The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1921-07-14
WIZARD OF JAILS
AGAIN AT LIBERTY
JIMMIE WALLACE, THE HOUDINI
OF BASTILES, OUTWITS MIS-
SOULA PEACE OFFICERS
Was Carried Out of Jail in a Garbage
Can, Recaptured in Washington
and Brought Back to Missoula;
Again Managed to Make His Els
cape.

Lafrinire, alias Jimmie Wallace,
the wizard of jails, who escaped
from the Missoula county jail a
few weeks ago in a garbage can,
was captured in Washington and
brought back to MissOula a few
days ago has again escaped.
And Sheriff Bill Houston is sick
actually sick, lover the little whiff's
escape" He is offering a reward OF
5000 for his capture and return to
the Jail. The last time Lafrinire was
returned (and Houston brought him
in only a few days previously it cost
the sheriff 500 reward money. That
may be an expensive price for salts
faction, but the sheriff insists he
won't be happy till he gets it, and
sees the Frenchman behind the bars,
again.
Still Has Six Ways to Go
When Lafrinire was brought back
he remarked when he entered the
Jail that there were '.eight ways of
getting out of this little basket" He
tried the first successfully when he
escaped by being carried out in a
garbage can. And now, as Deputy
Reid remarked, "he has six more to
CO."
The county Jail is 80 years behind
the times, Houston said, and he has
been afraid the little eel would
squirm out of a crack if he kept him
In the prison downstairs, where he
had been confined since his return,
up to a day or two previously. Then
he was removed and placed in a cell
upstairs, opposite the sheriff'S own
room, so that the slightest noise of
scraping or filing could be easily
heard. The sheriff kept personal
watch over him throughout the day,
but about 1880 left the Jail in charge
of Deputy Sheriff Barney Wheeler
and went out. During his absence,
Deputies Jackson and Reid were III
and out of the office several times.
but heard no sound. When Houston
returned after less than an hours
absence, Lafrinire had taken French
leave again.
Has Garbage Can Beaten
Ingenuity is that mans middle
name. His method of escape this
was more ingenious even than
his famous garbage can exit. Taking
the canvas hammock with which his
cell was provided, he strapped one
end to the wall and the other to the
top of the cell door. Then he tore
the wooden top off the reservoir of
the toilet, inserted it into the middle
of the hammock and twisted. AS the
top of the iron door was sprung in
ward, he inserted a chair leg in the
widening crack to keep it from
springing back. In a very short time
the top was pulled in far enough to
allow his escape.
Crossing the hall into the sheriff's
room he picked up the sheriff's gun,
4 Al caliber six-shooter with four
loaded shells in it and walked down
he stairs and out through the kit
chen.
AS soon as the report of his having
been seer reached the police head
quarters the sheriff's office was noti-
led, and all available deputies and
policemen and a number of special
deputies started a systematic search
If the surrounding neighborhood.
Sheriff Has Met His Match
81 strung him along and quizzed
lin a lot when I brought him back
rom Washington" said Sheriff Hou-
ton. II never knew him before
hat is, not the real Lafrinire. He's
mart, smart as a whip; a crooked
devil, but he's got lots of brains.
But"
The sheriff had held in as long
IS he could. Damn it." he exploded,
he's the worst I've ever had to deal
With, and I've dealt with a lot of
hem.
II felt foolish bringing that kid in
ere with an Oregon boot on, but !
bought after / had got him here,
ghere I could watch him myself, he
couldn't need to have that thing IN.
Why, when I brought him in, some
ird down at the station yelled: Hey,
ill, why don't you put a garbage
an on his Lego
Never again! I'll keep him here
ext time if I have to put leg irons
n him."