Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-11
DARING DASH FOR LIBERTY
Alleged Mail Robbers Foiled in Effort
to Break from Jail.
SAWS AND WEAPONS sMUGGLED
Desperate Men Had Done Effective
Work with Saws When Plot Was
Discovered-PrisOn Guard
is strengthened.

Liberty from the county jail and, per-
haps, freedom from the pententiary, tan
tallzed the five alleged bandits on trial for
the robbery of the Union Pacific mail train,
for a few days but the craft of the law
foiled the desperate men in their attempt
to escape from their cells.
Eight steel saws. cepa hla of severing
well tempered steel twenty-five feet of
rope and two heavy bludgeons three feet
the men Wednesday. cut in the roof of
the cell occupied by Woods had been
sawed and only few inches more would
have given him liberty. Timely discovery
Of these tools probably prevented a whole
sale delivery for 1t would hay been an
easy matter for Woods to have liberated
his companions and waylaid the two men
on watch in the building,
The sound Of filing had been heard for
several nights and Tuesday night for the
first time officers were able to locate It
definitely. The sounds came from Woods
cell Chief Rossiter of the Plnkertons,
and Deputy sheriffs Galloway and SedIn
then went in and took two saws from
Woods
Two of the saws were found on the per-
son of Woods early in the morning. In
the roof of his cell triangular cut had
been made and was nearly completed. on
top of the cell was found twenty-five feet
of strong rope and two pieces of gaspipe
three feet in length.
In the cell of Torgenson and Grigware
were found six saws similar to the ones
found in the possession Of Woods.
Decide on slow, Sure Way.
A small wood handle was also recov-
cred. With these instruments a bar could
| -
prisoners had decided upon slower but
surer method of delivery through the roof.
Investigation is now being made by the
sheriff and the marshal 1t is certain the
tools were brought into the prison by out
slders. The officials are certain that the
men have confederates in the city making
a desperate attempt to hberate them. A
young woman who has been calling at the
jail under the guise Of religious worker
is under suspicion Of aiding the prisoners.
United States Marshal Warner and
Sheriff Bradley will exercise the utmost
precaution In their watcbfulness Of the
prisoners. They will be kept under the
closest surveillance and no one admitted
to the corridor of the Jail. Marshal War
ner has made these rules:
"A special guard will be kept in the Jail
.
ing Of any suspicious actions
THE prisoners will be carefully guarded
enroute to the federal court room. No
person will be allowed in the corridor OF
the federal building.
Each night the prisoners will be
stripped and furnished another suit of jail
clothing"
Cells Carefully Searched.
| To-genson, Grigware and Shelton were
together in the bound-over cell some dis
tancs from Woods cell. A thorough ex-
animation of this cell was made Tuesday
night, but nothing was discovered. While
the prisoners were in court Wednesday
morning a further search Of the cell was
made and a package of six steel saws
were found securely wrapped In paper and
concealed in a basket OF groceries and
fruit that had been sent up to the ac-
cused men. careful search was also
made Of Matthews cell, but nothing could
be found thus far duplicating him in the
attempted jail delivery.
Tuesday night when the men were
searched before being put back in the
cells Matthews seemed unusually nervous,
but Woods, with his customary gusto, re-
marked 10 the officers searching him:
! You are a pretty thorough searcheF." ("
J The officers now know what he meant
Sheriff Bradley is OF the opinion that II
was the intention OF Woods to climb out
through the opening in his cell and then
hide behind the door in the dark corridor
and as the night watch approached to lay
him out with the piece OF gaspipe and OBJ
tanning his keys liberate the other prison
ers. 1t would then have been easy 10 &c
down to the office, waylay the only Other
man on night watch and thus escape.