Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 180, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1920 — ATTEMPTED JAIL BREAK THWARTED [ARTICLE]

ATTEMPTED JAIL BREAK THWARTED

AUTO THIEVES NEAR LIBERTY WHEN DISCOVERED BY SHERIFF WOODWORTH. ' • i. ’■ Except for the timely discovery by Sheriff Woodworth, Murle Kasper and Lester Mannis, a pair of “bad eggs” who were lodged in the county jail here about two weeks ago charged with having stolen an automobile at Morocco on July 5, would have secured their liberty some time late this evening. A saw and a bar of soap were slowly delivering the youthful criminals to freedom. •. Sheriff Woodworth made his discovery which prevented the youths making their escape while .the prisoners were eating their supper Tuesday evening. It -is the custom of the Sheriff to test the window bars daily and it was while performing this duty Tuesday evening! that he found that a bar in the | window in the southwest corner of the building had been removed. The bar had been placed back in position following its removal. When Mr. Woodworth touched it, it fell to the floor. The Sheriff then ordered the prisers back to their cage and confronted them with the evidence of their intended escape. The youths denied having removed the bar or that they were connected with the deed in any way. Despite all of Mr. efforts to gain an admission from them, the boys steadfastly refused to incriminatcr themselves, asserting that it must have been the work of some other prisondr. Since there is only one other prisoner in the jail at the present time, Estel Florence, no credence was given their story, for Florence has conducted himself in an admirable manner ever since his confinement and has been given many liberties by the Sheriff, none of which he has in any way abused. The “Boys will take their meals in »the cage during the remainder of their stay at the jail and will no longer be permitted the use of the jail proper. - Following the return of the prisoners to the cells/ Sheriff Woodworth had them remove their clothing which lie searched in the hope that he might discover the instruments which they had used in their attempt to escape. However, his search was unsuccessful. Ev « I V hook sod cr&nny oi -ww wm theif searched but nothing could be found which' could aid them in esOt is the belief of the Sheriff that the saw and soap were given to £ sr by A very close watch has been kept on the prisoners ever since confinement here, as it is of a -sr&xiff ox well organized deoiroM of securing their release

that their liberty may not be placed in jeopardy through testimony which might be brought out at a trial. During their confinement in the Newton county jail Mannis and Kasper almost made good their escape and the authorities are confident they are' receiving help from their companions in crime on the outside.