Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1888 — BOLD JAIL DELIVERY. [ARTICLE]

BOLD JAIL DELIVERY.

' Three prisoners, Ed. Chamberlain, Albert Benson and Robert Catterson, confined in the White county jail at Monticello., assaulted Sheriff Joseph Heuderson, and escaped shortly after 8 o’clock Thursday night. The -sheriff went into the corridor to lock the prisoners in their cells. Chamberlin brained him with an iron bar, and all three rushed into the jail office, smashed a window and jumped for liberty. The sheriff’s skull was fractured and one arm broken; his injuries are fatal. Chamberlain is under indictment for the murder of Ida Whittenberg, his sweetheart, at Reynold, six weeks ago. To escape a mob be was removed to this city, and then to Lafayette. After the excitement had subsided, lie was then taken back to White“county, and there was a determination to give him a fair trial. Benson and Catterson were tramps, awaiting trial for highway robbery. Both have served time in the Michigan City penitentiary. Before leaving, all three wrote long letters. Chamberlin stated that the unwholesome atmosphere of the jail was undermining his health; that this was Ills only chance for liisJife; that he had done right in murdering his sweetheart, and woul 1 advise Others in similar situations to do the same thing. The tramps stated that they recognized that there was no chance for them to gyt justice in Indiana. ■. . ... r-j*-/ It is believed that if c night. Cfaamherlain will be lynched. In his letter he stated that he would ratlrerdie than return to jail. The sheriff entered the jail with a cocked revolver,hut was completely trapjx'd. His wile witnessed the entire affair, and gave the alarm. The streets were fined with people when the escape was made, and a number saw the -flying fugitives. Chamberlain was captured. Fridaynight, at the home of his uncle. Wm. Biddle, six miles from Reynolds. Biddle was a widower and was away from home.

Ida and May, aged nineteen and twentyone, keep house for him. Their feelings can hardly be described as they stood face to face with the youhg man, who was almost as near to them as a brother, with whom they had been raised, and, who at that moment tfas being .hunted' by a thousand armed men. Chamberlain was almost exhausted. For the entire night and day he had dodged about the country in the rain, without a bite to eat or a moment to rest. He was the picture of despair. His first question—was as to whether the officers had been at the house searching for him. When informed that a deputy sheriff had searched the house but an hour before, he dropped on a sofa for a short rest. His cousins induced him to remove his clothing and hangthemto the fire to dry. The moment he fell asleep they searched the garments thoroughly, but found no weapons. They at once decided to turn him over to the authorities, and, while Ida remained at the house, Mary ran across the fields and -told her story to Ralph and Authur Laurie, their nearest neighbors. Armed with shotguns and accompanied by Charles Eckert and Jacob Fisher, the five young men approached the house. There they removed their boots, and, headed by Arthur Laurie, they quietly opened the door to the room in which Chamberlain was lying. Laurie drew a bead on the desperado, and in a second the other four had sprung upon him and bound him. He was taken completely by surprise. It was midnight before arrangements were made to start for Monticello. The parting between Chamberlain and his cousin was touching, the prisoner breaking down and giving the first evidence of feeling he had exhibited sincethe cruel murder of his sweetheart, six weeks ago.