Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-03-28
ESCAPED
Martin MCGrath Gave
Leg Bail
BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND DAY
LIGHT HE LEFT THE COUNTY
JAIL FoR PARTS usKSowS.
NOBARSINTERV ENED
TINE WAY WAS CLEAR AND HE
GRAsPEp THE OPPORTUNITY.
There Were Two ways open TO
Freedom and the Halls of the
NOBARSINTERYENED
THE WAY WAS CLEAR AND HE
GRAsPEp THE OPPORTUNITY.


Jailcr Scruggs made the startling dis
covery that Martin McGralh had
escaped from the Jail The report
spread Ike wild-tre on the streets and
everybody at once wanted to know how
II happened. Sheriff Euless was soon
informed OF the fact and he wanted
10 know as bad as anybody else. Ac-
cordinEly Jallcr Scruggs was called
upon for IN explanation.
MI Scrue.gs was so unnerved and as
tonishcd at first that he could hardly
tell anything about II. but one thing
was certain, McGrath had been In the
jan the evening before, and when day
broke he was not there. An iuvestiga-
ton Of the jail showed that Il would
not take very much inventive genius
70 eject an escape. McGrath had
found the way clear and had simply
awaited himself OF the opportunity, as
probably anyone else under the same
circumstances. To him life was too
sweet, and liberty too dear TO submit to
peultentinry rules n he could help It.
McGrath has occupied cell on the
second floor Of the jail and FOR some
time since his Incarceration he has been
allowed the freedom OF the second
door and his cell door was not locked
He was not permitted, however 10
come down stairs into the first floor OF
the jail. From the first floor in the
rear there Is a door that opens Into
hall and from this hall flight OF steps
leads down Into the basement the
lSht wooden door. II a man wanted
to escape he could go down into the
basement along tho basement hall
way To- the southeast corner OF the
jail where there Is window, the up
per bars NJ which have been taken
out for the purpose OF throwing coal
into the basement or again, once in
the basement he could 60 down into
the tunnel that connects the Jail with
the court house, up through the court
house and walk out the front door.
hctirath got out one Of these ways.
and most probably by the corner vim
dow. There was n big pile OF coal lust
under the window upon which he could
have climbed and then TO drop out and
ind himself ON Bluff street would have
been as easy as falling of log.
a Gazette reporter interviewed Jaller
Scruggs and found him In a distressed
state OF mind that was pltiahle Mr.
Scruggs showed tho Jail advancement,
and went into the basement. He said
he thought II was more probable that
McGrath got out through the window
then through the tunnel Mr. ScruEgs
said In explanation that McGrath was
| certainly up stairs MS late as 10 O'clock
Thursday night. He had been assist e
Ing In attending to an insane prisoner.
on the first floor Of the iail there IL n
bed where Phil Hall and Charley pa
| Wis, two young relatives of Mr..
! ScruEgs sleep. Mr. Scruggs says they
sleep Ike logs and McGrath could have
| easily passed by their bed and gone
I into the basement without awakening
| them. A trusty named Sullivan made
the statement that McGrath was In
the jail aa late as O'Clock In the morn
ing,
Jailer scruggs further stated that
ltn tsgrf .,Ts 40 A.
confidence he felt In him, on account of
which he was allowed more liberty in
the jail than otherwise would have beer
the case lie said McGrath had beer
given the least trouble In jail and n,
never dreamed that he would escapc
the keys Of the jail were kept by Mr.
Boho, who II assistant TALLER but Nc.
Grath needed no keys, as there were nc
doors locked between him and free
dom.
Sheriff Eulesa at once dismissed Mr.
Scruggs and Mr.. Bobo and Deput,
sherln James Woods was temporarily
placed In charge of the Jail
Mr.. Scruggs has been taller for thre,
years and this ia the first escape from
jail since he was in charge
Where McGrath has gone IL a uues
non Tor many coniectures Sheriff
pnless stated he would use every effor
Tor ms recnpture and his deputies wor
on the alera AZ a late hour last niph,
Tho sheriff offered a 5000 reward
Mr.. Bowlin, attorney for McC;rnth
stated that It Is the most foolish min,
Mcdrath could have done, as IL wa
granted pardon.
1t is known that McGath IL I'm
very desperate frame OF mind. and n
Is said to have told his friends that ,
: he could get away from Jan he wont
never be retaken.
|
Grnth in the police uniform were take,
yesterday afternoon and a large nun
per OF descriptive circulars to be sen
all over the country.
eral cities.