The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-19
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Burglar Ford Makes a Break
From the County Jail.
REcAPTuRED WITHOUT TROUBLE
The Man who Stole Clothes and Fol-
lowed Blanck Gets Away but Is
Again q Prisoner.

the county fan yesterday morning for four
hours His escape was cleveTiy Planned
and well executed, hut so hot was the
chase that he went under eoves within Two
blocks OF the courthouse. where ne vas
discovered by Hugh NJ. Wright and cap
turea by Day Jafler Dick BurkmaSl-
The time that Fo<d chose 20 make bis
break for liberty was between 80 and s
o'clock IN the morning. when The break
fast rations were distributed by him IN
front Of the several cell doors wiVnin the
steel cage % the north corridor As two
TRUSTEES were about 70 pass the food into
him through the open door he suddenly
sprang over their heads and In a jlffy was
out through the main door TO the room
in which the cage Is located Jaiier Burk-
man was after Ford in q second, bur one
OF the PROSTATE TRUSTEES rose up ard IN
Intentionally upset the iailer, thus giving
Ford time 20 reach the main door 20 the
room and swing Il closed IN Burkmsa's
face. A fierce fight took place through the
bars. in which Ford TANNED Burkman's
left hand between the easement and the
hasp he was trying 10 put on, 10 lock the
big door securely. Burkman. having got
ten hold Of Ford's left hand. held hin un-
ti he drew out sbarp-polnted stick snc
tried to stab him. BGrlxinan got the stick
away from Ford who gave up the fight
and dashed for liberty just In tine 20
upset the coiored cook. The last thai WAS
seen Of Ford until captured was wher. Re
started down Terrace street. hatiess and
coatless.
Richard Ford is 20 well known 20 the
public from his connection with the "a
NOUS clothing house burglary and the ss-
cape of Thomas Blanck that he needs szt-
ale introduction 10 the public. He Is q
8ice-.oolslng fellow. rather sail, sienCsr.
but very wiry. he IS a confirmed thief
and morphine fend. and devoid Of The
slightest spark OF honor. After he was
secaptnred by Detective Cudihee and
Chief Of Police Rogers during the recent
general jail delivery. he was placed IN a
cell on the west side of the building. and
that very night attempted 10 make an
other escape. but Was caught by Jailer
Monroe. He made no other explanation
OF his conduct than he was testing the
jail Since then he has been kept in the
north corridor, where all the dangerous
criminals are confined.
The list is as follows: Charles W Nord-
strom. convicted murderer. Henry Craem-
sr. convicted murderer: Servius Rutten.
convicted murder: James Murphy, convict
ed murderer; Harry G Good, Charles Mel
con. w. II. Knowlton. the gold brick swim
der: Peter Burzman. attempted rape;
James cosgroye, petty larcenist; Williams.
an alleged thief: Tom Niece. the wife
eiasher. Richard Bennett. larceny; Frank
Clinefelter the lnorsernief: Charles Burt.
water front pirate John Anderson. petty
hrcenist. and T. l.. Shoemaker. arson.
Feeding the PriSoneLs.
The prisoners are fed twice each day.
once between $50 and o'clock In the
morning. and again in the middle of the
afternoon. This feeding process IS in
feresting. and forms one OF the principal
supplemental features OF yesterdays
events The food. having been prepared
fn the TALL kitchen, Is placed in large tin
buckets and carried into the rooms IN
which the steel tanks are located. It
snust be borne ln mind that TO enter the
room itself one passes through two doors.
The first from the outside Is a plain chilled
steel door. but the second Is a very heavy
door. made OF steel bars with good-sized
openings between. When this door Is
closed Il FITS very tight, and II requires the
full strength OF a powerful man to open
81. II is locked by hasp that swings
against the casing over a large staple. A
sharp stick run through he staple would
be a good substitute under some condi-
tons for a paddock. In order 10 get into
the steel tank IL Is also necessary 10 10
through two doors that are operated from
the outside OF the cage by means OF lev
ers Between these two doors there IS a
SORT OF room made by the steel bars, about
xxi feet IN dimensions. The last TWO doors
mentioned having been opened. II Is Gus
roinary for two TRUSTEES 20 pass in the food
20 third semi~trusty. VINO takes II ana
distributes 81 before the cell doors This
operation having been finished, the buck
efs etc, are taken out and the doors
locked Then hy means OF other levers
the cell doors are opened and al the pr's-
oners como ont Into the corridor within
re cage and eat their breakfast.
Yesterday morning Jailer Burkman
went on duty as usual at o'clock. lie
has no assistant. owing 20 the economy
~ .be county commissioners. and about
-.sa o'clock got ready 10 give the prison
e.e fhrlr breakfast. Harry Howard and
George Bailey, two TRUSTEES who are In
for short terms. were called out from the
south corridor and brought In from the
kitchen the morning rations. Howard
carried large tin bucket or bread and
HALEY HAD "a bucket Of tea. otc.
Rurkuaan orened the doors that lead
.ato the room where the steel tank IS.
and WAS followed by the TRUSTEES. but
d.d nnt lock TIE doors after him. From
ou- side the steel tank Burkman opened
the door Of Ford's cell and he came out
as usual % distribute the food. Tie had
on a pair 81 trousers. unaershirt and
saoes Rurkman threw the levers that
ufenet hoth che doors into the tank and
than pulled back the FIRST door In this
way ne stood with BIS hard on the opeu
door whsle the TRUSTEES stood. buckets in
aard between him and the main entrance
- the room. Howard weut up 30 The en-
trance. closely followed hv Bailey ana
stnopei evrr 20 pass o1t tho bread " hfch
For3 had vo1no forward 8s 81 10 receive
u les taan a sceond thc situation had
changed ans regular siuSlc-handed fail
Break was ioaugur8te1.
Iord.~ Quick Move for Liberty.
Ford. instead az taking the food handed
sim. grabbed hold OF the top OF the cage
AMI with "a muscular EFFORT threw himself
clear over both the TRUSTEES and iuto tho
shree-foot walk between The cage and the
room wall FIe did not take tie time 20
say good morning - Jailer Enrknlan.
but made Tor the main entrance with a
rush. Jaler Rurkulau was rot - allow
his prisoner % get away 50 easily ard
made furup after aim only % run foul
81 Howard. Y ho vas arising. and ne sent
sprawiiHg on She H0or In a moment ne
VAS on his feet hat that moment was
enough - give Ford "a chance 90 s-et
through the m8iu tntra r~e and mil +h.
from CRATE door 10 after hin When Rark-
man reached the door Fo~5 was tr,.i,,e- q,
pat the haSp on enc staple. QUICKLY
realizing thar - the criminal succeeded
Re would have the best az me Si.f,,.t,,
nurkuaaa thrust his icft hand tNr-orb
tse bars and Eot his fingers between ga.
easement ard the haSp. Then ut;h MS
right hand Re reached Out and got hals
~ the fngers Of FORTS LEFT hand In try-
Ing - Ee1 better gvlp on thc fiaee-x o.
For8'S lett hand and thus he able 70 uuil
the hand through the bHrS he aroused thr
latent rage IN the desperate criminal
who suddenly let go @: the haSp and
yelled ont;
u don't want 20 cut you. tat 81 voa
don't lee 20 90 tha; arm l VII cat yoGs
--- ---- arm clear en-"