Ellsworth American., 1907-04-03
ESCAPED FROM JAIL.
Prisoner Makes Murderous Assault
ON Sheriff Mayo.

on Sheriff Mayo.
William Steadman, who was in the
couny jail awaiting grand jury on charge
of e. ling horse from Capt. f. w. Allen,
the Ellsworth liveryman, escaped from
jail last Thursday night by digging hole
through the wall. After murderous as
sault on Sheriff Mayo, he escaped. He is
still at liberty, the last trace Of him being
at Steuben.
Many believe Steadman's escape was not
so much to obtain his liberty as 1t was
deliberate attempt to .'do up" Sheriff
Mayo, as he had threatened. Several
weeks ago Steadman, who is q big power
full fellow, began to act suspiciously, and
Sheriff Mayo was always on his guard
whenever he entered the jail.
Two or three weeks ago another prisoner
informed the sheriff that Steadman was
s'lying for him to kill him''. Sheriff
Mayo learned at the same time hat Stead
man had pack Of cards, which are for
hidden in the jail. When asked if he had
cards, Steadman admitted it, but refused
to give them up, and showed fight. After
that he was denied the freedom Of the
corridor, and after a few days in the dun
geon, was put in one Of the large cells on
the second tier, and kept locked up.
A search of his old cell disclosed q
heavy iron bar, and several pieces Of iron
broken from the bedstead, which would
have been a murderous weapon in the
hands OF a desperate man.
The cell in which Steadman was locked d
up is one used for female prisoners
when there are any. 1t is at the rear of
the jail, and adjoins the rear wall. The
wall is of brick, twenty inches thick, but
laid up like any ordinary brick wall, and
not, as Sheriff Mayo supposed, rein
forced in any other way. 1t was COM
paratively easy matter for Steadman, with
sharp piece Of iron broken from his
bed, to dig out the mortar. He made the
hole well up toward the ceiling Of the cell
and not near window.
Il must have been just at DARK Thursday
night when Steadman crawled through
the hole and dropped to pile OF wood be-
low. Then, instead of making good his
escape, he went to the stable and laid in
wait for Sheriff Mayo, whose habits he
knew. He turned of the electric light in
side the stable 10 it would not light from
the outside switch.
As Sheriff Mayo entered the stable in
the dark, he was met by blow on the
head which dazed him but did not render
him entirely unconscious. Stsadman then
ran around the stable and disappeared
down the hill toward the mill road.
The weapon with which the blow Yves
struck was the leg Of q table. Fortunately
Sheriff Mayo wore stiff hat, which broke
the force OF the blow. The club, too, was
of brittle wood, and was broken into three
pieces by the force of the blow. As it
was, the sheriff escaped with slight
scalp wound over the right ear, but there
was murder in the heart OF the man who
aimed the blow.
The alarm was at once given, and Sheriff
Mayo's deputies throughout the county
were on the watch for Steadman. He was
seen within a short time after his esca pe
at Ellsworth Falls. The next definite
trace of him was at Hancock, where or
Saturday night he stole horse, blanket
and bride, and rode away.
The horse was found Monday morning
at West Sullivan, and it was learned that
he spent Sunday at the home Of Mrs. Ev'
Hilgrove, who told the officers she did moi
know Steadman had escaped from jail
He left her home at o'clock Sunday
night. His feet were FROST bitten, and he
could not get on his shoes, and was given
pair of lumbermen's rubbers.
SUNDAY night he spent in barn at East
Sullivan. From there he was traced tc
Steuben. It is now believed he has gone
to the home OF q sister at Petit Menan
and officers are to-day searching for MN
there.
UNION LON
under Dirigo Club Ro>
OYSTER STEWS Sc