The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-03-16

Convtcts VINO Triiueu rtnr7 TO Give WRITE
ing OF the Approach OF keepers while
They Sawed Their Cell Bars. sheriff
Rewarded For Vigilance.
A story tcld Lv w X. Ryan, an old
Ohio sheriff. illustrates the ingenuity
Of criminals Ryan was sheriff Of Cuya.
hogn county for several years and re-
fused third OF fourth nomination for
the cffice for the reason that the county
mil in Cleveland vas so old and dilapi.
dated Tint the watching of the 90 Or so
prisoners WINS mrre of job than he
cared to keep While he was still in
charge notorious criminal named FCs-
ter and an accomplice were convicted
and sentenced to long term Of inn
piisoument 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. ard 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-
vinced that tcouble 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 dowh 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 natter" asked Abrams.
"What's wrong in the jail?" returned
che sheriff.
Nothing, replied Abrams.
Haven't you Ieard 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.
tentively at the Jail door. There was no
noise except an occasional snore of one
Of the prisoners
ABE, said Ryan, "I'm certain Fos.
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 bad 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 70 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.
"As soon as we leave" said the
sheriff to Abrams, "you 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 dozen fine file saws In cell.
ABRAMs
Ryan banded 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
Syb,t ,naIa ro,, ,o,,,a ;,,to tha sa;i l,,s
night aud stay so long? Who put you
0n,'
Nobody" answered Ryan. II Just
guessed it. But how did you know l
was there? Did you hear me?'
mot sound. You made a quiet
sneak for such big man. said Eos.
ter y pal.
"Then how did you know l wat
thcres" persisted the sheriff.
Now, see here, Mr.. Ryan," replied
Foster. "We're in for long term. and
If you will put good word in for us
we'll tell You our secret"
Agreed" said Ryan.
well. where we got the saws ia
neither here nor there and none of your
Ouriutss, nuiu rOsttT, Uut Wt ku6W
you were watching us and knew that il
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-
ment for the prisoners, are timid. Rats
like meat. We saved some of our meat
at supper every night and scattered il
in front Of the cell The rats soon real
ized that we meant them no harm,
and after a number Of experiments they
would allow one Of us to feed them
while tho other worked. Rats have q
keener sense Of hearing than men. and
II an outsider should appear they would
run. Well, when You sneaked into the
Jail last night we didn't hear you, bus
the rats did. They scampered and We
quit When you left, the rats returned.
but 1t was too late then. and the game
was mp.
The records OF county commissioners
yhow that on the following day q requi.