The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-04-30

An attempt of four prisoners to break
jail was frustrated by Sheriff Charles A.
Krider at five o'clock last evening. The
attempt was bold In its designs and II is
apparent that IL was being carried out by
men who had done such things before. 1t
can readily be seen that there was q
master hand at the helm.
AT about 4:45, the SheriH's step-son,
Frank l.. Mobley went to his room in the
6heritf's residence to dress. He entered
the closet to get his clothes, when his at
tention was attracted to u noise which
seemed to emanate from the interior of
the Jail. The noise was of a peculiar graf
ing character and the young man was un-
decided as to what was causing il, think
ing perhaps 1t was a rat. he called Sheriff
Krider who at once decided that the men
inside were working. He listened few
minutes in the closet, and then went down
stairs and listened. There was no question
in his mind by this time that strenuous
efforts were being made by several prison.
srs 10 break out.
Sheriff Krider next proceeded up stairs
and noislessly opened door leading to
u large attic over the cells. Seated in the
northeast corner Of this room, Juggling at
blanketrope on the other end OF which
was another man whom he was assisting
through a small hole in the roof of the cell
was Livingston Cosgrove,, alias Charles
Wilson.
$50 you are at work, are you ?,, saluted
the sheriff.
Cosgrove turned with a startled look and
saw that the game was up.
You would do the same thing IL you
were in our fix" he said,
1--WE a notion to hit you with this brick"
said the sheriff as he stopped and picked
up a brick which was lying on the hoor.
Cosgroye begged oil anu seemingly had
no idea of attacking the sheriff, VINO was
armed and would have bored linn. full of
hoIes ere hs regained his. feet. be was
led quietly to his cell below.
Investigation showed that there were
four men Interested in the attempt 10
break out. They were Cosgrove, Ed.
kluiZ, William Reese and James Brennan.
The manner OF making their escape was
well planned anu was almost elective.
Reese is the haIl man and every evening
at O'Clock the key was handed 10 him
through the grating and he then locked
the other prisoners in, returning the key
later 10 the turnkey. he is known in
prison parlance as the trusty. Yesterday
at O'Clock the key was handed to bin as
usual and he went through the regular
order of locking the menin. There must
have been something wrong with the locks
on the cells OF Cosgrove, Klutzand Bren-
nan, at any rate their cells were not
locked.
AS soon as the sheriff left the door the
men lost no time in getting TO woIk. They
proceeded at once TO the bath room and
by means OF bed stats, began TO pry on the
iron ceiling. No one but a man who had
previously figured in such proceedings
would ever have thought of attempting 10
get through the ceiling which is of iron,
and oval shaped. Cosgrove who was the
ring leader In the daring attempt, had
evidently met with just such q ceiling as
this before and knewhow to go at II. The
huge iron plate was soon loosened at one
corner anu hole oflarge dime nsions was
soon made, the plate hanging down at one
corner, leaving plenty OF room for the
passage of % man's7body.
There is also an IRON floor on the attic
above, the floor being made OF large
heavy plates securely boited together.
Much difficulty was experienced in raising
corner OF tins huge mass OF iron, but
Cosgrove managed to squeeze through
after tearing away number of bricks.
The squeeze mustpave been a tight one as
he is quite a heavy inan and the aperture
is very small. He was bleeding in several
places from SCRATCHES and bruises made in
gaining the atlic.,s de had with him rope
made of blankets and was just in the
| act OF assisting one of the other men
through, when sheriff Krider put stop TO
Iurtner proceedings.
In ten minutes more all four would have
been in the attic. They would then have
waited until dark and made their escape.
| There Is only one window in the attic, and
| that is on the west side. IL Is round but
not very large. Still IL would be an easy
matter for man to get through. A light
ming rod passes by the window, and for
such daring men the matter of getting out
| of the attic would have been an easy job,
as there are no bars ON the window.
The men who made the attempt are all
under Indictment for penitentiary OF.
| enses. Cosgrove, or as heis better known
| in this section, Charles Wilson, is the man
| who walked up the III. Wayne track with
| Philip Grojean of Massillon, knocked him
| down with a stone and continued to beat
and kick him until Groiean became insen-
| sible. He then took his watch and money
and left him beside the rail to be killed by
passing train. Grojean became con-
scious, however, reported the matter to
the police and Cosgrove was arrested ne xt
morning. He is an old offender
and il wanted ia Rusk county,
| Texas, where he escaped the
| guards while working on q contract Job.
He had been found guilty burglary.
Ed. klotz forged an order on Hersch-
| heimer Bros, and also stole several over
| coats, tue last one being taken from the
Globe Clothing House.
William Reese was brought over from
| Alliance, charged with grand larceny. He
stole an overcoat valued at $50, from Ft.
Wayne train.
James Brennan is charged with burglary
and larceny and there is q clear case
against him. he broke into Bohlen,s
store in Wes. Tuscarawas street and the
next night entered Bowen's shop in West
Eighth street.
The men will be kept in their cells until
they leave for Columbus. ~