Sunday, July 5, 2015

GOLDSBOROUGH ESCAPE 1869

THE ESCAPE FROM SUSSEX COUNTY
OF
ROBERT H. GOLDSBOROUGH
NOVEMBER 1869

Robert H. Goldsborough, the convicted murder of Charles Marsh, and sentenced to hang on 10 December 1869, is reported to have escaped . The “Commercial” newspaper of Wilmington has let the following account:

We have received the following particulars as to the manner in which he accomplished his escape and they leave no room to doubt that he had outside assistance in getting away. He had evidently been furnished with an instrument with which he sawed off the bolt of the leg irons and this left him manacled. He then was able to saw an eighteen inch hole through the floorboards of his cell to the outside wall, dig a hole beneath the outside wall which allowed him to get into the outside yard, also enclosed by a concrete wall where he removed an earthen drain and enlarged this hole to craw through to the street where a carriage was waiting to carry him off toward Lewes and the east.
A Goldsborough relative had visited a short time ago and left a jar of beach plum preserves which is believed to have contained the sawing instrument concealed. Goldsborough is connected to a wealthy and highly respected Maryland family and it is supposed sufficient means have been been place at his disposal to make his freedom.
The Delaware Governor has offered a meager $1000 reward for his capture.

1 comment:

  1. A Denton newspaper in December 1869 told of a well disguised 'person' at the hotel, purchasing expensive clothing at the mens store there as if preparing for a long trip. It is said this was Goldsborough.

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