The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-23
RATS USED AS SENTINELS.
THE TRICK WORKED ri CRIMINALS
Nv AN OHIO PRISON.

Two Convicted Wen who Trained rats TO Give
Them warning OF tho Approach OF Keepers
while They sawed the BARS ar Their Cell
a sheriff Rewarded for fIs viEIance.
CLEVELAND. Jan. pa story told by w. r.
Ryan, an old Ohio Sheriff. illustrates tho liz.
Renuity Of criminals. Ryan was Sheriff OF
Cuyahoga county for several years, and refused
n third or fourth nomination for tho office for
tho reason that the county jail In Cleveland
was 80 old and dilapidatcd that the watching
of the seventy or eighty prisoners was more Of
n job than no cared TO keep. While he was
stin In charge q notorious criminal named Foe
tor and an accomplish were convicted and sens
fenced to n long term Of imprisonment in the
Ohio penitentiary. At that time the jail was
crowded and Sheriff Ryan was compelled TO
place both cow icted men in the same cell.
Tho Sheriff lived in the county building, and
on the night following tho conviction Of Foster
ho went to bed soon after supper, intending to
get UP early the next morning'and take the two
prisoners to tho penitentiary. About mid
night he awoke with a start. He was trembling
violently and was convinced that trouble was
brewing in the jail.
There's something wrong In the Jail" no said
to his wife. land Ill bet Foster is about ready to
break out, In 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 tho first floor. Abe Abramrh
his deputy. was guarding the Jail door.
whats the mattcrl' asked Abrams.
Whats wrong in the jailf' returned the
Sheriff.
Nothing" replied Abrams.
Haven't you heard the noise of sawsf' asked.
Ryan.
Nope, and they amt been working, or IA
heard EN-, as I've been laying mighty quiet"
Ryan was suspicious and listened attentivelyt
at the jail door. There was no noise, except an
occasional snore Of one of the prisoners. !
ABE said Ryan. I'm certain Foster ana
his pal are mp to mischief. Two been feeling n
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 cropt
through tho 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 q sound which indicated that an
effort was being made to saw tho cell bars.
Nevertheless, he could not get rid of his sus.
picion, and remained there perfectly quiet until
5 o'clock. Then he went to breakfast, called
o deputy, and placing the handouts and leg
irons on Foster and his confederate. prepared
tn take them to Columbus on an early train.
Abrams, you search the' cell and telegraph mo
men Columbus WAS reached. about noon. tIfN
message was handed to Ryan:
Found two dozen fine file saws in cell. ABRAMs. I
Ryan handed the telegram to the prisoners,
and when they read 1t they laughed.
but I you 's sSui SdGgs' BEAT seat { fRY % old b ss pretty I'D fo X;
CHATS right" said Foster. But what
made you come into the Jail last night and stay
SO longi who put you onf'
Nobody answered Ryan. IT just guessed
it; But But, how did you know I was thereT Did
Not a sound. You made a quiet sneak for
such a big man. said Fosters pal.
sisted aehe tbs hs sSe9 diS you know I was therei' per
Now. soc here. Mr.. Ryan, replied Foster,
sws're Gin in for pr 2 long term and If you will put
Agreed said Ryan.
well, where We got the saws is neither here
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:
Of rats, and jail rats. having been Killed so
often by way Of amusement for the prisoners.
o OF our 1ln meat f at supper nas m every n nish say nsd s soas.
tered it in front Of The cell. The rats soon real.
lied that we meant them no harm. and after q
number of experiments they would allow one
Of us to feed them while the other worked.
Rats have a keener sense of hearing than men,
night we didn't hear you. but the rats did. They
scampered and we quit. When you left the
rats returned, but 1t was TOO late then. and the
The records of County Commissioner show
eeived from the sherid's' Office calling for Sri two
dozen rat traps and a case of rat poison. Pigeon.
h fnde in the pr3sesuting attorneys office p an
for aiding and abetting the attempted escape
OF certain prisoners of the State from the coun.
II jail Charge Of on psSef as GSuptt to tr strts and Of t Shi g..
PENDANTS suffered capital punishment when.
ever captured without even having a hearing.