Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2017 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Rachael Fuller for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Alton Evening Telegraph Monday, January 7, 1884 AT JERSEYVILLE JERSEYVILLE, Ill., Jan. 6. - the court house was discovered on fire early this morning, and before the prisoners could be rescued they were suffocated to death. The thermometer marked 15 degrees below zero, and people were asleep and tardy in their movements. Notwithstanding the ringing of the church bells and the court house bell, it was after 7 o'clock before the populace was aroused and realized their court house was on fire, and that four human beings had perished in the smoke. C. LIPSCOMB was the first to discover the fire, and gave the alarm, and sent to Sheriff FROST'S residence to get the keys to the jail. Not finding the keys there, he went a quarter of a mile farther to Deputy Sheriff BLAY'S where he found the keys and returned with those officers. By this time others had arrived, and they forced their way through the smoke to the jail door, but were soon driven back by the density of the smoke. Sponges were then procured, and with these in their mouths they went in again and succeeded in unlocking the outer door of the jail. The prisoners were found in the cells, which had to be unlocked, and their bodies were carried out suffocated to death. Those who brought out the bodies were JAMES POWELL, CHARLEY KEITH, WM. HIBBLE, MOSES COOKRELL and Rev. F. M. VANTREES. The dead are WALL. DUNSDEN, aged 25 years, held for the killing of NELLIE DODSON, May 22, 1883. JAMES GRIGGS, colored, aged 31 years, held for petit larceny, Nov. 26, '83. EMILE KOHLER, aged 20 years, held for stealing a mule on the 22d of November, 1883. AUGUST SHULTZ, aged 34, held for stealing a coat, Dec. 26, 1883. THE BURNED BUILDING The court-house, built in 1840, was remodeled in 1865, and, together with the jail, has been condemned by every grand jury for fifteen years. The jail was unfit to keep any human being in and the fact has been certified to the people and county officers at every session of the grand jury, In 1882 the proposition to build a new court house was submitted to the people and defeated by three hundred votes. No guards or watchmen were allowed the sheriff for prison- ers confined in the jail. =========================================================================