisoners down stairs again into
the Jail. In doing this it is necessary to
pass the entrance to the station. Kelly
was among the prisoners Tuesday, and as
they we're passing the door, "Bronchon
slipped out of the crowd and walked leis-
urely toward l street. Captain Lee saw
him, however. and, catching him by the
| coat-collar, asked him where he was bound
for.
"Oh, excuse me, Cap.," said ''Broncho, y
with bland smile, Il thought l resided
over there"
An additional charge of attempted jail
breaking will probably be entered against
Kelly noW