Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-22
JAIL ESCAPADE.
Ex-Trustee II. e. Leonard, OF
Shelby County, Suddenly
Bids AdieU to the Jail.
A Negro Cook, a Hundred Dol.
lars and a Door. Key at
the Bottom of it.
From The Memphis Avalanche. March 70.

About a year ago Thomas Z. Leonard,
an ex-Alderman of Memphis and ex-
County Trustee of Shelby county was ar
vested IN New York city on the charge OF
] forging and embezzling coupons on the
county bonds to the amount of several
thousand dollars. He was brought to this
city and incarcerated in Jail for several
months. He was brought before the
Criminal Court at the June term last year,
on an Indictment for embezzlement, and
after a heightened and exciting trial, he
was found guilty and sentenced to five
| years imprisonment in the Penitentlary
1 He applied for new trial, but this being
denied, he appealed to theSupreme Court
At the October term of the court he was
again brought up for trial on second in
dictment for forgery and embezzlement,
but owing to the publicity that had been
given to the matter, it was impossible 10
| procure a jury, and change of venue
was taken TO Fayette county and Leonard
remanded back to jail His bail was
fixed at $13, 200, but he was unable to
| find sureties to that amount, and impOr-
tuned Attorney General Horrigan to re-
duce it to $4,000, but without effect.
At four o'clock on Thursday morning
| il was suddenly discovered that Leonard had
made his escape, and most mysteriously
| disappeared. The alarm was quickly
| given, but Leonard was non est, and on
| inquiries being made it was ascertained
that he and another prisoner named Robt.
| Goodlett, who was convicted and SEN
fenced to couple of years in the Peni-
Tertiary, had escaped the previous night,
and accordingly had got good start
ahead of their pursuers.
About ten days ago Leonard received
two hundred dollars by express, and con-
trary to the general orders of Sheriff
Curry, he was given possession of this
money, and it is quite evident that he
used a portion of the cash to bride ne
gro official named Joseph Swan to allow
him to escape. Swan has been acting es
a cook in the prison for the past one and
a half years, and has always been con-
sidered trustworthy, so that occasionally
he has been left in charge of the jail dur
ing the necessary absence of the guards,
and has always discharged his duties faith
fully. Owing to the recent action of the
County Court, the guards are very lin
tied in number at the present time. On
Wednesday evening Berry Jeffrey, whose
duty is to mount guard at six o'clock each
evening, sent word to the Jail that he was
sick, and would be unable to assume his
duties till about nine O'Clock. Mr. E. s.
Francis, who has been officiating as TAILOR
since the resignation of Major Foster,
and who is reported to be very faithful
officer, resolved to remain in charge of
the prison until such time as Mr.. Jeffrey
would relieve him. About eight o'clock
he Summoned the colored man, Swan, and
placed him in charge, stating that he was
obliged to go out for short time, and
that Mr.. Berry would relieve him at nine
o'clock.
From the actions of Swan Immediately
after the departure of Mr.. Francis from
the jail, it was quite evident that he had
been previously in communication with
Leonard and GOodlett, who were confined
in separate cells' He was seen by the
other prisoners to go to the cells occupied
by Leonard and Goodlett and unlock the
doors. He left the doors open, and by
this means the two prisoners were soon in
the corridor. They quickly disappeared,
but whether they went down through
what is known as the ''feed hole" and es-
capped over the rear wall, or coolly and
deliberately walked out the front gate. of
which Swan had the key, is not known,
as Swan is very reticent on the subject
Shortly after o'clock at night Mr..
Jeffrey came on duty, and about O'Clock
in the morning, having occasion TO peep
into the cells of Leonard and Goodlett, he
discovered that the birds had flown and
that the cell doors were both unlocked.
Information of the escape of the fugi-
gitives was early communicated to Sheriff
Curry, and men were sent out in all direc-
tions in search of them The telegraph
was put interequisition, but up to the pres
ent time, although Sheriff Curry has Of
fered one thousand dollars reward for the
recapture of Leonard, no trace has been
got of the whereabouts of either of the
prisoners.
Yesterday the negro, Swan, was ares
ted, and in the afternoon the Grand Jury
of the Criminal Court found an indict- |
ment against him for aiding and abetting
in the escape of the two prisoners.
He has been committed TO jail to await |
his trial at the present term of the Crimi- |
nal Court. When he was arrested over
one hundred dollars was found in his |
cupboard at the jail, evidently the amount |
paid by Leonard for his services in aiding |
him and his fellow prisoners to escape.