Escapes from county jail in the 1900s

The hoosegow, slammer, calaboose, pokey, stoney lonesome, greybar hotel, stockade, no matter what the name, jail was meant to hold those ordered there. In the early 1900’s however, being placed in jail did not necessarily mean you were going to stay there!

“Richard H. Lawrence, the machinist who has been in jail at Indianola for several months awaiting trial for selling mortgaged property, broke out of jail, last Friday night, and up to this time has not been apprehended. Parties from the outside provided him with a crowbar to break out and it is said have been assisting him in getting away. He has been simulating insanity in jail, recently, which gave him access to the jail corridor.” November 1, 1901, McCook Tribune

April 29, 1904, McCook Tribune: “Two experienced and nervy thieves were arrested, Wednesday evening, and taken before Police Judge Berry charged with burglarizing the store of C. L. Degroff & Co., on or about April 21st. They were placed in the city jail and were to have had a hearing on the following day. They were returned to the jail Thursday morning after having been taken to a restaurant for breakfast. After dinner Marshal Gray went to the jail to bring the pair before Judge Berry and found the jail empty. The thieves had torn away the iron bars over the transom above the front door and made their escape in broad daylight and while there must have been people going and coming quite all the time.”

McCook Tribune, December 9, 1904: “Ed Lathrop, the young man being held in the county jail for burglarizing the store of Grimes & Crawmer in Bartley, recently, became dissatisfied with his quarters and its accommodations, last week Thursday , and on the evening of the self-same day, walked boldly forth into the liberty and freedom of the wide, wide world and up to this day and date his whereabouts is a matter of merest conjecture. There seems to be but one certain thing about Red Willow county’s jail-it won’t hold a fool even longer than he wants to remain.”

“Whether he got away while out in the care of the jailer or whether he in some manner secured the keys or a friend for him may not ever be known. But, Clarence Gill, charged with attempted murder, is at liberty so far as the jail of Red Willow county is concerned, and there is small concern about the details. It is sufficient to say that he could easily have made his escape at other times had he thought it wise. Perhaps this incident would not be of itself attract much attention or comment, but jail deliveries in Red Willow county under the present sheriff have become the established rule. We are informed that out of eight prisoners placed in his keeping eight only have escaped. This is a record perhaps never equaled before in this state.” McCook Tribune, October 6, 1905.

“George Monroe, who has been occupying the county jail for a few weeks under sentence for securing money under false pretenses by circulating spurious paper money, walked out of jail, last Saturday, and has since made himself so scarce in this neighborhood that he has not and likely will not again be apprehended.” McCook Tribune, January 4, 1907.

Last for this article but definitely not the last jail break known: “Wednesday morning, Red Willow county’s jail was found empty. During the previous night, Harry McCuller, the sole occupant, dug a hole through the brick wall into the boiler room and from a read door easily made his way to freedom. September 10, 1911 McCook Tribune.

These tidbits of history came from www.chroniclingamerica.gov and the collection of McCook Tribune papers they have on line for the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. However, if you are looking for clippings from the Times Democrat, Tribune, Republican or the McCook Gazette covering obituaries, weddings, anniversaries and births from the late 1800’s up to 2018, you can find those at the SW Nebraska Genealogical Society library located at 110 West C, Suite M-3. The library is open on Tuesday and Thursday from 1-4 PM or by appointment. Researchers are available to assist you or will handle requests by contacting us through our Facebook page or emailing us at: swngs@hotmail.com.