St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-01
RAMSEY COUNTY JAIL
The Old Rookery Has Been
the Scene Of Some Daring
Escapes.
During the Incumbeney Of
Sheriff Robinson an Even
Dozen VamooSe.
The Daring Of Deputy Grace
in Rounding Up Two
Fugitives.
The Desperate Postoffiee Rob-
hon 0'HnnnO1c Covr- H.
The Desperate Postoff1ce Rob-
Der 0'C0nnorS Saws His
Way to Freedom.

That old stone ro0kery that stands at
the corner of Fifth and Cedar streets
and does duty for a county Jail has
been the scene of more escapes, per-
haps, than any Institution of its kind
in the country. 1t was erected away
back in the year 1857, about the same
time as the old city hall, and while it
might have been amply sufficient for
the purposes to which it was put in
those days, it certainly has outlived its
usefulness and should take its depart
ure just as soon as more suitable
structure can be had. From the very
outset it has never been any trick to
drill OF saw hole into dav
light, ana it would seem almost
as if the projectors of the con-
Germ, next to architectural unsightliness,
which is its principal characteristic,
had III mind ease of escape, as the most
predominant feature. | have heard it
said, though with what truth | know
not, that some time after the erection of
the building several keys were found
hidden in the mortar in various parts of
the walls. The discovery was only
made. however, after q number of priS-
OnerS had got tired of summering at
this Chateau DIFF, and pOked their way
to freedom and pure air. 1t is probable
that some of the maSOnS engaged in
putting the old structure together
thought it we'll to provide for any fut-
ure emergency that might arise, by in
serting duplicate cell keys into crevices
III the soft mortar that served to hold the
component parts of the wall together.
There has never been any record kept
OF the proceedings or events that have
TRANSFERRED from day to day at the Jail,
and so it is most difficult to get at any
facts in regard to escapes or deliveries
OF prisoners. And right here | would
suggest the ACCESSIBILITY to the sheriff of
keeping a jail lOgbOOk which should
contain all the occurrences of the day
in relation to the prisoners. 1t would
be of Invaluable assistance both TO him
self and others in quest of information
touching the interior management and
discipline Of the Jail.
Perhaps the largest delivery or escape
of prisoners from the Ramsey county
Jail took place away back in 1861 during
the incumbency of Sheriff Robinson,
who is still alive. John Grace, after
wards sheriff for many years, but now
dead. was his deputy. In those times.
during the day, the prisoners occupied
width from the cell doors to the outside
walls, and there was nothing between
themselves and the outside world but
the barred windows and the blocks of
limestone which. as l have already stat
ed, were united together with a very
soft and sandy plaSterng of mortar. A
few prisoners, armed with a couple of
case knives, could readily dislOdge a
boulder iii comparatively short order,
and that is what was done at the time
referred to. When all was in readiness,
in this particular, by some subterfuge
the Waterman was induced to enter
from the ante-roOm without in amoug
the prisoners who, at given signal,
seized, bound, and gagged him, and,
after locking him in cell, slid out
through the opening they had made in
less time than 1t takes to tell it. One
can understand the daring and nerve of
these men who chose the hour of 10
o'clock in the morning for their desper-
ate coup. Among the crowd that got
away were desperGdOes of the worst
possible type-murderers, highwaymen
and burglars-and the news of the
wholesale delivery caused the widest
excitement throughout the city. The
whole force of sheriffS. policemen and
detectives were put on the trail of the
fugitives at once, and in less than
week Sheriff Robinson was made the
happieSt man in st. Paul by having re-
turned under lock and key again
every prisoner who had 50 uncere-
mOniously parted company with
him. The escape was clever, but
the capture, ali the circumstances
considered. was most brilliant. To
Deputy John Grace was deserving most
OF the credit for the recapture of the
fleeing outlaws. 1t is related of him in
this connection that he tracked two of
the most desperate Of these men to a
little town in Wisconsin. He traced
them TO a hotel where he found them
sleeping, as the saying goes. with their
boots Oh. Both were heavily armed and
Grace was fully aware that neither
wOuld Scruple TO use the gun OH the
slightest prOvOcatiOn. The nervy sher-
if, however, did not endeav0r to dISarm
the men, though he could easily have
done so without mourning much risk.
In firm voice he commanded the men
to arise and before they could scarcely
realize what the matter was he had the
''darbieS' Oh them and was conducting
them to the depot. there to await the
train for ST. Paul. 1t is needless to say
he landed his men safely and both were
afterwards given their merted deserts.
Sheriff James King, the Democratic
war horse, occupied the old stone man
sion during the years 1879 and 1880, and
was fortunate enough never to have
lost man. He had been a captain of
police for many years previous to this,
however, and no doubt much of his sue
cess in the administration of the sheriff )
Office was due to his early training and
the knowledge he had acquired of the
crooks and lawbreakers generally.
His successor was not so lucky, how
ever, but it is due Fred Richter to say
that a more painstaking or conscientious
official never occupied the Onerous
Office of sheriff. But he was the victim
of that occult mysterious something
called hard luck. and strive as he might
to ward OFF this influence, it followed
him all through his official career like a
Veritble Nemesis. There were two
escapes during his term of office. but it
is very doubtful If they would not have
occurred under the most careful and
Watchful management. In those days
there was 10 cage as now wherein to
keep the prisoners during the day. they
being allowed to roam at will in the
space between the cells and the outer
walls; and again there was but one
Waterman furnished by the county
board, whereas two are now allowed. Ii
was to these facts principally that the
escapes referred to owe their origin, and
not to any want of care or caution on
the part of the sheriff.
At about clock on the morning OF
JIly 6, 1882. the night watchman on the
inside of the Jail. Sever Robinso n. no
{ ced that the gas at the lower end OF
ia In c4r cid Il,