Jail Break

Home News, December 14, 1861:

Evacuated - A general jail delivery took place at Winsor Castle at an early hour on Thursday night when the iron parlor was evacuated by all its involuntary tenants, seven in number. This room, for the better security of the boarders, had been faced with boiler iron, but the stone floor had been left as it was. A large stone slab behind the stove had been laboriously sawn in two and a part removed , large enough to afford exit to the ground below. In this dungeon place, about four feet high, they worked at the outside wall with a piece of iron bar until a sufficient portion had been displaced to get through to the earth.

Everything being in readiness, soon after dark on Thursday night the slab was removed for the last time and dropped down, and the jail birds quit their comfortable quarters, leaving the hold covered with a piece of sheet iron. Quick work was made of the dirt between the wall and the top of the ground, and the prisoners scattered. One of them, Bob Griggs, went immediately to Camp Tupper and notified Capt. Chandler of what had occurred. He, accompanied by Capt. McCormick, hastened to the jail and communicated the information to the astonished sheriff that his boarders had taken French leave.

Measures were taken for instant pursuit, and before nine o'clock several horsemen were on their track. One of the prisoners, Henry Elder, was under indictment for murder, four others for penitentiary crimes, and the other two for minor offenses. We hope they will all be retaken.

Home News, December 21, 1861:

Recaptured - Three of the prisoners who effected their escape so adroitly from our jail on Thursday evening of last week have been recaptured and returned to their old quarters. Richard Taylor, indicted for burglary, was arrested at his own house on Bear Run, Lawrence Township, on the same night by Nathan F. Smith and Josiah Cline, and returned to jail early on Friday morning. These gentlemen received the reward of twenty-five dollars offered for the recapture.

Henry Elder, under indictment for murder, was taken in Lawrence Township at the house of a man named Reeves on Saturday forenoon by Messrs. William Hamilton, John Skinner, Matthew Rake and Elijah Rake, who received the reward of Fifty dollars.

Lafayette Lagrange was captured in Williamstown, Virginia, on Monday night by C. F. Nellis and J. W. Metcalf, to whom was paid the reward of twenty-five dollars. He is also indicted for burglary. 

Four others are at large, only two of whom it is desirable to retake. These are William Swank, committed for grand larceny, and Harvey Fletcher, for burglary.

 

Napoleon House

Marietta Gazette, March 27, 1841

George Kaldanbach respectfully informs his friends and countrymen and the public generally that he has leased for a term of years, the tavern stand formerly occupied by A. R. Harvey on Ohio street, between Third and Fourth streets, where he intends to keep a public house inferior to no other in the place. 

The house has just been thoroughly repaired and fitted up for the accommodation of travellers or boarders, and he has not the least hesitancy in giving the strongest assurance to his friends, that he will keep a quiet and orderly house, and his Table will be furnished with the best variety the country can afford. His stables are ample & well furnished with provender, together with a first rate hostler, who will pay the strictest attention to horses entrusted to his care. 

His wagon yard is furnished with a good shed for the accommodation of pedlars, movers, &c. He solicits a share of the patronage of the public, and will be under obligations to any of his friends and fellow-citizens who can recommend his house.

Lyceum Notice

Marietta Gazette, March 27, 1841:

The Harmar Lyceum will hold a public discussion of the following question, at the Town Hall in Harmar on Wednesday the 31st instant, to wit: Ought the Government of the United States to impose any restrictions on Foreign Immigration. Ladies and gentlemen are respectfully invited to attend.

Abijah Hulet

President of Harmar Lyceum.

The Mechanics Lyceum will meet on Monday evening next, March 29th, at 6-1/2 o'clock. Question for discussion: Should the town council of Marietta License houses to retail ardent spirits?  The public are invited to attend.

By order of the President, 
J. T. Clogston, Sec'y.

 

Marietta Park

The Marietta Register, May 9, 1867

That this Park generally and more appropriately known as "The Commons," should be used exclusively as a cow pasture seems an anomaly in so orderly and systematic a place as Marietta. No doubt those who reserved these grounds for the public benefit thought they were doing a good thing, and could picture in imagination the time when they would become an inviting retreat for those who had a leisure hour to while away under the shade, upon the banks of the river. But this time has not yet come, and it may never come.

Several hundred feet of the banks have washed away within the memory of persons now living. That immediate steps should be taken to preserve them from the encroachments of the water is apparent to all. It is true that a feeble effort has been made to do so by driving piles at long intervals, but they have proved ineffectual, and at almost every freshet, large slices of the sod are carried away.

Several lines of trees have been set out with military precision. Many of them would do well if they had a fair chance, but the cows have girdled some of the finest, and others have died a natural death and have not been replaced by live ones.

There are so many beautiful gardens, orchards and shaded spots in Marietta, where those who own them can enjoy the verdure and the songs of birds, that the necessity of a public park may not seem to be urgent. Still, there are those who have not these places of private resort. We have also a beautiful Cemetery, with its ancient mound, surrounded by many historic graves. Its grateful shade is refreshing, inviting and free to all. Yet it does not seem fit that the sensitive ear of the mourner should be shocked by the merry laugh and the light words of those who go there merely for pleasure.

Having already the ground for a place of public resort and amusement, would it not be well for the City Fathers to see that it does not wash away, so that if we do not need it, some future generation may have it to appropriate it to its legitimate use.

As to the cows, they can do the land no permanent injury; besides, they keep down the weeds and are excessively ornamental!

 Observer