The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-02
4 COApICI,s LORE BREAhs BARS.
He Used a Rope Ladder To visit His Swee'-
llrarI at tyr hnIna.

LOUISVILLE, April 2a-Warden Pat
ten, Of the Indiana prison south, at JEFF
fersonvile has now on exhibition one
Of the most remarkable contrivances
made by prisoner that ever came into
MS collection. IL IS ladder made Oi
thousands or sma.l pieces Of Irvine,
tnreSds, cord and rope such as a eOn-
OF EFFORT. With the rope Thomas Shep-
nerd used 10 climb a thlrty-nve loot
wall and get out Of the pen.entlary
yard night after niYat 10 wasn't an old
sweeth heart. he never attempted TO ss-
cape. ana Wnen his ladder was found
'One night be returned before his absence
had been discovered, rang the bell at
the front gate and surrendered himself
On n-s arm he carried rubber coat,
which had been used TO conceal his
striped shirt. He wore mOCc4sins over
his shoes.
shepherd told straightforward story
50 far as II went. lie mad made the lad-
der. ne said, In order that he might visit
a woman outside the prison. he had
zone to her house only four times, ne
said Last sunday night when he re-
turned, he found hts ladder zone from the
wall. and al once decided 10 give himself
up nc would not tell the woman's name.
but the prison officials think they have
discovered ner identity. she came from
her home IN sullivan countL Ind. some
years ago 70 live IN JeifersOnville, near
ner convict lover.
The prison omclals profess TO believe
Shepherds story that ne went out only
a few times II Is reasonably certain,
however. that the man had been gU.uS
outside for months before his ladder
was detected.
shepherd was "trusty," and for more
than TWO years had opened ald closed
the wagon gate at the prison lie Occu-
pied "A little house just inside the gate.
During the day he stood outside the gate
part Of the time, and got 70 know
great many people who were IN the habit
Of passing. some months ago a reporter,
who used 10 visit the penltentary regu-
larry. came upon Shepherd one day as
he was engaged In teaching two little
children. The ground where he stood
was sandy. and ne traced the letters IN
the sand with stick, In this way ne
had taught the children 10 spell. ana
they were trying 10 master the art OF
reading. A woman, supposed 70 be the
chlldren's mother, had been seen around
often, but usually the children came
alone The reporter thought the incident
40 curious that he wrote IL up, and the
prison officials thereupOn made SheP-
herd give 40 his pupils. II Is thought
that the mother was the woman She9-
herd has been going out TO see
shepherd said that be woye his ladder
at night and that IL took him months 10
finish ~. II contains thread, strings anu
bits Of cord Of every size, lengtn ana
color They Nre woven. .knottet ana
twisted sklfully II was Sheoherd's hrst
Intention 10 use iron footrests, and ne
had managed 10 secure four steel STIR
rups. which were found IN his cell. but
he concluded they would make the rope
TOO heavy. The only piece OF metal IN
IL when finished were two iron hooks az
the ends which were thrown oyer ne
wall and held the ladder IN place. II
is hard 10 understand how the Cow
cot the rope over the wall, even with INC
hooks The wall is Of brick, and Is
thirfv-fve feet high
Shepherd was sent 10 the prison TO
serve A life sentence In 1919. a new trial
was secured two years later, and ne was
recommitted on the same sentence on
ApriI ~ 1875. He hos continually petit
toned for executive clemency, and TWO
years ago his sentence vas commlted 10
fUentv wears He will be released. con-
seouentlv. on April 10, 1898. ne was
country schoolteacher one night a. an
snnle-paring ne had a quarrel with
man aamed Macy Engie over a siri.
Jingle had Shepherd arrested ana one
rirht before the case was tried tngie
vs. agsassinated. Shepherd was con-
vlcted purely on circumstantial evidence
and has always maintained his inno-
Couce.