Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-02-12
A BREAK FOR LIBERTY.
PRISONERS IN THE COUNTY
JAIL ATTEMPT TO OVER
POWER JAIL0R
GIBSON.
A Desperate Struggle Ensues in
Which the JailOr Comes
Out the Victor.
Moore a Bad
Man.

Tailor Gibson, of the Jefferson
County jail, had desperate struggle,
with bis prisoners yesterday after
noon at 400 O'Clock, and his enar-
nous strength is the only thing that
prevented Jail delivery and nine
desperate scoundrels from gaining
their liberty.
AT $50 O'Clock the city prisoners
who are working out fines upon the
streets are brought to the JUL to be
incarcerated for the night. Last
afternoon at that hour, Jackson,
the officer who has charge OF the
working of the city prisoners,
brought three of them to the jail and
turned them over to MIR. Gibson,
the iail0r. Jackson stepped in the
Office and Mr.. Gibson went mp
stairs with the three men. On arrlv-
ing at the door leading into the
main corridor OF the jail proper, as
is his custom before opening the
door, he ordered all prisoners into
their cells. Apparently the prisoners
obeyed the order, but in reality they
did not, for John Moore, a desperate
scoundrel who is now awaiting
triai for burglarizing the store of
MIR. L.. Roth, hid behind the box
facing Of the door and when the
iailor opened the door to allow the
city prisoRes to enter, Moore
sprang forward and seized the iailor
and attempted to pull him into the
corridor. a terrific struggle between
the two men ensued and the other
eight prisoners rushed forward to
help their companion in crime. Be
fore they could reach him, however,
the iailor had released one OF his
hands, and threw it behind him to
his hip pocket and ordered them
back under penalty OF death. For u
moment the "bluff' worked, and
this gave the jaiIor time to throw |
Moore from him. Then before |
Moore and his confederates could re-
cover, Mr.. Gibson reached the door,
passed through and locked 1t.
Mr.. Gibson was totally unarmed, |
but as soon as the door was secured |
he repaired to his office and got a
pistol and then, returning ordered |
all the prisoners into their cells. |
All of them obeyed except Moore. |
This negro defied the officer, and |
when the latter again ordered him
into his cell under penalty of being |
shot, Moore said' "shoot and be |
d-n." Mr.. Gibson opened the door,
walked on the inside and locked it.
and then placing the muzzle of the
weapon to Moore's head ordered |
him again into the cell. The pris- |
oner saw the iailor meant business
and he weakened and entered the cell |
and the door was locked.
During the struggle between the
iailor and Moore the city prisoners,
tone of whom is Oscar Markley,) |
stood by and never offered to give
the jailor the least assistance.
Mr.. Gibson says that Moore, the
burglar, and Patterson, who is char
ged with rape, are two desperate
criminals. Within the last two
months the jailor has taken two
steel saws from Moore
The prisoners had planned to
seize the iailor, lock him in one OF
the cells and then quietly leave the
jail through the alley and escape
from the city. There is no question
that the plan would have worked
successfully haditnot been for thefaci
that Mr.. Gibson is very powerful
man, and was able to throw Moore
loose from him before the other
prisoners could come to their com
rade's assistance.