The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-03-04
! RATS as SEN TIMES.

RATS AS SEN TINE l'ii''|:|,
THE TRICK WORKED Nv CRIMINAL
IN AN OHIO PRISON.
Convicts Who Trained Rats to Give Warn,
ing Of the Approach Of Keepers VIII.
They Sawed Their Cell Bars-A Sheriff
Rewarded For Vigilance.
A story told BY w. r. Ryan, an old
Ohio sheriff, illustrates the ingenuity
OF criminals. Ryan was sheriff Of Cuya.
hoga county for several years and re.
fused a third or fourth nomination 70,
the office for the reason that the county
Jail in Cleveland was so old and dilapi
dated that the watching of the 20 or SO
prisoners was more Of job than ne
cared to keep. While he was still in
charge notorious criminal named Eos.
ter and an accomplice were convicted
and sentenced to a long term of i'm.
prisonment in the Ohio penitentiary.
At that time the Jail was crowded, and
Sheriff Ryan was compelled to place
both convicted men in the same cell.
The sheriff lived in the county build
ing, and on the night following the con-
viction Of Foster he went to bed soon
after supper, intending to get up early
the next morning and take the two
prisoners to the penitentiary. About
midnight he awoke with start. He
was trembling violently and was con-
WINGED that trouble was brewing in the
Jail.
"There's something wrong in the
Jail, he said to his wife, land I'll bet
Foster is about ready to break out. I'm
going down stairs to look around.''
Dressing himself, he put revolver
into his pocket and noiselessly went
down to the chief jailer' room on the
first floor. Abe Abrams, his deputy,
was guarding the Jail door.
whats the matter?" asked Abrams.
'What' 8 wrong i'll the jail?" returned
the sheriff.
"Nothing,'' replied Abrams.
"Have,l't you heard the noise of
saws?'' asked Ryan.
Nope, and they amt been working,
or I'd heard 'em, as I've been LAYING
mighty quiet. .
Ryan was suspicious and listened at.
tentivelv at the Jail door. There was no
noise except an occasional snore of one
of tbs prisoners
"Abe, said Ryan, "I'm certain Eos
ter and his Pal are up to mischief. I've
been feeling it in my bones all night,
and I'm going to sneak in two tiers un-
der their cell and listen.''
He opened the Jail door noiselessly
and crept through the Jail until he was
under Fosters cell. He had not made
the slightest noise. OF that he was GER
tain. He breathed regularly and with as
little noise as possible, and he could
not detect sound which indicated that
an effort was being made to saw the
cell bars. Nevertheless, he could not
get rid Of his suspicion and remained
there perfectly quiet until O'Clock.
Then he went to breakfast, called a
deputy and, placing the handouts and
leg irons on Foster and his confederate,
prepared to take them to Columbus on
an early train.
cas- soon as we leave" said the
sheriff to Abrams, "you search the cell
and telegraph me the result at Column
bus
When Columbus was reached about
noon, this message was handed to Ryan
Found two dozen fine file saws in cell.
ABRAMS.
Ryan handed the telegram to the
prisoners, and when they read it they
laughed.
"You see, boys, that you may be
pretty foxy, but you couldn't beat the
old man," said the sheriff.
"That's right" said Foster; "but
what made you come into the Jail last
night and stay SO long? Who put you
on?''
Nobody" answered Ryan. II just
guessed it. But how did you know /
was there? Did you hear me?''
"Not a sound. You made quiet
sneak for such big man. said Eos
ter's pal
''Then how did you know 1 was
there?" persisted the sheriff.
Now, see here, Mi. Ryan," replied
Foster. "We're in fer long term, and
if you will put a good word in for Us
We'll tell you our secret
"Agreed!" said Ryan.
swell, where we got the saws is
neither here nor there and none of your
business said Foster, 'but we knew
you were watching us and knew that if
we wanted to give you the slip we
would have to exercise more than or.
binary Or human vigilance. Now, the
Jail is full of rats, and Jail rats, having
been killed so often by way Of amuse-
mcnt for the prisoners, are timid. Rats
like meat We saved some IF our meat
at supper every night and scattered it
in front of the cell. The rats soon real
lied that we meant them no harm,
and after number of experiments they
would allow one of us to feed them
while the other worked. Rats have q