Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-05-29
THEY TOOK THEIR FLIGHT.
SIX PRISONERS BREAK JAIL, BUT
FOUR ARE RECAPTURED.
Locks and Bars No HindranCe to
Desperate Men.

the County Jail, decided that liberty wa:
preferable to incarceration, and that the
latter was growing somewhat monoto
nous, and accordingly they made com
plete arrangements to take long vaca
ton and to breathe the pure outer air
There were eleven confined in the Jail, al
on the ground floor, and of these seven
were released, but one preferred to re.
main, as he has only few days more to
serve Those who gained their liberty
are as follows: VIM. Robinson convicted
of manslaughter; Abe Boston pleaded
guilty to burglary; Louis Nolte indicted
for burglary; VIM. johnson indicted for
highway robbery, and Mike McDonough
and Eddie Combs, convicted of assault
with intent to rob. All these with the
exception of Robinson were confined in
cells-but he, complaining of rheuma-
tism, worked on the sympathies of the
Jail officials, and was allowed the free
dom of the corridors, and was not
locked in his cell. Robinson had free ac-
cess to any of the windows, and could
talk with any one on the outside, and at
the same time receive tools at the win
dow, and as saws and jimmy were used
in the break, it is probable they got into
the jail through his hands, although he
says that Combs drew them in by means
of broom handle.
The cell doors, which are solid, and
made of iron, open into center corridor,
and are fastened with clasping hasps and
locked with Yale locks. When prison
er is closed in his cell he cannot see into
any other cell nor the lock of the door,
so that by no means can a man N a
cell work his way out. Robinson broke
the lock on the door of Combs cell, and
then in turn the other prisoners were lib
Grated from their cells. Then by means
of saws they made an attempt on the
grating of the window, but soon gave
that up as asimpracticable, and turned their
attention to the outer doors. To aid
them in this they used as lever bed
slat about 21S feet long and 4 inch
balls lying in the corridor. Here two
doors barred their way. The inner door,
made of iron and steel Stats, and closing
with spring hasp lock, was forced with
the tools they possessed, breaking the
door somewhat, and finally drawing the
staple which held it. The outer door
then alone remained 1t was. made of
solid iron q inch thick, and fastens mid
way down with bolt operated with
key. This was sprung out at the top
probably by main strength-until jim
my or lever could be inserted, and was
then forced until the bolt gave way
They then passed out through the kitch-
en- and were free. From the marks on
both doors it evidently required consider
able work to accomplish the breaking of
the doors, and that it was done quietly is
patent from the fact that no one in the
Sheriff s house heard any noise, but of
course the stormy character of the night
was favorable to the undertaking.
Whether the tools were passed into the
Jail ON that night or previous is not def
nitely known, but the prisoners say that
they received them on Friday night, and
that it was the friends of McDonough
and Combs who rendered the aid. These
men belong to desperate gang of thieves
of Wheeling, and it is claimed that bug
gy came up from that place about IL
o'clock on Saturday night, and remained
in town for some time. The break was
not discovered until about $50 o'clock,
and at once Sheriff Foulke and Deputy
Scott started on the hunt of the men,
going to the river About o'clock Marshal
Shepherd, of Bellaire. saw johnson on
the street and arrested him, and obtained
from him full account of the escape.
1t was thought probable that Robinson
was also some place in Bellaire, and a
search was instituted, and in the after
noon he was found in the house of Thos
McCaffrey. When the officer entered,
Robinson, who was secreted up stairs, at
tempted to crawl down over the porch
roof, while the women detained the Mar
shal, but the latter heard him, and rush
ing out nabbed his man. Robinson tells |
fishy tale of how the others forced him
to leave jail, but he admits that he first |
let Combs out of his cell. 1t is thought |
probable that both Robinson and John |
son went to Bellaire with the intention |
of procuring money, and intended to pro- |
ceed on Sunday night. Robinson was
well supplied with money when arrested.
According to Robinsons tale the entire
party went together as far as Beech Hill
school house, when they separated, the
latter, with johnson, going to Bellaire, |
and the others going in an opposite di-
rect1on.
The Sheriff at once offered reward of
$50 each for the arrest and return of the
men. A brick was found in Combs cell
concealed in the bed, and everything
shows the desperate character of the
men. Some kindly disposed. people had
furnished some singing books to the
prisoners, and it is said that the last |
piece they sang on Saturday night was
"We'll gather at the River" Whether
the remaining prisoners would have been
released if they had so desired is not
known, but the effort seems to have been
made chiefly for the purpose of releasing
Combs and McDOnough.
BOSTON AND NOLTE RECAPTUREB.
On Monday morning Mayor Smylie, of
Martins Ferry, was informed that Bos-
ton and NOlte had been seen in a saloon
about 3 O'Clock, and that they afterward
went up the G.. and p. railroad track.
Officers Blanchard, Murphy and Bow
man, and James Campbell, especially
deputized, were sent in pursuit of the
two men. They traced them to the house
of Elisha Williams, on Deep Run, four
miles above Martins Ferry Mrs Will