Year: 1866




The prisoners confined in the jail at
Mobile made an attempt to escape late
ly, but were discovered IN time to pre-
vent any of them getting off The two
ringleaders, Hudson and Boone, were
put in irons. Capt Petty, Chief Of the
Mobile Police, and the reporter of the
Register, paid the Jail a visit, on learn
ing that Boone could not be kept IRON
ed. The Register thus tells the story:


10 one of the corner cells, on the
first floor, is confined the noted young
Boone alas Monroe, a handsome lad Of
about eighteen years. He was the first
one released by Hudson on Monday
night, and took the keys. after which
he opened all the cells on the first and
second floors. After the prisoners had
been secured and their efforts thwarted,
the sheriff and jailer at once placed
Hudson and Boone in irons, hands and
feet. 1t was soon afterward discovered
that young Boone had thrown of the
irons. He was taken out and heavily
ironed again, the shackles and chains
having been increased In less than
i've minutes afterHard the jailer peep
ed into his cell and saw all the cuffs,
shackleg and chains lying on the floor
of the cell and young Boone sitting on
his bed as if he had done nothing Six
different times did they place his limbs
IN irons, and the strongest and most
intricate were called into requisition,
but all TO no purpose. When Captain
Petty was told of the extraordinary
feats performed by young Boone
in throwing off his irons, he ex-
pressed desire to be permitted to se-
lect the iron himself, and 'dress the
young man" according to his style.
The jailor cheerfully complied with
Captain Petty's request, and after the
cuffs, shackles find chains had been
procured, we repaired to young Boone's
cell He is bright, intelligent and
very handsome boy, with large blue
eyes, etfeminate features, and , COM
plexion as fair as a lady. He rose
from his bed as we neared the cell,
and came to the grated window with
cheerful smile beaming on his hand
some face. We were accompanied by
the sheriff. jailor, Captain Petty, ard
two turkeys The sheriff opened the
door of the cell and invited young
Boone to step out. He was then told
that Captain Petty had come to place
him in irons so that he would stay in
them. This did not seem to move
him in the least He smiled pleasant
ly, and remarked that "such thing
could no doubt be did" but hoped that
no further efforts would be made in
that direction. The sheriff ordered
the irons to be placed on him, and
Captain Petty commenced by drawing
the young mans wrists together be-
hind his back, after which he put on a
tighttitting pair of patent handouts
He then drew his arms close behind
him, and put on pair of cuffs attach
ed by short chain, above his elbows.
A chain was then attached to the cuffs
at the wrist, which extended down to
the shackles which were closely fitted
and locked on his ankles. During the
operation, his large blue eyes were
keenly fixed on every article of his
iron dress, as each was being adjusted
After Captain Petty pronounced him
secure, young Boone's eyes fell, and o
look of despair oYershadowed his
heretofore bright countenance. We
could not help but pity one so
young and promising in his painful
situation. Captain Petty remarked to
him: "Now, Boone, if you wiggle your
self out of that dress, l will guarantee
that the sheriff here will give you the
freedom of your cell, and so long as
you behave yourself you will never
again be ironed in this jail. As these
words we're spoken Boone's face was
fairly illuminated with Joy, and he
asked the sheriff if ut was bargain2'
That official assented, believing, with
Captain Petty and all present, that it
was out of his power to accomplish such
a feat. Young Boone wished to know
if the agreement would be fulfilled as
soon as the work was done. He was
told that it would. He then asked that
the sheriff and Captain Petty 60 away
from the cell while he was at work.
They went off TO the other side of the
hall to iron some prisoners, and had
not been gone two minutes before
young Boone announced that his arms
were free, and in less than three min
utes longer the shackles were off his
legs, and he stood without an iron upon
him He will have no more irons put
upon him, but close watch will be
kept over him. He was put in for lar
ceny about one month ago, and his trial
takes place in June. He is Is native of
New York City, and has graduated
from the Toombs in that great metro
polls of crime. He came to the South
before the war, and served in the Con-
federate army during the war, being a
member of the 7th Virginia cavalry,
and one of the noted scouts of the
Army of Virginia he is the last
youth in the country who would be
suspected for professional rogue