2017 Fall Newsletter

They got out through the privy, adjoining the main cell, climbing the chute that connects the upper and lower privies and jumping from the north window of the up-stairs to the ground. Search was immediately started but no clue was found on the gang. On Monday, Constable John B. Lyon captured Raven, the colored man, near Hillsdale and brought him back and put him in jail. On the road to Paola Raven grabbed a revolver from one of the guards and leaping from the wagon ran some distance, but a few shots halted him and he was docile from then on. On October 8, 1886 the Western Spirit reported over $250 ($6,410) was paid to Sheriff Shoemaker to travel to New York and return an escaped prisoner. The Brick Jail By 1871 the County Commissioners realized there was a need for a new jail. On April 4, 1871 a proposal was submitted to the people of Miami County which would authorize the County Commissioners “to borrow on the credit of the county, represented by bonds, the sum of seventeen Thousand Dollars ($333,333) for the purpose of building a new County Jail. “ This proposal was defeated. On January 5, 1877 the Paola Board of Education sold the land to Miami County Kansas for a sum of $8,000 ($181,818) upon which a new (brick) jail would be built. On October 5, 1885 the Board of County Commissioners “Ordered that the petitions of citizens of Miami County, Kansas that the Board of Commissioners submit the proposition to the qualified electors of said county to autho rize the appropriation of funds of Miami to build a jail building … “. The commissioners also “Ordered that Chas. Winters, confined in the county jail, is hereby released and C. T. Shoemaker, sheriff of Miami county authorized to discharge him from custody.” On October 30, 1885 the Miami Republican urged the citizens of Miami County to vote for the new jail: A new jail is badly needed in Miami County, the old structure being dilapidated and dangerous and a death – breeding trap that should be abated by the health authorities. It is condemned by the Commissioners and the proposition for a new building should receive the support of the taxpayer. If a new one is not constructed we will be compelled in a few years to take our prisoners to Wyandotte County or some place else for safe keeping. Vote for it and work for it. In the November 13th 1885 issue of the Western Spirit, it was announced that “Miami County will have a new $12,000 ($300,000) jail built next year in the court house square.” On October 8, 1886 the Western Spirit reported there would be an estimated cost overrun of between $500 ($12,821) or $700 ($17,949) on a contract for building the jail. An entry in the Miami County Commissioners Journal on October 23, 1886 states the new jail was inspected and found satisfactory. On October 29, 1886 the Western Spirit reported “A portion of the outside west wall in the old jail fell last Satur day, which necessitated the moving of the prisoners to the new jail. The new jail is being completed in time, as the old one is surely tumbling down.” The April 25th 1887 issue of the Western Spirit reported the following County Business: Doctor Medicine and attendance at jail $35.30 ($910) Mitchler Mdse Co Jail 2.25 ( 58) Claudon plumber’s work at jail 21.25 ( 545) Cook repair jail vault .50 ( 13) Shoemaker Jail 18.20 ( 467) Board at jail 25.00 ( 641) A Linn County prisoner confined to the Miami County jail escaped the afternoon of May 20th 1896. A large group of Paola citizens corralled him in the Bull Creek bottoms and returned him to jail. Cont. on pg. 15

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