Glasgow Courier. — 1855-05-05 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

DARING ATTEMPT TO BREAK OUT OF GLASGOW PRISON.  On Sunday last, a very daring. but reckless and futile attempt was made to break out of our North l'rison. In the top flat of the eastern wing some dozen prisoners are confined, all in separate cells, with one exception. The exception alluded to is that in which two prisoners, named respectfully Ramsay and Monteath, were placed together—the former on the charge of embezzlement to the amount of several thousand pounds, and the latter (who had recently been apprehended in Dumbarton) on the charge of having committed several acts of forgery in tins city. The usual rule of incarceration was departed from in this instance, on account of rtamsay having some time since attempted suicide, and it was deemed necessary, therefore, that he should not be left alone. On the afternoon stated, while the winter, whose name is Badger, was passing along the corridor, he heard a knocking coming from the inside of the door occupied by these two prisoners, and on opening it they expressed a desire for water, which was supplied to them. Again they knocked for water, on the pretext that it was necessary to bathe Ramsay's leg, no which there was a slight wound or ulcer. On bringing this second supply, the warder was asked to come into the cell to look at Ramsay's leg himself, lie accordingly did enter, and when stooping to look at the limb, he was suddenly set upon by Monteath, who struck him from behind, and dashed hiss into a corner of the cell, where he held him down. Ramsay, who had been lying dressed on the top of the bed, instantly started up, end also falling upon the warder lie tore from his fingers the key which opened the door of this cell and of the other cells in the corridor. He removed the key with so much violence that part of the skin of the warder's finger was torn off in the struggle. While Monteath still held Badger down, Ramsay ran into the corridor, and opened the cells of some half-dozen of the other prisoners, call. lug upon them to assist in keeping down the warder, and in attempting their escape. These prisoners accordingly emerged from their cells into the corridor, where they heard the warder's cries, and the sound of struggling. The men, however, did not seem disposed to lend a helping hand to the two conspirators, slid one of them, named Doherty, said,' We will not see Badger beat yet.' Meanwhile, the latter was still lying on the ground, with Monteath on the top of him; hut while lie used his hands to hold him down by the head or throat, the warder seized the prisoner's fingers with Isis teeth, and holding them for a time lacerated them severely. About this time the prisoner Doherty entered the cell and pulled Monteath off the warder, who, in his turn, immediately sprang from the cell, and as he still retained the corridor key in his hand, he instantly unlocked the door, let himself out, again locked the door behind him, and rang the alarm bell. Mr. Stirling, the Governor, accompanied by the head warder and some of the officers instantly repaired to the spot, but by the time they reached tile flat they found the insurrection Stan end; for Doherty and another prisoner named Woods had seized Ramsay, 1 and thrust him and Monteath again into their cell. Ramsay, on finding the attempt a failure, had thrust the key under some bedding which lay in the corridor. Ramand Monteath were immediately separated and put in irons. The Governor reported the occurrence the same day to Dr. Davie, the clerk of the County Prison Board; and on Monday, Bellies Mitchell, Wright, and Gilmour attended the prison, with Dr. Davie, and made a full investigation. So far as we have learned no blame at. taches to any one, excepting in so far as the warder was too confiding, and somewhat indiscreet in going into the cell to look at Ramsay's leg. But the man no doubt considered that as these prisoners had occupied respeclable posizions in society, or at least stations far above those of the ordinary ' jail birds,' he would be safe from any treacherous attempt on their part. The result showed that he had formed a mistaken opinion. While due credit may be given to the other prisoners for their timely assistance they reudered to the %larder, it is perfectly pos• Bible that they knew the utter hopelessness of any such attempt at escape. Even though the corridor keys as well as the cell keys had been taken from the warder, this would only have brought the revolted prisoners to the stair foot, where a massive door met them in the face, the key of which was retained by the warder outside. In fact, at this point Badger was locked in, as well the rest of the prisoners. Beyond this there were other massive prison doors to be overcome, as well as a wall fully 22 feet high, before the street could be gained. Since the investigation was made we have learned that this ridiculous attempt at escape was planned by Monteath and Ramsay at least a fortnight before they put it to trial. The warder got a good mauling in the cell, but is not seriously hurt.—[lt will be observed, from our Circuit Court report, that Ramsay, alluded to above, pleaded guilty on Thursday to certain charges of embezzlement, and was sentenced to penal servitude for four years.]