Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-01

second escape. He was recaptured IN Feb
ruary, 1s57-iust one year later-but he
only remained in prison until August of
that year, when he again escaped. He
was again recaptnred in January. 1888,
but agein escaped in 1859.
In August, 1859, he was arrested and con-
Nvicted of grand larceny in Stanislaus coun-
tv, under the name of James Saunders
Tor this offense be received a sentence Of
eight years at San Quentin.
Again was the slippery criminal well
coined with open arms by the State Prison
officials, who had been securing the coun
try for him since his last escape. They
had begun to look upon him as q sort Of
lieutenant of the Devil, who was possessed
of the power of slipping through keyholes
or other small apertures, and regaining his
liberty. When he was brought back this
time the officials took every precaution
known to secure him so that another es-
cape would be impossible. They even
chained him I'D at night and had a guard
at his heels. Ivey laughed at them, and
told them their precautions were useless, as
he would escape from them inside Of a
year.
He kept his word.
In May, 1860 he effected his escape in
such a mysterious manner that the prison
officials were completely dumbfounded,
and some were convinced that he was
possessed.
Ivey remained at large until April, 1861,
when he was arrested in Napa county
under the name of ]. ]. Chambers, for
grand larceny. This time he received a
fen-year sentence in the State Prison.
All the former precautions were taken
again at the prison, only in 3 double
measure, and this time the officials were
determined that he should not again es-
cape. BUTT was all to no purpose. Though
he remained With them longer this time
than he ever did before-two years-he
finally gave them the slip again, and in
May, 1868, he was free man.
He remained at large until September of
that wear, when he was arrested in Gala
veras county under the name of James
Russell, for burglary. Here he was not
recognized as the notorious James Ivey,
and the result was that he got off with
fve-year sentence.
This was the time that Iyey did not escape,
though he made several attempts TO do so.
He served out his sentence, and only
short time afterwsrd was back again, on
another sentence for burglary. From that
on he did not add much to his record as
jail-breaker, and spent most of his life up
to the present time in the penitentiary.
He escaped once or twice during that time,
more closely than any twenty other con-
victs, and almost continually wore chain
and-ball to prevent his escaping.
IN 1870 he had just been returned 70 Jail
after an escape, when the Warden took ad-
yantaged of q well-known trait of the
crook and made bargain with him by
which he was relieved of all necessity Of
watching Iyey, and had an assurance that
he would quietly serve out the remainder
of his term. Although he was burglar
and thief, Ivey was known as man OF
his word. A promise was sacred with him
and he would die before be would break
faith with anyone who had reposed con-
fdence in him. Knowing this trait the
Warden made trade with Ivey whereby
the latter was to be allowed to conduct q
small store or stand inside the walls Of the
prison and to enjoy a monopoly Of the
trade of the prisoners, if he would agree not
to break out of jail again. Iyey agreed and
there was no more trouble with him.
When his term expired he had amassed 8
fortune of several thousand dollars, which
he took with him to San Francisco.