The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-29
THE JAILER'S VIGIL.
Frustrating a Well Planned At
tempt to Escape.
NEED OF A NEW COUNTY JAIL
Discovery of Ingeniousiy Contrived Saws
and Other Instruments in
the Cells.

An attempted Jail delivery by the county
prisoners was frustrated by vigiIant jailers
at 3 O'Clock yesterday morning. For some
DAYS past Jailer Pat Farraher has known
that the prisoners in the north corridor
had planned the escape. and he also knew.
later, that they had in their possession
wire saws and were slowly but surely cut
ting their way through the iron bars of one
OF the corridor windows.
Wednesday night when Jailer Farraher
turned in" he confided his discovery to
night Jailer Monroe with instructions to
keep close watch on the birds" and to
awaken him if anything suspicious should
happen. AT a. m. something suspicious
did happen-the men were heard fling at
the bars. Farraher was awakened and both
jalers, in stocking-feet. tip-toed their
way through Auditor Forests office
to an open window directly over the Gagged
window opening to the jail yard and at
which some one could be seen at work. An
arm and small wire saw were discernible,
but owing to the gloom of the jail corridor
the identity of the person so studiousiy
saving his way to liberty could not be de-
termined. The saw could be heard rasping
stealthiiy but distinctly, and the jaiiers
were thinking of putting an immediate
stop to further operations when the saw
snapped and broke. The plyer swore
deeply as he abandoned his task and en-
tered his cell.
A close watch was kept, and when if
teen of the unsuspicious prisoners were
taken out for trial at $50 a. m. before
Judge Humes, Jailer Farraher and several
deputies put all who were confined in the
north end in the south corridor and
searched the cells. The result was start
ling. In the cell of Ed Mcclure, forger
was found broken saw. fitted 10 handle
made from the wire of q coal SHUTTLE bail,
and heavy celebrated hollow ground"
razor, the presence OF which could not be
accounted for. A knife and saw made
from the steel springs of pair of shoes
were also discovered.
The prisoners were in the habit of cutting
the handles off every new broom given
them, and the use they were put to was ex-
planned when the cell of William McKean..
jewelry thief was reached. A complete
homemade opium outfit was found. A
piece OF broom-handle about eighteen
inches long. with hole bored through it,
served as stem for the pipe. A small tin
can cleverly attached made a very good
bowl, and a pants button with the four
small holes inserted in the mouth-piece
completed the apparatus. A small bottle
filled with OIL with a rag for wick, did
service as an opium lamp to cook the drug.
Wires, lmprovised saws and small pieces
of spring steel were found and taken out.
Jailer Farraher stated that he can not Im-
agine how the opium or anything else ever
got in the cells. 1t is a bad place to watch.
The Jail is at present crowded with prisoners,
and unless they are all cleared out,
a search can not be instituted. He is con-
fident there are more saws concealed in the
cells and another search will be made.
Ed Mcclure, the forger, witness named
Walsh and Thomas Bell, charged with
grand larceny, are suspected OF having
planned the escape. These men are locked
up every night, and ii was in their cells all
the tools were found. To reach the corridor
window the men must be out of the cells,
and the jailer is confident that the men
have succeeded in getting out almost every
night for the past week. He says he
knows positively that the cunning law
breakers have made wire key with which
they can unlock their cell door. He in
tends searching not only the cells, but the
prisoners, and will leave no stone unturned
until the KEY is found.
Four Of the inch bars that guard the cor
ridor window were cut in to, and few
hours more work would have made escape
very easy.
The crowd in the jail at present is very
"tough," and unmanageaple, and the
jailers long for the day when they can
transfer their charges to the safe steel
cages in the new courthouse.
uopr rooYs Drscoyrprn