Jail Escape

Article taken from The Portsmouth Times, December 23, 1893

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 Three prisoners made their escape from the county jail Wednesday evening, while the sheriff's family were at supper.  Their names are Henry Smith, colored, Joseph Woods, and George Lair.  The first is in for burglary, the second is an Ironton sewing machine man, and the latter was in for perjury in the matter of a marriage license.  He lives at Harrison Furnace, and has bee rearrested.  Sheriff Gustin was away from the city at the time of the escape.

  The delivery was undoubtedly due to the peculiar and insecure construction of the building.  No harder instrument than their hands and feet were used by the prisoners in effecting their escape.

  The jail is many years out of date, and never was secure against the efforts of an enterprising jail breaker.