Behind bars in Weston County, Part III

The tales of Newcastle’s earliest jails and their inhabitants

By Bri Brasher 
with Leonard Cash
NLJ Reporter 
 
Last week’s installment of the History on Main series left off with the escape of Bob Tillotson from the Weston County jail. Tillotson was held on a charge of grand larceny. Upon his escape, which was said to be due to a faulty lock, reports were sent out to nearby towns to be on the lookout for Tillotson. The News Letter Journal said Tillotson was charged with “grand larceny” for stealing two hogs from A.M. Nichols.
“And back then, livestock was almost seen to be worth more than a human life. So I can see that charge!” said Cash. 
The next reported event at the jail came nearly a year later on June 22, 1922, when “Blackie” Evans was likely to be charged with destroying public property. The charge was expected to include a stiff fine and penitentiary term as a result of damage done to the jail during his time there. Blackie reportedly destroyed everything possible. The News Letter Journal explained the incidents: “Plumbing fixtures were torn loose from their fastening and lighting fixtures and wires were ripped down before his actions became known and he was lodged in a cell. There he endeavored to set fire to a mattress and when this was removed he tried to demolish the iron cot by jumping on it, authorities report.”
After the reports on Blackie’s escapades, few articles about the jail appeared over the next several years. 
The News Letter Journal published another update regarding the jail on March 29, 1928, when Deputy Yemington took prisoners sentenced to the county jail out on the streets for work under the arrangement of the county commissioners. The commissioners approved prisoners working in the community – but only on public works. 
Cash then skipped ahead to the next report on June 30, 1932, when William Riepl was charged with liquor possession. The News Letter Journal indicated that three other arrests were made in the scandal, though they were let go when Riepl claimed ownership of the discovered liquor. 
“During the Depression, the paper had very little news. You don’t even hardly find obituaries or anything,” explained Cash.
On July 7, 1932, the News Letter Journal ran an article titled “Local Prisoner Seriously Hurt” with the subhead “Fall From Top Of Jail Cell and Blow By Cots Injures Man Held For Forgery.” The article said that Frank Stevens, a confessed forger and jail breaker, caused Weston County much trouble during his time at the jail. His misfit ways turned against him, however, because he ended up in serious condition at the Acord private hospital. Cash added that the Acord private hospital was primarily run by Dr. Carlin.
The News Letter Journal reported that Stevens fell from the top of a cell and was struck by three iron cots that were dislodged from storage space above the cells. He injured his neck, leaving his left arm paralyzed. The article explained that the nurse suspected the paralysis was due to neck injury. Stevens also had several cuts and bruises, though no broken bones were found, according to an X-ray. 
The News Letter Journal also explained Stevens’ criminal background: “Stevens was first apprehended near Deadwood for alleged forging of checks here, and later escaped from jail by digging through the concrete floor and foundation wall of the jail. He was at liberty about a week when he returned under cover of darkness for his family but was apprehended early the next morning as the fleeing family stopped to rest in the hills about thirteen miles northwest of Newcastle.”
A follow-up article was published on July 21, 1932. Because of his injuries, Stevens was given liberty in the jail and not placed in a cell when he returned to confinement after his hospital stay. 
However, the News Letter Journal reported that after his conviction and sentencing to two to three years in the state penitentiary, Stevens and Kenneth McGuire escaped from the Weston County jail. There was reportedly conclusive evidence found that the men were taken to Gillette in a waiting car. Sheriff Howell said bricks in the jail wall were removed and the concrete broken away with a bar to make a hole large enough for the men to crawl through. No trace of the men or their helpers had been found at the time of the article.
The timeline of Weston County’s jails to be continued!