Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-11
A Clever Worker Interrupted by Il
Jail Oficers.


A Clever Worker Interrupted by the
Jail omcers.
SAN RAFAEL, January 10lh.-Raspl rasp!
rasp This unusual sound in the prison
department of our Court house greeted the
ears of Deputy Sheriff Fallon this after
noon at about l o'clock. Deputy Fallon
was BUSY adding column after column OF
DELINQUENT tax-list fi1nr5s, and at first did
not notice the sounds. They continued,
and attracting his attention, be dropped his
work and listened intently. SuTnlslng
tha. all was not right in the jail below the
main floor of the Court house, Deputy tal-
lon hastily procured his keys and cautiously
descended to the Jail. Quietly opening the
Jail door he heard again the rasping SOUND,
as if some one was fling through the Win
dow gratings.
The cell of q prisoner who is awaiting
sentence, and who vas imprisoned under
the name of W. F. Argo, was soon reached,
but nothing unusual was noticed on the
outside.
Sheriff Hesly then appeared and opened
the door Addressing Argo, he asked what
he had been doing at the window, saying
that be should not expose himself 10 the
chilling drafts Of the San Rafael ozone, as
he had only recovered from severe sickness
ATgo answered that the sash-cord had
fouled and he was trying TO fix it.
The Sheriff stepping over to the WIDOW,
noticed that one of the iron bars had been
about three fourths sawed through.
IBID you use cash cord to saw that?n
queried Sheriff Healy.
No answer was given, and when ssked
for the saw knives which he used to accom-
piish the work the prisoner stOutly denied
knowing anything about it.
Deputy Fallen overturned the prisoners
mattress and concealed hereunder was
found two large table knives so nicked that
they would cut through any thickness of
iron.
On the discovery of the knives the pris
oner was removed to the tanks although
protesting that confinement would result
in his death, he having recently undergone
a severe sickness
Argo was arrested some time ago, and is
awaiting trial before the Superior Court On
a charge of burglary. A. c. McAllister
formerly Captain of the yard at the San
Quentin prison, recognized him as an eX-
convict, who served term in that prison
under the name Of John Smith.
How the knives came into his possession
is q matter of doubt. Some time since
there was barbed wire fence about twelve
feet high surrounding the Jail, but lately it
was removed and transferred TO the Poor
Farm. Another explanation of the way
they may have been gotten into the Jail is,
that of late The number Of visitors has
greatly increased, and it may be that they
have surreptiiousE been carried to the
prison.
Shortly before his arrest telegram was
received from Ignacio, station on the
Donshue Railroad, stating that coat had
been stolen, and given the identity Of the
supposed thief. Shortly thereafter Argo
entered the Sheriff office, pleaded poverty,
and asked for ticket to San Francisco.
Deputy Fallon Immediately recognized
1gnacio thief, and lodged him in jail. 1t
was proven that he was the guilty party,
and he has since been awaiting trial
Since his incarceration he has devoted his
time TO crayon drawing, being an artist of
no mean ability, and some Of his produc-
tions are creditable.