Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-21
Sheriff Gibson illustrates Two
Attempted Escapes.
Daring Undertaking of the Two
Cr0cker Boys.
They We're Discovered in the Act of
Saving Their Way Out.
Two Desperadoes In the County Jail
Who Tried to Get Out-Thelr Supply
Of ToOls-The Sheriff Discovers
Their Plan-Ofhcers See
Them at Work.

The notorious Crocker boys, also
knoWn as Franklin" and who, in
addition, have score OF other aliases,
have during the last few days developed
very ingenious plan to liberate
themselves from the county jail. where
they are imprisoned while awaiting
trial. George and Joe Crocker are un-
doubtedly to be numbered among the
most clever crooks in the United States.
They have broken Jail in various places
by the use of tools invented by them
selves and constructed of the most prim-
tive material. On other occasions they
have hoodwinked some of the most
clever officers of the law in the north
and west. Thus, while the two were under
arrest in Montana for burglary, George
suddenly became violently insane,
and began to rave in his delirium about
the celebrated Greenwood murders in
Napa, this state. The officers having
charge of the prisoners became suspic-
ious that the Crockers were the MUIR
derers themselves, aud, inasmuch as the
boys really fitted the descriptions very
closely, Sheriff Mckenzie, of Napa, was
informed that the Greenwood murder
ers had been caught. A requisition was
obtained, the Crockers were brought to
this state, and were actually tried.
They then proved an alibi and had to
be acquitted. As soon as released they
vanished, and thus escaped punishment
for their Montana crime. OF course the
whole business was a put up job.
There is probably no crime short of
murder of which these two clever ras.
Gals have not been guilty, but their
favorite game was forgery, George
Crocker being an expert penman. They
worked off bogus checks all over the
coast, there being fourteen charges
against them here alone. They were ar
rested here by Detectives Bowler and
Benson while playing pool in Main
street saloon, and their capture was one
of the best pieces OF work ever done
here. They were committed for trial,
and we're locked up in the. sd" depart
ment cells, on the third floor of the
county Jail, the tier facing the court
house.
Several days ago Sheriff Gibson re-
ceived an inkling that some of the pris-
oners were planning to break jail, and
he quietly went to work to ascertain
who the schemers were. There was
no way of watching them from the in.
side, as no one could hide in the cor
ridor without being discovered. 1t was
jail-breakers could do no work except
after nightfall, or at most after dark,
and only until the time they are usually
locked up. Accordingly, on Friday
evening, Sheriff Gibson took Under
Sheriff John Moran and Deputy Sheriffs
Dick Barham, w. H. Russell, Charles J..
Cruz, F. G. Harmon and Gadi
S. Gibson and surrounded the
Jail with his force. Every win
dow was watched by the officers in
hiding. At about quarter of O'Clock
the deputies on the court house side
heard grating noise at the corridor
window in department I'D, and discov-
cred George Crocker vigorously saving
away at the iron bars which protect
that window. Upon further investiga-
tion it was found that Joe was was on
the watch, while George worked. The
saving process continued until nearly
8 o'clock, when all the prisoners are
locked up. The prisoners were not
given any idea that they were discov-
cred, and on Saturday night the officers
again went to watch, and witnessed the
continuation of the saving. This time
the prisoners were also seen taking the
balance weight from one side of the win
dow casing and using it as a lever in
trying to pry open the sawn bar. The
weight was made of castiron and broke
to pieces.
After the men were again locked up,
the sheriff went up to their cells and
asked them how long they expected to
continue as boarders.
The Crockers saw at once that the jig
was up. and indulged in rather forcibie
language aimed chiefly at the prisoner,
whoever he may be, who ''squealed."
The two prisoners were then taken
down stairs by some of the deputies to
be searched, while others looked through
the cells. On the person of
George Crocker was found a
saw cleverly made from an
old butcher knife. In the cells were
found three more saws improvised from
ordinary case knives, as we'll as three
cornered file, and rope twelve feet long
beautifully braided from strips of
blanket. 1t was apparent that the men
intended to make their escape between
the hours of 80 and from the corri-
dor, for no attempt had been made to
saw out of the cells.
1t need not be stated that the Crock
ers will be guarded with jealous eyes
hereafter, and that some of the prison
rules will be marked by greater strin-
gency.