On Dec. 29, 1886, the first and only murder of a Correction Officer took place. The site was the Waterloo Jail. The Correction Officer on duty was Turn-Key Robert Walters, who at the time was approximately 70 years old. Turn-Key Walters relieved an officer who was sick. The Jail had several inmates, one being Charles Johnson. Charles Johnson and Inmate Edward Caldwell were arrested for the larceny of three horses in the Tow of Seneca Falls. Johnson and Caldwell planned an escape with Trusty Inmate Marcus Fisk . The three inmates attempted to dig their way out of the old Jail. The rock and wood of the old jail proved too much for the inmates. Inmate Marcus Fisk, with a tool he had hidden, cut the shackles off Johnson and Coldwell. The three inmates hid in a stairwell until Turn-Key Walters made his rounds. Turn-Key Walters, while making his rounds, was struck by Inmate Johnson with an iron stove shaker. Turn-Key Walters fell to the floor mortally wounded. The three inmates ran up the stairs and were confronted by Sheriff Lerch and Officer Cronin. Officer Cronin was downed by the same iron weapon that was used on Turn-Key Walters, leaving Sheriff Lerch. Sheriff Lerch fought with the three inmates, forcing them back down the stairs to their cells. It must be added that Sheriff Lerch was a short, stocky man, and believed not to be powerful, but after this incident, the public pictured Sheriff Lerch in a different light. Officer Cronin recovered from his wounds, but Turn-Key Walters died the following day from head injuries. Inmate Charles Johnson was charged with the murder of the Turn-Key. Johnson was found guilty of murder after trial and sentenced to be hanged. The date for the hanging was on May 24, 1887; Inmate Johnson appealed his case and it was denied. So on Nov. 15, 1888 at 10:22 am, Inmate Charles Johnson was hung by Hangman Cyrus Ballou. Charles Johnson was executed at the County Jail at a private session. The scaffold was in the prison yard. The scaffold had more than a dozen notches in the cross beam. Johnson was buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Waterloo. Inmate Edward Caldwell was found guilty of Murder in the 2nd Degree and was sentenced to life in Auburn Prison. Inmate Marcus Fisk was found guilty of Manslaughter 2nd and was sent to Elmira Prison.