The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-12

SEARCH MADE OF ALL CELLS
DIRK KNIVES, REyOLvERs AND
CLUBS DISCOVERED.
Desperate Characters Among the Sew.
enteen Federal Prisoners Would
Have stopped at Nothing.

A great amount of excitement was caused
in the vicinity of the county jail yester-
day morning by the reports of firearms in
action, and the persons who were in hear
ing distance for time thought there had
been an attempt at Jail delivery. On the
contrary. Sheriff Robert Metzger was mere
ly trying the riot guns in order to find il
they would work properly in case they
were needed.
Had II not been for the precautions taken
by the sheriff there is no doubt that there
would have been something doing" at
the county Jail. Some time ago Captain
Kruger, of the city police department, while
sitting at the desk in his office, saw
a package dangling from string out Of one
of the windows of the jail. He ran across
the street and arrived In time to see the
object quickly jerked over the window sill
and into the building, but the person who
had passed tine package from the outside
could not be located. A search of the jail
was made by the sheriff and his deputies.
but IL revealed nothing. The package was
passed into the ward occupied by the seven
teen federal prisoners who are TO be taken
to Leavenworth, Kan, In day or so.
JAIL DELIVERY PLANNED.
Yesterday Sheriff Metzger received word
from an outside source that plan had
been conceived by the federal prisoners
whereby they were all to gain their liberty
on the day they were to be started for
Leavenworth. 1t was said that they were
armed and had planned a wholesale deliv-
cry at the time when they were being con-
Quoted from the building en- route 70 the
special car which was to carry them TO the
prison where they were to be imprisoned
for different terms.
Yesterday was the date first set for their
departure, and the sheriff decided to take
some ateps towards frustrating their plans.
Early in the morning he tried out the riot
order. He then made the men march out
of their cells one at a time and searched
them all for arms. placing them In the
pockets were rifed. After they had all
been searched and locked securely in the
ward a complete search of the cells of
the federal prisoners was made.
Long dirk knives were found hidden in
the mattresses, loaded revolvers and pis-
tolls and heavy clubs were dug up from the
dark corners, and when all were placed in
a pile II was seen that the prisoners had In
some way secured a veritable arsenal
SECRET LEAKED OUT.
An effort was made by the sheriff to
keep the find secret, but it leaked out
through an attache of the institution.
There is doubt that the careful action
of Sheriff Metzger forestalled an attempt
by desperate men to gain their freedom.
On account of the heavy rains in the
West and the high condition of the Mis-
sissppi river the transfer of the prisoners
was not made yesterday as expected, but
the men will be sent away as soon as cir
cumstances will permit
An investigation is being made by the
police to find If possible who the parties
are that passed the arms through the win
dows tn the inmates of the jail. So far
none of the prisoners has admitted know
ing anything about Il. although several
were placed in the ''sweat-box" yesterday
afternoon. One man seemed almost ready
TO make admission, and 1t is hoped
through him to learn the names of the
guilty parties.