Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-09-29
foul PLOT
70 MURDER SHERIFF.

Saturday charged with attempting to
break Jail. Not only were the three
men, already awaiting trial on serious
charges, held for court on the addition.
al charge, but during the hearing the
use of the cudgel found seoreted above
the doorway was fully explained; this
was to be applied to the vile purpose
of murder; the victim was to be the
Sheriff and the man who was to strike
the fatal blow was one who had pre-
viously disclaimed all connection with
the attempt to break Jail.
The information lodged before JUS
tice W. V. Oglesby by Sheriff George
Maiers Saturday morning sets forth as
follows: "That on the 18th day of
September at the county Jail, Montour
county. John Sees, David Barrett and
Elmer Halderman, beiug prisoners in
said Jail, charged with indictabIe Of
fenses, did break prison. although no
escape was actually m made, contrary to
the Act Of the General Assembly in
such cases made and provided"
The hearing took place at II O'Clock.
The arrangements had been conducted
with great canton and secrecy and
thus was crowd at the hearing avoid
ed. David Barrett and Elmer Halder-
man were brought down from the Jail
handouffed together by Officer John
Gricr Voris; John Sees, also hand
cuffed. was ia charge of Chief Of Po-
lice Minoemoyer, while Sheriff George
Maiers followed with George Gross
ley. who although a prisoner, was not
charged with Jail breaking but was
wanted as a witness
The hearing WAS conducted by Dis
trict Attorney Ralph Kisner. The in
formation was read, and the men ar
raigned were asked whether they had
anything to say, whether guilty or not
guilty. at the same time the usual pre-
caution being taken to remind them
of their prerogative in the matter and
to warn them that what they said
might be used against them. All three
of the men--Sees, Halderman and Bar
rett-pleaded Not Guilty."
Sheriff George Maiers was the first
witness sworn. He deoribed the at
tempt to break Jail as printed in these
columns Tuesday morning, emphasiz-
ing the fact, that it was only in Sees
and Halderman's cell that he found
any of the bars sawed.
George Crossley the principal wit
ness, followed the Sheriff. George
who is held on q charge of assault and
battery, was out couple of days last
week on his own recognizanoe to at
tend his mothers funeral. On Satur.
day he had resumed his place behind
the bars. Being sworn, George testifi-
ed that he knew of the attempt made
by Sees, Haldeiman and Barrett to es-
cape. He related how the saws came
in through the rear window. Sees,
Halderman and Barrett, he said were
all three in the plot to escape. He was
quite sure, however, that Barrett had
done no part of the saving. just as il
was shown by the Sheriff's testimony
that none of the saws or other i'm + le-
| ments were found in Barrett's cell.
The saving, Crossley swore, was done
on Sunday the 18th inst by Secs and
Halderman
The most sensational part of Cross
ley testimony occurred when be ex-
planned the purpose to which the
heavy chair leg, secreted above the
cage door was to be applied by the
prisoners IN their attempt to escape.
1t was part of their plan that Cross
ley was to play off sick-that was all
they asked of him. Taking advantage
Of the liberty accorded them Sees was
to be out in the small corridor be.
tween the cells cleaning up things.
Crossley's agonizing cries were to sum-
mon the Sheriff, who unsuspectingIy
was relied upon as was his wont to
unlock the cage door and enter. At
this moment, according to Crossley,
Sees was to seize the club and deal
the Sheriff a blow upon the head, after
which the official was to be dragged
back into the cage by the men, who
had sawed their way out of the cells
the cage door was to be reIocked and
safe beyond the possibility Of discov-
cry and pursuit the prisoners we're to
walk out of Jail.
This part Of the testimony will be
received with great deal of surprise,
as Sees at the hearing of Seitz and
Hahn, arrested as confederates q week
ago, disclaimed all connection with
the attempt to break Jail and gave
testimony, which was instrumental in
holding those two for trial.
Beyond his plea of mot guilty"
Barrett maintained a silence during
the hearing. He frequently shifted his
position to use the spittoon behind
him and as the hearing proceeded rose
to his feet and moved couple of
steps forward. In this position he
stood during the latter part of the
hearing. Haldermsn was of a much
moro excitable disposition and was
inclined to talk As the desperate pur-
pose of murder seemed to be fxed up.
on the prisoners Halderman voluntari-
ly confessed his own part and charged
the generalization of muSder to Secs.
Halderman said:
II did not want to murder Maiers-
l wanted to get out, if'I could, in
quiet way, but l would not commit
murder" He intimated that Seer was
the one that was to carry out that part