Year: 1878

from the Columbus tOhio) State Journal!


Tbe regular escape was made from the
peniteptiary Yesterday. Another convict,
who concluded the prospects for making
money outside were!better than within the
walls, made up his mind to 60 soon after
noon. His name is Reed, and he was re-
ceiYed from Cincinnati in 1874 for term OF
five years. Beng on the home-stretch OF his
time Reed was among the recipients OF favor
so far as any is extended about the lnstitu-
tion.


While the prisoners were in attendance at
church yesterday, Reed was detailed to MI
the water-tank. having the liberty OF the
hall and Being free to pass out into the yard.
He completed his work, and then laid the
foundation for successful escape. Thc Or
binary manner would have been for him to
have finished bis work and then waited IN
the hall for the return OF the other prisoners
from church, or have passed into his cell,
ready to be inspected with the balance after
all had been locked up. Instead Of this he
arranged in his cell complete representa-
tiou Of a man lying on the couch in Il re-
clining position, engaged in reading a
newspaper. It is said that the picture
was complete, the face Of the fdummy"
having been made from flesh-colored leather
and all the outlines OF perfect human; face
observed. The clothing OF the bed was ar
ranged in such manner as to rcpreScLt the
body OF the man, and an old shoe was dis
closed at the foot Of the bed, completing
the representation OF man very much at
ease. The head OF the dummy" was
brought up to proper position by means OF
q string attached and tied to the ceiling OF
the cell. Months must have been occupied
in completing the details for displaying the
figure in the bed and arranging other mat
tiers for the escape. -:a


After everything bad been completed In
the cell Reed passed out into the yard and
secreted himself. Before doing this, now
ever. he broke open the guards private
box and secured on old pair of socks and
few other trinkeIS and pieces OF clothing.
The prisoners were marched in from
church, placed in their cells, and locked
up. when the first round OF inspection by the
guard took place to see il he had the re-
Gulred number OF men. When he reached
The cell of Reed he saw the man lying on
the couch reading in very composed man.
ner. and passed on. It is customary to
reach in with cane and touch prisoner
under such circumstances, when they are
required TO answer, but in the present IN
stance this Formally was omitted IS being
an unnecessary bother to the man. who was
engaged in storing his mind. ,sE


Il was not until the second round OF the
cells was maGe-near 2 o'c!Ock-Then
Reeds absence was discovered. The guard,
observing the same position in the figure,
concluded there was entirely too much ap-
phcatlon being made for one day, and on
closer scrutiny he saw the swing pending
from the ceiling above, and concluded Reed
had suicided by hanging. He thre" open
the door, and, rushing in. cut the string,
which let fall IN pieces the lair form OF
"dumlny.'
A search was Immediately instituted. and
it was found that Reed had scaled the west
wall by climbing up CRATE and easing HIM
self down Gu the outside by means OF q
rope, which he had previously arranged for.
Some fifteen or twenty men were started
out TO search tie city and country around.
Nothing was heard OF him until near night,
when word came in that he had been seen
some time during the afternoon going OUT
the Plqua road. There is. & reward OF $50
for his return.