The Arizona sentinel., 1901-04-24
HART NEARLY ESCAPES.
The Condemned Murderer of rIatt. De Vane Cuts His S1aCke.s and Gets Close to Liberty.

''In two minutes more I'd have given you fellows sQsne target practice, anyway" said Thomas Hart yesterday to-a group of deputies and others when he found that his attempt to get out Of jail had been thwarted. Between l2 and l o'clock yesterday County Re cOrder CrOnin went to the hydrant in the jail yard fer drink of water. The bydrant is near the northeast corner of the jail building. and while drinking. Mr. CrCnin's attention was attracted by the sound of falling dirt. Glancing at the adobe wall he sOCn discovered where the dirt was coming from and a Sherlock HClmes was not needed to divine its meaning -cne of the prison CTS was digging out" Somewhat PCr- turbed but not 'Iattled." Mr. CrOnin acted quickly. Going to his office he returned at once with gun. and hav- ing given the alarm hurried to the jail. where crowd of officers and attaches of the court house quickly gathered. Hart was found safe enough iq his cell. but with his ShackleS cut in twO-and in Gisagreeable frame of mind, which Is net to be wondered at, fer if Recorder Crcnin had net discovered what was going as soon aS hc did. Hart would have breathed free, ar. at least temporarily. and might have made good his escape.
 Rolled by so narrow Il margin. Hart was in bad humOr. By -. he said, "I'm cut O luck: some of you knock me On the head. Only two min utes more. though, and I'd have given you some elephant target practice if nothing more come of it. The aperture l through the wall was only few inches from the ground and required but a l little enlargement at the outer edges ! to permit Hart's crawling through very readily. It was close call and the prisoner will hardly have another such opportunity. Sheriff Livingston has encountered him with an ''Oregon boot" and soldered up the keyhOle of the same: besides he has been placed in solitary confinement. The supervisors have, ordered a steel cell. in which Hart will be placed as soon as it ar- rives. Every precaution will be taken and unless providence or the supreme court interveneS. and neither is within the probabilities. Thomas Hart before many moons will expiate the murder of under-sheriff DeVane by the hemp necktie route. The saw used by the prisoner could not be found. Hart says
 he broke it and threw it into the vault.
 Ever since the capture of the mur- derer he has been confined in the ter ritorial prison. but Supt. Brown turned
 him over to the county authorities a few days ago, as he did net want him on the hill any lCnger. MT. Brown says that there was hardly a convict
 who was not desirous that: Hart should
 escape. and they were blaming all the
 time to that end. As Hart was most
 desperate and resourceful criminal,
 besides being the ccuntyis rightful
 charge and not his, he decided to turn
 him and the responsibility fer his safe
 keeping over to the Sheriff.
 Hart was sentenced to hang May
 r.. but a stay of execution having
 been secured on an appeal, his lease oi
 life has been heightened at least untiI
 the supreme court passes upon the evi-
 deuce upon which a new trial will hc asked