Washington District of Columbia

1835 Escape from the DC Penitentiary
Furnished by : John G. Sharp

 

Daily National Intelligencer
August 11, 1835

 

FIFTY DOLLARS REWARD will be paid for the Apprehension of JOHN CATER, who attempted to assassinate one of the officers, and by which means effected his escape from the Penitentiary, on the evening of the 8th instant. John Cater is about twenty-three years of age, dark hair, hazel eyes, sallow complexion, 5 feet 5 ¾ inches high, foot 9 ½ inches long. He has a scar on the right side of his chine, and one on the left side of his face, and is shoemaker by profession.
                                                                      ISAAC CLARKE,
aug 10                                                           Warden of the Penitentiary, D.C.

 

 

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Library of Congress

Matthew Brady photo of the DC Penitentiary (circa 1865 ) which was in operation from 1831 to 1862 for District prisoners.
The last to officially use the facilities were the assassins of President Abraham Lincoln who were hung at the DC Penitentiary in 1865. 		 
Library of Congress

This image is an 1831 drawing by Charles Bulfinch, the prison architect. His drawing is of the main building of the DC Penitentiary showing the cell arrangements.
Originally each convict was to have a separate cell but later they were often two or three to a cell.
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Note:
This Reward notice for John Cater appeared in the August 11, 1835 edition of the Daily National Intelligencer. While the charge appears serious the notice offers no other information about John Cater. In deed nothing further is stated about why Cater is in the Penitentiary or the exact circumstances of his arrest or escape.

Fifteen years later, John Cater, Shoemaker is listed on the 1850 District of Columbia Census as 37 years old with his wife Ann 32 years old. Both John and Ann are reported as born in the District of Columbia. If Cater had many problems with the law they are apparently resolved.

John Cater, Shoemaker, is enumerated on the 1860 Census for the District of Columbia as 51 years old John is residing with Henry and Catherine Roby and their four children. His wife Ann is not listed perhaps he is living with her family. Henry Roby is also a Shoemaker, perhaps John Cater works in his shop.

 

 

 

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