The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-04-30
RATS USED ASSENTINELS.

Iva LIZ WILL IN O41At AAA'A >A-RSs
THE TRICK WORKED BY CRIMINALS
I'm AN OHIO PRISON.
Two Convicted Men Who Trained Rod
ents to Give Them Warning of the
Approach of Keepers While They
Sawed the Iron Bars OF Their Cell.
A story told by W. R. Ryan, an old
Ohio Sheriff, illustrates the ingenuity
of criminals. Ryan, says the New
York Sun, was Sheriff of Cuyahoga
County for several years, and refused
third or fourth nomination for the
Office for the reason that the County
Jail in Cleveland was so old and dilspi-
dated that the watching Of the seventy
or eighty prisoners was more of a job
than he cared to keep. While he
was still in charge notorious criminal
named Foster and an accomplish were
convicted and sentenced to a long
term of imprisonment 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
building, and on the night following
the conviction of Foster he went to
bed soon after supper, intending to
get up early the next morning and
take the two prisoners to the peniten-
tiary. About midnight he awoke with
q start. He was trembling violently
and was convinced that trouble was
brewing in the Jail.
"There's something wrong in the
Jail" he said to his wife, "and 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's room on the
first floor. Abe Abrams, his deputy,
was guarding the Jail door.
"What's the matter?" asked Abrams.
"What's wrong in the iail?" re-
turned the Sheriff.
''Nothing," replied Abrams.
''Haven't you heard the noise OF
saws?" asked Ryan.
'.Nope, and they amt been work.
ing, or I'd heard 'em, as I've been
laying might quiet"
Ryan was suspicious and listened
attentively at the Jail door. There
was no noise, except an occasional
snore of one of the prisoners.
"Abe," said Ryan, .'I'm certain
Foster 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 under 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 certain. He breathed regularly
and with as little noise as possible,
and he could not detect sound which
Indicated that an effect was being
made to saw the cell bars. Neverthe-
less, he could not get rid of his sus-
picion, and remained there perfectly
quiet until o'clock. Then he went
| to breakfast, called q deputy, and
placing the handouts and leg irons on
Foster and his confederate, prepared
to take them to Columbus on an early
| train.
Gas soon as we leave" said the
Sheriff to Abrams, "you search the
cell and telegraph me the result al
Columbus.
When Columbus was reached, about
noon, this message was handed to
Ryan:
Found two dozen fine saw files 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
'sThat's right" said Foster. s'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 make quie'
sneak for such big man." said Eos
ter's pal.
sThen how did you know I wa.
there?" persisted the Sheriff.
| ..Now, see here, Mr.. Ryan, replied
Foster, "we're in for along term, AND
If you will put a good word in for III
we'll tell you our secret"
| agreed, said Ryan.
"Well, where we got the saws il
neither here nor there, and none o
your business" said Foster, "but W.
knew you were watching us, and knew
that if we wanted to give you the slil
| we would have to exercise more thai
ordinary or human vigilance. Now
the Jail is full OF rats, and Jail rats
having been killed so often by way 0
amusement for the prisoners, ar
timid. Rats like meat. We save,
some Of our meat at supper ever,
night and scattered it in front of thu
cell. The rats soon realized that W
meant them no harm, and after a mum
Der of experiments they would alloy
one of us to feed them while the othe
watched. Rats have keener sens
of hearing than men, and if an out
slider should appear they would run
| .~x, he -,