The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1919-08-08
JAIL DELIVERY
STIRS COUNTY
EFFECT ESCAPE THROUGH
OPEN "CHOW' DOOR
Orrville Boys Return and "Josh"
Sheriff. Fourth Prisoner Still
at Large.

LlVInlHS Wnen IL became known that
four Of the six inmates of the county
jail, had effected an escape sometime
during the night, taking with them
three guns, the property of the sher-
lit. Later in the day three of the
men returned on their own accord
while the fourth is still at large.
The four who escaped were Claude
Blood, Harold Halderman, Clyde Law
renee and Geo. B. N. Ray. The first
three named are the Orlville lads,
awaiting Indictment for the murder
Of Constable Way Knapp, of Lodi, on
the morning of June 22, while Ray
was awaiting the action of the grand
jury on a charge of beating board bills
and the slashing of several mattresses,
the owners of which had afforded
him lodging. Frank Butto, Wads-
worth, Italian, and Edward Tucker, a
15-year-old youth from Cuyahoga
Falls, were in the Jail, but made no
attempt to escape.
Butto is awaiting indictment on a
shooting to kill charge, while Tucker
had run away from home and was
being held pending his parents arri-
val.
The escape was effected about 2 o.
clock Friday morning, through an
aperture in the wall, between the Jail
and the kitchen. This hole is about
8x9 inches square, the prisoners food
being handed to them through this
opening. A heavy door with latch and
bar blocks the entarnce, but was in
advertantly left open, when the pris-
oners were given their supper.
Sheriff Bigelow, in following the
custom which has been prevalent at
the Jail for some time past, had neg
lected to lock the prisoners in their
cells during the night. Thus with
the aid Of a little water and a bar Of
soap, escape was easy. Lawrence, one
Of the Orrville youths is tall and slen-
der. He made soapy mixture which
was smeared over his body, pushed
open the door to the food window, and
slid through into the kitchen. RI
Here, hanging from a peg in the
wall, he obtained the key to the jail
corridor and released his fellow pris-
Soners. Evidently they were in nc
hurry to get away as they went
through the downstairs and located
three revolvers and box of ammuni-
ton. One of the guns was unloaded
and was discarded few doors from
the jail, but the other two were in
the lads possession when they re-
turned. ...
Leaving the house through the
kitchen door the trio left Ray and
went down East Washington street to
Rocky River and from there through
Grangerburg, up into the woods the
other side Of Hinckley, stopping en-
route for an hours swim. Residents
along the street heard noise at the
time but gave it no thought.
Sheriff Bigelow heard his dog bark
about the time of the escape but as
the men had been in the habit Of
making unusual noises at all hours OF
the night he paid no attention to il
and did not discover the delivery until
about six o'clock Friday morning. He
Immediately telephoned to surround
ing towns and villages and sent out
several auto loads of citizens whom
he swore in as deputies.
Armed with shotguns and rifles
the different posses secured the coun-
tryside but obtained no clues to speak
of. The Halderman lad, for some
unknown reason, left his shoes in the
jail and barefoot tracks were founo
leading from the river to Granger
burg, where the pursuers lost all trace
of them.
Later in the morning the sheriff
telephohed to Marion for a blooG
hound, but before the dog arrived
three of the fugitives had returned
and the animal was unable to follow
Rays tracks.
After having spent a very unpleas-
ant half day and when it looked az
though the entire gang had make ;
clean getaway a telephone call was
received stating that three men ans
wering the description. of the Orrville
youths had been seen by Jay Sylves
tor, near Webber's Corners, about six
miles northeast of Medina. The inter:
esting part of the message stated thai
they were walking in the road headet
for Medina.
The sheriff Immediately dispatched
John Moore, Fred Eckert, Bert Nc
Donald and AL Smolk to the scene but
before their arrival the lads hat
reached County Commissioner Scan
lan's home where they told who they
were, stating that they were on the
way to Medina, and inquired if it was
possible to get ride in.
MI At this point the sheriff's party ar
! rived, took the two revolvers away
from the boys and returned them te
the Jail.
When questioned as to- why they hac
Il returned the three became jocular ant
had much fun kidding" the sheriff
One of the trio stated that they
wanted little exercise and more va
riety in, their food. Another declared
they had intended to go to their homes
at Orrville for the week end ant
{ missed the direction, and all agreed
\ that they had intended to return. Th'
trio even. claimed to have set off az
alarm clock belonging to the sheriff
previous to their departure and wer'
disappointed that the ringing hat
n failed to awaken the officer so hi
\ could give chase. II,
when questioned regarding th'
1 whereabouts Of Ray it developed thai