St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-04
SALTWATER SILH0UETTES
Three Prisoners Make Desperate At
tempt to Escape.
CLERK HOLCOMBE'S ALARM.
The Prison Board Invites the Legisla
ture to Visit the State
Prison.

John Flood, Ed Devine and Ed
Meagher, three prisoners confined in
the county Jail here for safe-keeping
pending their removal to Pine county.
where they will be tried on charges of
burglary, made an attempt at escape
about 10 o'clock Monday night, which
might have been successful had 1t not
been for the keen ear of Clerk of the
Supreme Court c. =. HOlcombe, who oc-
cupies apartments in the court house
adjoining the jail. Mr.. Holcombe, upon
his arrival at the house, heard an UNI
usual noise coming from the JAIL and
stepped into the Sheriff's Office, and
from there proceeded out doors, where
he could plainly discern that the in
mates of the jail were saving
away at the window bars. Mr..
Holcombe lifted his shotgun and
fired shot without taking aim. in
tent upon soaring the men. The shot
had the desired effect, and in mo-
ment all was quiet. Sheriff Marty was
hastily summoned, and when he arrived
they both proceeded into the cell room
for the purpose of investigating the
damage done. Two of the men, who
had escaped as far as the lower corridor,
were occupants of cells on the
upper tier, and had sawed off
the bars. The other occupied cell in
the lower tier, and had also sawed Off
several of the bars, In all nine small
bars and two one and fourth inch bars
were sawed off. Unfortunately for the
prisoners their little game was spoiled
at Just the proper time. Had the men
been allowed TO operate two hours
longer there is no telling where they
would have been found yesterday morn
ing. AS soon as the culpritS knew that
their game was up they broke up all of
the saws but one, and scattered the
pieces. The men had at least six saws,
and it is a mystery where they were Sc
cured. Sheriff Marty, when inter
viewed by GLOBE representative. said
that the only manner in which the mat
ter could be accounted for is that a man
named Z. II. Smith, who served sixty
days sentence at the Jail for stealing a
watch from John BOO'S boarding house.
must have secured the saws and given
them TO the men. Smith was given a
number of liberties at the Jail, and was
doing odd chores about the building, at
which time he might have been able 10
smuggle the saws into the cells. Shortly
before Smith was released he told the
sheriff that one Of the men had a saw,
but this,it is thought, was only done as Il
blind to cover his action. Smiths
whereabouts are unknown.
A meeting of the board of prison
managers was held yesterday in the
warden's office at the prison. Most OF
the time was spent in transacting rou-
tine business and auditing the monthly
bills. The following resolution was
adopted by the board:
Whereas, The manufacture of binding
Irvine is Il question occupying public atten
ton in the state: and,
Whereas The plant now being put up a
the prison at saltwater is nearing compile
ton, and ready for experimental trial; there
fore be il
Resolved That the board of prison man
ayers respectfully invite and request the
honorable legislature OF the state of Mime
sofa, now in session at 81. Paul. TO visit tho
prison in a body and inspect the working OF
the same at some future Gay TO be appointed
by the warden of the prison That copy O.
this resolution be forwarded to the president
Of the senate and the speaker Of The house Of
representatives.
The date for the proposed visit Of The
legislature has not Yet been set, and tht