The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-08-10
BOTH ARE NOW SCOT FREE.
Through a Hole in the Floor
Scott and Hall Gain
their Liberty.

Ed Seoul ana george hall, VINO nave been
confined in the Benton-county Jail during
the past two months, broke out again last
Friday and are still at large. The Jail is an
old affair, having done duty for over thirty
Years. 1t is provided with three steel-lined
cells at the rear, in which the prisoners were
confined during the night. Adjoining these
cells and in the front part of the building,
is large room with board floor having no
metal protection. Owing to the extreme
heat and the poor sanitary condition of the
structure. the pair were allowed to occupy
this room during the day time. BY the aid
of a small saw, hole was cut through the
81 inches of flooring sufficiently large to
permit them to reach the ground below.
Erhis once accomplished it was only necessa.
ry to await favorable opportunity in order
to effect an escape. Friday night about
dusk they we're seen crawling from under
the building, and, after a hasty consulta-
tion, Hall started on run to the north part
of town, while Scott mounted horse that
had been tied at the rear of the courthouse
yard, and left on a galloI'toward his father
home, about two miles southwest of the city
limits. The sheriff was at once notified,
and within ten minutes posse was in hot
pursuit, but so far have been unsuccessful
in locating their whereabouts.
Scott is desperate local character, and
has given the officers great deal of trouble
While under arrest the 4th of last June for
some municipal oGbnses. he attempted the
life of officer McLagan, and after fusilade,
in which 20 shots were exchanged, the cul-
prit was captured and bound over to await
the action of the grand jury. About a
mouth ago he and Hall, who was being held
for burglary, broke out by cutting;away Il
piece of the front door of the Jail They
escaped to the hills several miles from town,
but were recaptured without much difficult
ty. Sheriff Osburn says that at two or
three different times he called the attention
of the county court to the unsafe condition
of the Jail, and asked permission to take
Scott to Eugene for safe: keeping, but was
refused. A watchman, who he had provided
to guard the Jail during Scott's confinement,
was discharged at the last session of the
county court, since which time no one has
been about the building, except to take the
prisoners their mealss Their intention to
escape had been anticipated by the sheriff,
and the interior of the Jail was examined
carefully each day in order to discover any
attempt they might be making toward gain.
ing their freedom. but the prisoners had So
carefully concealed their work that it
escaped detection.
Scott has sseua under the care of Dr. C.
Ii. Lee for some time, who. says that the
patient is ill serious condition. His trou.
BILE seems to be that of consumption;- and
the damp air of the rear cells was causing
him to grow ranidly worse. This was One
of the reasons for allowing him to occupy
the front room of the Jail during the day
time. Scott's confinement has caused him
to lose flesh and bleach his complexion until
now he presents an appearance that is
almost ghastly. He is very weak ,, and the
violent exercise and exposure, together with
the nervous strain attendant upon his
escape and evasion of capture, will IN all
probability bring a severe illness from which
recovery will be extremely doubtful.
Scott presents delicate, sickly appear
ance. He is about feet 10 inches in height,
and is of slim build; Is of dark complex
ion, and wears small dark mustache. He
is % years Of age and has scar ON the left
side of his upper lip, besides several others
OH his scalp.
Hall is % years of age, has light com
plexion and blue eyes; is of slim build, and
stands 6 feet nigh, and is smooth shaven.
He was born and raised near Portland.
When last seen he was without hat OF coat
and was making his way toward Albany.