Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-09


they were all lettering about the lower
corridor as the officials entered the out
er Office. Sheriff Franzheim went
through the inner iron door leading TO
the cell building, and standing on the
east end OF the balcony, commanding
view OF the lower floor, called to Corners,
Sutton, Hanes, MichaelS and Shetflin by
name and told them 10 stand aside from
the other prisoners. Somewhat crest
fallen, they lined up In front OF the
Sheriff, who ordered the other prisoners
ND on the second gallery and stationed
Deputy Sheriff McCulloch where he had
an easy command Of the crowd. Then,
addressing the five plotters, the Sheriff
said: "Well, boys. l thought it would
be too risky 10 let you go ahead, and Tor
fear some OF you might fall, I've brought
YOU rope" This broke them up, and
then the Sheriff told them he had been
fully cognizant for week OF what was
going on, knew their every movement,
how they had been operating, at what
hours, that they had often been cover
ed with revolvers while at work, ETC.,
and closed with warning to all the
prisoners, who were within easy range
OF his voice, that the next man who
went on TOD OF the cells would be shot
first and questioned afterwards as to
what he was doing.
A SEARCH COMMENCED.
The FIVE riug-leaders were then lock-
ed up in cells separated by conSidera-
BILE distance from each other, and Ian
terms having been provided a systematic
search Of every cell was commenced.
This search was rewarded in subStan-
tial manner. In cell No. AZ, occupied
by Louis Hager, the young rapist, bill
" was found, made of round stick,
with lead cap, fastened with a screw.
Ii was weapon which would
have knocked out man very
nicely, and had been secreted in
the opening of the ventilating pipe. In
cell No. 40, occupied by Clifford Hanes,
numerous bricks had been looSened,
the bars over the end Of the ventilating
pipe were bent through efforts to get
them out, q large piece OF lead was
found and the iron bar supposed to lock
the door of the cell when the lever at
the end Of the corridor was thrown,
after the prisoners were all in their
cells, was so bent that it didn't catch
the lever, and the cell door could be
opened after the Jailer had
thrown the lever and sup
posed everything was secure. This
solved the problem Of how the men got
out OF their cells, as an examination OF
other cell doors showed that about
twenty OF them were in the same con-
dition. The lever-catches are OF soft
boiler iron, about a foot long, three
inches wide at the door end and taper
ing to an inch and q half at the other,
and a stout man, by bracing himself in
the doorway, eau bend one with little
trouble so 1t won't catch the lever. In
cell No. 50 three long 80 cartridges
we're found, in cell No. 3, fragments OF
an iron slop bucket, in another cell was
a bundle OF klndling wood, bunk-slat
having been cut up, probably TO make a
fire to melt lead, and about ten feet OF
blsnket-rOpe, very nicely made, and in
several cells mortar had been dug out
from around the bricks or from the
iron supports Of the hunks until the
latter we're loose.
THE HOLE IN THE WALL.
But the greatest evidence Of industry
on the part OF the prisoners was found
on top OF the cell building. There was
fouRd bar, taken from a bunk, about
two feet and a half long, an inch and
half wide, and quarter Of an inch
thick. This had been sharpened at one
end, and had been used 10 remove the
brick from the walls. In a
little pile convenient for use was
large pair of scissors, sharp
knife, several bunk bolts. sharpened to
a point, half-inch bolt out Of the open
ing over ventilating pipe, and sharp
ened spike, all OF which had been used
to make an opening in the wall. There
was good, honest wheel-oarrow load
OF pieces Of brick and mortar in the
corner of the wall, while from the wall
itself more than thirty-6ve bricks
had been removed, making an opening
about two feet square through
three courses Of bricks, while the NOR
tar had been largely cut from between
the bricks in the outside course, show
ing that but a very little more work
would have let daylight through. All
the tools used was carefully gathered
up and removed from the cell building,
and the services Of a mason will be re-
quired TO close up the gap in the wall.
HOW THE PRISONERS GOT UP.
In the corridors on either side Of the
cell building, at the south end, fartheSt
from the Office and guard room Of the
prison, are iron pipes, about nine inches
in diameter, with smaller pipe beside
them. The large pipe are made with
Joints every four TO six feet and as
they run close beside the ratings of
the cell corridors, they are as good
as ladders for a man in his bare
feet. The prisoners had mounted
from the ground floor or the first CORR
dor, by these pipes TO the top
Of the cell building, carrying up
with them fragments OF iron, bolts and
bars wrenched from their lightly built
hunks, spikes, or whatever else they
could get hold Of, and once on top they
could work st their leisure, being pretty
secure from observation in the semi
darkness, unless an official in the front
Office had pointer as 10 what was GO
ing on, and directed his careful atten-
ton 70 the locality. looking through
third story peep-hole. When
the prisoners got on to the trick OF
IDpening their cell doors, they could
Mount at night and work there in al
st perfect security, and when the