Menard County Texas

History of Jails and Jail Breaks

I've been told by residents that Patrick "Paddy" H. Mires built a two story rock/stone building in downtown Menardville that was used as the courthouse and/or jail until the official courthouse was built about 1885.

I have also been told that the Patrick "Paddy" Mires building would become Emil Toepperwein's Saddlery after the new courthouse was built.

(Original picture can be seen at Menard Depot Museum)

If this information is correct, the "old courthouse/jail building" still stands today and is owned by a private citizen.

Unknown Time Period

The below picture of the "official jail" was taken by Noah Rose, and published in the Enterprise News. Pictures show it to have been located next to the courthouse. (see Courthouse)

While I'm looking for documentation to prove this....I believe that when the "new" courthouse was built in the 1930's, a small cell in the basement was used as the jail. There are also cells on the top floor of the courthouse....but I don't know if they were built as part of the original courthouse or were added later.

(See pictures of Courthouse Jail Cells)

Jail Breaks

The Menard Messenger
Vol 10 No 13
Thursday, January 25, 1917
(page 1)

GASTON PRUITT BREAKS JAIL
Gaston Pruitt, one of the two trappers held in the county jail charged with burglary and arson, broke out through the roof Tuesday night and up until the time of going to press, he had not been captured.
Pruitt pretended to have an attack of appendicitis and the sheriff allowed him the privilege of the "run-in". And by the use of his knife cut his way through the tin roof, slid down the pipe, or perhaps it is thought, a rope which was thrown him from below, and made his escape.

The Menard Messenger
Vol. 10 No. 25
Thursday, April 19, 1917

(page 1)
NEGRO ATTEMPTS JAIL DELIVERY
Last Thursday, Sheriff Slaughter discovered that the prisoners confined in Hotel de Slaughter were endeavoring to cut their way out. Upon a search being made he found several hack saws. An attempt had been made to cut thru the steel bars of the cells but the saws couldn't faze the steel.
The sheriff put the men thru the third degree and found that a Negro who had been confined there the week before had smuggled in the saws, so he went out after his colored highness and brought him in.

NOTE: While I strive for accuracy in all transcriptions, please be advised that typing errors may be present. I would suggest you always verify my online information with a copy of the actual record.

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Saturday, March 22, 2008 11:00 AM