Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-26

STILL ALERT TO KEEP ITS MEMBERS FROM
DESERVED PUNISHMENT.
They Raid the Belmont County Jail, and Lberate
Seven Prisoners-The Job Cooked Up
in This City.

The almost brand-new and thought-to- be
criminal-proof Belmont county jail, at 81.
Clairsville, opened wide its ponderous
doors, before daylight Sunday morning, III
response TO the efforts of its half-dozen or
more tough inmates, who were cheerfully
aided by outside friends, and when the au-
thorities 'sgot ontor the situation yesterday
morning there was no one about 10 tell now
the thing was done, or TO indicate what d.
rectiOn the fugitives had taken.
The ensuing sensation in the quiet county
seat may be imagined, but cannot be ade-
quately described.
The fact that three or four choice repre-
sentatives of Wheeling's criminal talent
were in the Jail, and are at this moment re-
joicing in freedom from prison fare ana the
erstwhile dismal prospects of trip TO Co
lumbus, makes the story OF the plot ana es-
cape of considerable local interest.
The escape had been evidently planned
beforehand, and it is almost certain that
the scheme which resulted so successfully
was originally Matched in Wheeling and
carried out as far as il could be from the
outside. By local parties. II is known
that a good deal of hurrying
TO and fro, consulting, and whisper
ing about, has been going ON
in crooked circles here, since the convlc-
tion of Combs and McDonough, for the
Z
urday. several of the shining lights in the
fraternity of thieves, toughs and con"
men went over to Ohio. This visit and the
escape cannot be coincidence; especially
when the fact of outside help in carrying
ont the plan to escape is beyond question.
Those who escaped were William Robin
son of Bellaire. convicted of manslaughter,
and on whom sentence had been deferred
pending the disposition OF motion Tor Il
III g lnl1
awaiting trial for robbery: Eddie
Combs and Mike McDonough, of this city,
convicted of assaulting and robbing John
Watkins, of Bridgeport Abe Boston, OF
this city. of fire-bug fame, convicted OF
burglary at Martins Ferry; Louis Nolte,
of this city, indicted for burglary and
James Manly, of Bellaire, in for resisting
an officer.
The crowd of eight or ten Wheeling
crooks who went over 10 Ohio Saturday,
must have reached st. Clairsville at a rea-
sonably early hour Saturday evening, but
nothing was done until about midnight, to
give time for carrying out part OF the
scheme inside the jail. Robinson was the
man who was selected to make the oppor
tunity. He pretended illness. and so work
ed upon the sympathies and feelings of
Sheriff Foulke that that official gave him
the freedom of the Jail corridor during the
night.
Sometime after the Jail was closed for
the night. Robinson was supplied with
tools by the men outside, and about two
o'clock he pro eeded the wrench the locks
off the cell doors, liberating oil the other
prisoners. These in turn were supplied
with crowbars and jimmies, and the front
door of the Jail was burst open and the men
were free. James Manly. of Bellaire, who
left with the rest. refused 10 leave town
and was found on the streets of the st.
Clairsville and arrested. The other pris-
onors either jumped into the buggies in
which the Wheeling men made the trip
out. and so returned 10 this side Of the
river, or else they started on foot for
Bridgeport or Bellaire.
Early yesterday morning, Marshal Shep-
pard, of Bellaire, found Johnson in the vi
cinitv of the lookup at that place, and ar
rested him. Johnson said he had come TO
give himself up. johnson informed the
officer of the delivery, and asked TO be ar
rested He said he was sleeping in his cell
when he heard noise. A man stood over
him and told him his cell was unlocked, and
that he must skip. johnson says he did
not like the idea of going, as he says the
county has poor case against him, but he
was compelled TO leave at the point of
revolver. The prisoners took the Bellairc
ana OI. tldlISNlllt IOdu 10 ppluN
Quincy. where they separated. Johnson
was locked up.
About o'clock Yesterday afternoon
Marshal Sheppard and Officer Johnson ar
rested Robinson at the home of his son-in-
law in the First ward, Bellaire. When
Robinson saw the officers he attempted to
leave the house by the back way, but see
he could not do it safely, surrendered.
Sheriff Foulke had offered a reward of S25
for the capture of Robinson and these Off
GERS earned the sum in short order.
1t is believed that Robinson and Johnson
went to Bellaire to get money, expecting
TO leave last night for unknown parts. The
Wheeling parties have not been heard
from at this writing.
The city police force were promptly in
formed Of what had transpred ut St.
Clairsville, and yesterday and last night
they We're securing the town for traces of
the Jail birds.
A few prisoners, in for petty offenses,
were left in Jail. a fact which goes TO show
the liberation of the Wheeling men was the
chief end desired, and that it was not in
tended all should be set free. The prisoners
remaining in Jail say there were ten or
dozen outside men in the plot