The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-03-19
CLEAN SWEEP
MADE BY EVERY
JAIL PRISONER
JEFFERSON BASTILE
INMATES IN GETAWAY
George Ross Alias George Ely,
of Wheeling, One of the
Eight Who Escaped

Special Dispatch to Tho IntClliGencCr.
STEUBENNlLLE, Ohio. March lS--
For the first time in twenty years to-
day, there is not a single prisoner in
the jefferson county, Jail. The eight in
mates who were confined there departed
before breakfast this morning and not
the slightest trace of them had been
found up 10 late tonight although pos
scS in charge of Sheriff W. T. Baker arc
securing the surrounding country in
search Of thcu.
Tho prisoners recorded tho twenty
third jail delivery hero in recent years,
Sy saving a hole in the bars OF the
third tier. in which they were confined,
dropping TWO stories on blanket rope
into tho old dungeon where they sawed
window bars and again employing their
imprcviscd ropr, slid to the ground and
freedom.
County authorities arr tonight scck-
ing a woman who visited the county
Jail several times during The raSi week.
and vii" is suspected If carr! ing SAWS
10 prisoners. Her arrest II expected.
The officials who are now cons ncCd
that the banjo playing at nights by I'D
Childs one OF the prisoners who cS-
capped. vas for the purpose OF drowning
the noise OF the saws.
What time the men left the Jail has
not been determined hut II IS believed
thy departed shortly after midnight
and as the delivery was not discovered
urtu 40 p. m. when Deputy William
Allison entered the jail. the men had
an opportunity 20 be miles away.
lnspcction Of the tier bars indicate
tha; several Of them had been saved for
many days. the job easily escaping de-
lection because the prisoners selected
AL alcove. out Of rang" Of the corridors
10 make the opening. Tho job. It IS be-
l!rycd was so near completed that IL re-
qIlired only short time last night TO
complete Il and once in the dungeon Il
Mas but a task OF only few minutes
- cut their way through the old rusty
bars there.
whoelingite Escapes
The county officials blame Raymond
Davis. aged Is years, charged with
grand larceny and one Of the fuGiNVcs,
as tho man who made the delivery pos
slbir. lie WIS a "truS;y" and II is sup
poscd that last niEht after Deputy Ali
son had sh0t the bolts. locking the men
IL their individual crils. Davis came
along tho corridor, released the bolts
and uavr III" men tn" freedom OF the
tier They also believe that the man
,,hu obtained tho saws in some mySter-
iuuS manner was GrorE" Ross aIias
George Ely. aged ~ Years, Of Wheeling
who was arrested here recently for
breaking ,utn cars on the Cleveland
Pittsburgh railroad. Ely. officials say,
mas done time for several jobs and IL
known ~ \ dcspcrat" character.
the other six men who escaped arc;
William Mcdonald. aged %j years. OF
Norkril.. charged with criminal assault
un 4 .,i> Year old sirl: s, L. Cash. aged
20 wars. Of Mig" junction, serving a
sentence. for violating III" prohibition
law 81: Ia Shields. aged 20. awaiting trial
,,,l ,.harp, 81 shooting with intent TO
.kiN - wnirhmHn AT IN" RAni"id Works,
Irnn,lal,: Anton Nc(lcr aged 50. Dillon
vale. charged with assault and hnttrry;
Man Eururit nEcd 81. assault and bat
TER, and Joseph Fletcher. aged Il years
feeble minded negro.