The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-03-30
RATS AS SENTINELS.
THE TRICK WORKED BY CRIMINALS
IN AN OHIO PRISON.

Convicts Who Trained Rats to Give Warn
Ing CT the Approach of Keepers While
They Sawed Their Cell Bars-A Sheriff
Rewarded For Vigilance.
4 story told 10y W. L. Ryan, an old
Ohio sheriff, illustrates the ingenuity
Of criminals. Ryan wcs sheriff of Cuya-
hoga county for several years and re-
fused a third or fourth nomination for
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 he
cared to keep. While he was still in
charge a notorious criminal named Fos-
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 a 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 ort I'm
going down stairs to look around -
Dressing himself, he put a revolver
into his pocket and noiselessly went
down TO the chief jailer's room ON the
first floor. Ale Abrams, his deputy.
was guarding the Jail door.
Whats the natter" asked Abrams.
What's wrong in the jail?'' returned
the sheriff.
Nothing" :" replied Abrams.
Haven't you heard the noise of
sawss" asked Ryan.
Nope, and they aim been working,
or I'd heard 'em. as I've been laying
mighty quiet +"
Ryan was suspicious and listened at
tentively at the Jail door, There was no
noise except an occasional snore of one
Of the prisoners.
ABE, " said Ryan, I'm certain Fcs-
ter and his pal are up 10 mischief. I've
been feeling it in my bones all night.
and I'm going to sneak in two tiers un-
der their cell aud listen. 3"
He opened the Jail door noiselessly
and orept 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 tho
cell bars. Nevertheless, he could not
get nd of his suspicion and remained
there perfectly quiet until O'Clock.
Then lie 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 carly train.
''As seen as we leave" said the
sheriff to Abrams "ycu search the cell
and telegraph me the result at Colum-
bus .
When Columbus was reached about
noon, this message was handed to Ryan:
Found two cozen fne Gle saws in cell.
AGHAHs-
Ryan handed the telegram to the
prisoners. and when they read it they
laughed.
"You see, boys, that you nay be
pretty foxy. Lut you couldn't beat the
old man," said tho sheriff.
That's right" said Foster; "but
what made you ccme into the Jail last
night and stay so long? Who put You
cn:''
Nobody, answered Ryan. 81 just
guessed il. Eut how did ycu know
was there? Did you bear me?''
Not a sound. You made quiet
sneak for such big man." said Fos-
ter's pal.
Then how did you know l was
there@' persisted The sheriff.
Now, see here, Mr., Ryan, " replied
Foster. We're in for long term, and
if ycu will Pct n gocd word in for Us
we'll tell You our secret. "
Agreed said Ryan.
''Well, where we get tho saws is
neither here nor there and none CT your
business. said Foster, "but we knew
yea vere watching us and knew that if |
We wanted to give You the slip we
would Lave 10 exercise mere than or
dinary CT human vigilance. Now, the |
Jail is full Of rats, and Jail rats, having |
been killed SO often by way of amuse-
mCnt fer the prisoners, are timid. Rats |
like meat. We saved some of cur meat |
at upper every night and scattered it
in front CT the cell. The rats soon real
lied that we meant them no harm, |
and after a number Of experiments they |
would allow one Of Us TO feed them /
while the ether worked. Rats have q /
kecDor sense Of hearing than men, and /
If an outsider should appear they would /
run Well, when you sneaked into the
Jail last night we didn't hear you, but
the rats did. They scampored and wo
cult. When you left. the rats returned,
fut it was too late then, and the game
was up.
The records Of county commissioners
show that en- the following day a requi-
sition was received from the sberiff's
Office calling for two dozen rat traps
and case of rat poison Pigeonholed
in Tie prosecuting attorney ofiioe is an
indictment entitled "State Of Ohio ver-
sus Rodent, for aiding and abetting the
attempted escape OF certain prisoners Of
the state from the county Jail Of Cuya-
hoga county. state Of Ohio. 4" This
charge never came to trial. and the de-
fcndants suffered capital punishment
Ssh1nevcr captured without even hay-
Ing 4 hearing. Cleveland Letter.
Applause.
A friend having declared in Mrs. Sid