The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-08-15

Ao 10'
Sheriff Cricket been informed of the
work and upon investigation it was
discovered and the cut bars were re-
placed by new ones.
The delivery is the second that has
occurred within the year from the
Mahaska county jail. 1t will be re-
membered that upon the night OF
October Is, 1900, there was a whole
sale delivery of prisoners from the
jail by some of the prisoners tunnel
ing through the wall over the cell
tops and out into the corridor and to
liberty through the open basement OF
the court house.
After the attempt last week Sheriff
Cricket says he made a thorough
search of the cells and the effects OF
the prisoners then in the jail and he
| discovered a number of saws and new
files. Some of the saws were made
from the steel shank brace in shoes.
Another was made from a piece OF
steel taken from a ready to wear
necktie. How the files and saws
came into the possession of Davis is
a mystery.
Davis very evidently had assistance
from outside friends who could easily
have tossed the tools to him from the
outer corridor. 1t is also possible
that the tools have been taken to the
prisoner by supposed 'drunks" who
have managed to have themselves
arrested and placed in the Jail in
order to communicate with him.
The crime for which the mar was
held was the stealing of a diamond
from Charles McCulloch on the after
noon of July 4th at the fair ground
in the crowd attending the Elk races
The fellow was caught in the act by
| Mr.. McCulloch and arrest followed.
He was committed to jail to await
trial before a justice. The case was
continued a number of times for one
cause and another and August 2, de-
l0hu "dlNCu W III
grand jury at the October term.
Charles McCulloch, while in Mar
shalltown recently, was approached
by a stranger who asked him If he
would like to find a hundred dollars,
Upon being asked for an explanation
the man asked for the release of
Davis, intimating that the sum men
toned would be paid for the freedom
of the boy and dismissal of the suit.
Mr.. McCulloch was approached in
this city on the Monday following
the races by a couple of fellows who
wished to talk to him about %quashing
proceedings against Davis but the
gentleman refused to talk to the
men.
Mr.. McCulloch also received the
following communication tshowing
the great pressure that was brought
to bear to bring about the release
of the fellow. The writer, w. s.
Twombly, enclosed his card giving
the address No. 1928 Wabash street,
and his business "Wines, liquors and
cigars"
st. Paul, July 8, 1901.
Q. B. McCulloch, Dear Sir: Hav-
ing been appraised of the fact that a
very dear friend ofmine was arrested
in your city and his liberty lays in
your keeping, / would ask that you
Ip4n fhfo nnnonnnfinn NnrlA UnY1
but understand the circumstances of
the case as l do you would. He has
a wife and babe solely dependent
upon him and as l know that he has
been led by bad company l have a
position awaiting him, and you and
l may be the means of making him
lead a new life. If not for his own
sake for the sake of a young wife
and her innocent babe. ITO err is
human, to forgive divine" Trusting,
dear brother, that you will comply
with this request, always remember
ing that I, should it be in my power,
will favor you, l remain
w. s. TwoMBLY.
Davis was one of a gang of g~rafters
that came to the city to operate on
the Fourth. The man who approach
ed Mr.. McCulloch at Marshalltown
was one of the gang in which Davis
was associated. He is a compare
lively young man but a clever crook
and a dangerous man,-altogether
too smooth for the Oskaloosa jail.
No trace of the escaped prisoner
has been obtained.