ESCAPED CONVICTS.
Mr. DEEM offered the following resolution:
Whereas, One Harry Foxwell, a most infamous murderer, has escaped from the State Prison South, and
Whereas, One Ruttenhouse, a notorious counterfieiter, has escaped from the State Prison South, therefore be it
Resolved, That the Committee on Prisons be and are hereby instructed to make full investigation into the escape of these noted criminals, and make full report; thereof to this House, and for all these purposes said Committee shall have power to send for persons and papers, examine witnesses under oath, and to receive and publish depositions, and shall have leave at any time to report by resolution or otherwise.
Mr. HEFFREN offered an amendment to the effect that the investigation include all pardons granted by our present Governor.
Mr. DEEM said the man Foxwell named in the resolution was convicted in the Rush Circuit Court for the murder of John W. White, a resident of Wabash County, who was on his way to visit a relative in Rush County. This red-handed scoundrel did not stop in taking the life and robbing the dead body of this noble young man, but by the most unparalleled perjury sought to convict an innocent man for his own infamous crime. Large rewards were paid for his apprehension and conviction, and he was sent to the State Prison South on a life sentence. He escaped after a short imprisonment The counterfeiter Ruttenhouse is a noted and most accomplished criminal in his line, and was convicted by the Federal authorities after many years of labor and after the expenditure of large sums of money. It is asserted that some of the new counterfeit now in circulation is the work of his hands and put upon the market since his escape. I want the matter of their escape investigated. I do not ask for a, Special Committee. The regular Committee can do the work. They expect to visit the Prison next week, and no additional expense will be incurred.
Mr. COPELAND moved that the amendment be laid on the table.
The motion was rejected-yeas, 44; nays, 49.
Mr. SHIVELY now offered an amendment to the amendment that the investigation be extended back to the year 1877.
On motion by Mr. PATTEN the amendments and the original resolution were laid on the table yeas, 48; nays. 40.
Mr. BRAZELTON offered a resolution, which was adopted, that 200 copies of the bill [H. R. 91] concerning the relocation of County seats be printed for the use of the members.
Mr, WILLIAMS presented certain claims from E. E. Myers, architect, which were referred to the Committee on Claims.
