The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-28
PRISONERS GET 4 DUPLICATE KEY.
And Thirteen of Them Leave the
County Jail.
Fortunately They Are Mostly Migrants
and Other Classes of Small
Offenders.

On Saturday evening, at about $50
o'clock, while Jailer Beckley was put
ting a number of prisoners at the County
Jail in what is known as the hospital
CELL" which is in the front part Of the
jail. an attempted Jail delivery was made.
The prisoners on the rock pile had just
quit work and were congregated in the
large court, when suddenly the door on
the north side was opened and they made
rush for liberty. Thirteen of them sue
ceeded in getting out and away. -Four
more had got outside OF the gate and were
about to flee, when Deputy Dick May,
who had been told that a break WAS in
progress. appeared, and putting his hand
TO his pistol pocket commanded them to
''get back quick" and they obeyed.
Closing the gate. he called to Beckley,
who got the key to the gate and locked
the door.
There is no doubt that some one of the
prisoners was furnished with key by
outside parties, or had managed to make
one for himself, matter that would not
be very hard to do. The door itself Will
not stay shut unless locked, considerable
force being needed to shut 1t, and the
keys have been carefully guarded since
the escape OF man named Murphy sew
eral years ago, who obtained Key and
unlocked the door.
Fortunately the more desperate char
acters had been led and locked IN their
cells half an hour before, and outside of
Robert Malay, who is wanted in Marys-
Vile when his time here expires on a
charge of burglary, there were none but
ordinary offenders who got away. Sew
eral of them had only few days more TO
serve, but preferred TO take chances OF
recapture and six months Tor breaking
jail.
on Saturday night Police Officer Will
son arrested in Chinatown one OF the es-
oapes, William Phelsn, and Deputy
Sheriff Hunters and Constable Warren
arrested Robert Malay, John McNey and
William Anderson at Brighton Junction.
This left George Wilson, Frank Soden,
W. Williams, Dan Smith, John Cole,
Charles Sheldon, James Sabln, James
Stewart and George Miller at liberty.
Sheriff Johnson says he had gone away
only about half an hour before the break
occurred. and only knew what had been
reported to him. He was satisfied, how
ever, that it was due to no negligence or
carelessness, and could not nave been
toreseen. The officers in charge are vigil
liant and careful, and watch the prisoners
as closely as possible.
Jaller Beckley said he was engaged ia
seeing some prisoners locked up in the
hospital cell and Deputy Kelly was lock-
ing up some in the inside cells. When
the alarm was given, as soon as possible
he ran TO the drawer where the key to
the north door was kept locked up by
him, and took it out and locked the door.
The door was used about halt past
o'clock thai afternoon to bring In some
things and WAS locked al that time. Ii
will not remain shut unless it is locked,
requiring considerable of a mans strength
to close and lock it.
How the fellows got a key is a puzzle
to Beckley. He had noticed during the
last week that one or TWO OF them hung
around his office, and he had sent them
out, telling them that they had no BUSH
ness there. lie thinks they were trying
to get good sight Of his keys. 1T is
possible. he thinks. that one Of the men
on the rock pile, who is a blacksmith,
may have been able to make key, or &c
so describe it to friend that il was made