Joking With A Jailer 1859

HESTER

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 3/21/2017 at 09:40:12

Clinton Mirror-May 16, 1854

IOWA ITEMS

Joking With A Jailer

A couple of prisoners in the Johnstown (Iowa) jail last week perpetrated a good joke upon their jailor. They cut a hole through the ceiling then through the roof, and at night made their escape. In the morning the jailor entered to give them their breakfast, when he found but one of his pets on hand; the other two had vanished. The jailor asked him why he wasn’t gone too? He said he was guilty of no offense and would not slope.

The joke of the affair was, that on Tuesday morning, Hester, one of the missing, returned to his quarters, saying he had simply gone home to change his shirt, bearing a message from the other chap that he, too, would be back soon. Sure enough, he did return – he was only out to “get a drink.”