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Page: of 283
NEVADA DEMOCRAT FEBRUARY 4, 1857 25
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1857 .
ESCAPE OF GEHR.—Wallace Gehr, whose arrest and incarceration on a charge of robbery, we
chronicled last week, made his escape from the jail at this place on Thursday evening last. He had during
the day dug through from his own cell into an adjoining one, which was occupied by a man named
Luddington. The grate door of this cell was fastened with two iron bars, which were held to their places
by bolts. By putting their hands through the grate they managed to pick one of the locks, and drew out
one of the bolts, probably by pushing against the door. Mr. Butterfield, a brother of the Sheriff, took some
food in for the prisoners about dusk, and as he went in left the hall door open. After giving Gehr and
Luddington their supper he passed on to the other cells. As soon as he had left, Gehr slipped through into
Luddington’s cell, opened the door and the two prisoners came out into the hall. They then passed up
through the Sheriff’s office and out into the street. Mr. C. F. Wood, the Under Sheriff, was in the office at
the time, and as soon as they got out he ran after them and cried “stop thief.” Mr. Bostwick, who was
going from his house to the Clerk’s office, saw Luddington and caught him, and Mr. Smith, a deputy
clerk, took after Gehr and chased him about half a mile, but was not able to overtake him. The Sheriff was
absent at the time, but had the Deputies made the least exertion that evening, the prisoner could doubtless
have been re-taken. Nothing was known of the escape by our citizens until Mr. Smith had returned from
his chase after Gehr, when it was thought to be too late to attempt to find him that night. Mr. Plumer, the
City Marshal, and several others started after Gehr the next morning, and were absent two days, but were
unable to get any trace of him.
The Nevada jail is as secure as any in the State, and it seems hardly possible for a prisoner to escape
from it except through the carelessness or design of the keepers. We can scarcely believe there was any
design in this instance, but such charges are freely made, and many believe them true. It is evident that the
jailor is unfit to have charge of the county prisoners, and the Sheriff owes it to his own reputation to
appoint some competent person in his place.
DICK WOODS.—It will be remembered that a prisoner by the name of Dick Woods, or
“Rattlesnake Dick,” made his escape from the Nevada jail some months since, with Jim Webster.
Circumstances have come to light which would indicate that he never left Nevada, but lost his life the
same night of his escape. As soon as he got out of the jail, it appears that he run [sic] in back of the
houses on Pine street, and fell into a shaft near the corner of Commercial street, and was probably
instantly killed. Webster told Mr. Plumer, after his second arrest, that the farther he went from Nevada in
search of Woods the less likely he would be to find him, and some of their accomplices on being arrested
in Sacramento, gave the police of that place the particulars of Woods’ death. Mr. Plumer afterwards
examined the shaft into which he is supposed to have fallen, but a large quantity of rubbish had been
thrown into it, probably by Woods’ accomplices, in order to hide the body.
DISTRICT COURT.—The District Court adjourned for the term on Saturday. Between forty and
fifty cases are left on the docket, but the most of them are new suits which have been commenced within
the past few weeks. There is one case on the docket which has already been tried three times—the jury
each time not being about to agree.
COURT OF SESSIONS.—STANDING JURORS.—The regular term of the Court of Sessions
convened on Monday, to dispose of the criminal business of the county. A grand jury had been
summoned to be in attendance, but Judge Caswell, noticing an unusually large number of “standing