Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-03-31
RATS USED ASSENTTNELs.
THE TRICK WORKED BY CRIMINALS
IN AN OHIO PRISON.


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 dilapi-
dated that the watching of the seventy
or eighty prisoners was more of job
than he cared to keep. While he
was still in charge notorious criminal
named Foster and an accomplice were
convicted and sentenced to 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
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 a revolver
into his pocket and noiselessly went
down to the chief iailer'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 jail?" 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 8 o'clock. Then he went
to breakfast, called 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 ut
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
"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. "I just
guessed it. But how did!you know L
was there? Did you hear me?"
mot n sound. You make a quiet
sneak for such big man," said Eos.
ter's pal.
"Then how did you know I was
there?" persisted the Sheriff.
"Now, see here, Mr.. Ryan" replied
Foster, "we're in for along 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 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
ordinary or human vigilance. Now,
the Jail is full of rats, and Jail rats,
having been killed so often by way of
amusement for the prisoners, are
timid Rats like meat. We saved
some of our meat at supper every
night and scattered it in front of the
cell. The rats soon realized that we
meant them no harm, and after a num-
ber of experiments they would allow
one of us to feed them while the other
| watched. Rats have a keener sense
of hearing than men, and if an out
slider should appear they would run.
Well, when you sneaked into the Jail
last night we didn't hear you, but the
rats did. They scampered and we
quit. When you left the rats returned,
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