The morning call., 1891-12-26
A CLEVER ESCAPE.
Convict Shaw's Flight From the Ohio
Pauireptjorv

Convict Shaw's Flight From the Ohio
Penitentiary.
y. u. Shaw, doing ten-year stretch for
HOUSEKEEPING and grand larceny, recently
made his escape from the penitentiary in a
very clever manner. Shaw was employed In
the broom-shop. and, being possessed of an
excellent education, was one Of the teachers
in the prison night school, which position
gave him privileges not accorded most pris-
oners, one of which was the freedom OF the
halls until 9 o'clock each night. and this
privilege enabled him to carry out his plan
to escape. He had the privilege Of the hall
in the afternoon, as usual. and at 6 o'clock,
when the first count of the prisoners was
made, Shaw apparently was lying in his cell
with his clothes on, the gas burning and
reading newspaper, which on examination
was found to be copy of the Enquirer.
About $3.50, just before the last count for
the night was made, the guard went around
to fill the drinking-water cups, and on reach
ing Shaw's cell found him still reading the
Enquirer. The guard inquired if he wanted
water, aud, receiving no response, poked his
cane through the bars and pinched Shaw on
the leg. Still the convict made no move but
continued to read his paper. Unlocking the
cell the guard entered, when he discovered
the object lying on the bed to be nothing but
dummy, and Shaw was gone. The convict
had stuffed suit of prison clothes with his
bedding so as to make them appear as though
man was inside, and with the aid of two
sticks and small wire propped up at the
head of his bed, arranged the Enquirer in
such a position as man lying down would
hold paper while reading.
The alarm was given, and after short
search it was found that the prisoner bad
escaped through ventllatOr in the roof,
which he reached from the top of the cell
block. Climbing to the top of The block
Shaw threw q rope over the rafterS on the
yentilator, ten feet above, and drew himself
up. 1t was an easy matter to cut away the
frame lattice-work and get out on the roof,
after reaching which he walked along the
caves about 100 feet until he came to the
chimney. Tying rope which he had made
for the purpose around the chimney, he
lowered himself to the front yard, dis
lance of sixty feet, using heavy Irvine.
which was also attached TO the chimney to
help in his descent by guiding and steady
ing himself as he went down. On reaching
the front yard there was nothing between
him and the street, and he had but to walk
off The rope he used was made by him
self 1t consisted of six strands of twine,
such as is used to wrap brooms. wound to-
getEer and strengthened by an additional
strand which covered it. This rope was
ninety three feet in length and must hav 9
required weeks to make it, as it must have
been made in the broom shop, piece at a
time, and carried to the prisoners cell.
where the pieces were woven together.
The theory of the officials is that Shaw
Struggled the rope into his cell by winding
it around his body, beneath his clothing
from time to time as. he made it. To pro-
tect his hands while sliding down the rope
he used a pair of heavy socks as gloves, and
these were found where he discarded them
on reaching the ground