Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-16
WOODWARD's RECAPTURE.
A Sumner County Man Picks Him Up
Near MasOn's Home.
The Whole Story Of the Escape from
Jail.

The home of the convict ]. c. Mason,
who, with j. Fetch Woodward, escaped
from the Jail in this city, last Wednesday
night, is in a rough section Of Sumner
county, about fifteen miles above GallatIn.
When the fact was known that they had es-
capped, the belief was spontaneous that the
fugitives had gone to that locality. Jailer
Heverin at once sent postal cards to the
neighborhood, proposing the reward Of 500
f'r their re-arrest. BuI not relying solely
on these, he, in company with Detective
Fields and others, set out for Sumner
county by private conveyance last Sunday,
with the view Of making drive in MasOn's
settlement
The party reached GalIatin Sunday even
ING late and put up for the night. On
awakening yesterday morning, they we're
informed that Woodward was then in Jail
at that place, having been brought there at
the hOEr Of A. NJ, by his captOr, William
Hill, and young man named William
MeadOfs.
Jailor Heverin returned 10 Nashville
with Woodward in charge, by frelgnt
train, yesterday. Hill also came down
last night 10 see about getting his re
ward.
A UNION AND AMERICAN reporter in
company with Judge Ferriss and 'Squires
Hainey and Bigley, called "a Woodward
and interviewed him yesterday afternoon
at the jail.
"Mr. Woodward asked one Of the party,
'what could have induced you to break
Jail after having obtained new trial from
the Supreme Court, upon grounds which
al srr-rrrnA frl1rrrsfHnH 18th onnnnH
chAnce?7
The prisoner appeared fatigued, but an
sWered the inteTT0gatOries put TO him in a
pleasant and unhesitating manner. He
said he had the opportunity to escape, and
being weary of cell life, did 50 as much to
breathe fresh air once more aud take exer-
else, as for anything else. He did not do
his best 10 avoid being recaptured. On
getting out wednesday night, he aud Ma
son crossed the river and took the tSallatin
pike, aiming to 60 first to the latter's home.
They passed through G5allatin Thursday
evening and proceeded to their destination.
They did not remain at MasOn's
house long, but went on into the ridges
about three-quarters Of a mile further and
took up their quarters in a tobacco barn.
Here thew Law concealed. having their food
brought 70 them, till Sunday, when Wood
ward parted with Mason, intending to gOto
his brothers at Lafayette. a brother
Of ]. G. Mason, named William,
started with Woodward to put him
him in a certain road which would lead
him in the direction he desired to take. In
passing house, before they had gone far,
they were intercepted and Woodward was
halted by being confronted with double
barreled gun in the hands Of William HILL
VIII Mason passed on, leaving Woodward
to his captor, who started with him imme-
diately for Gallatin.
Being questioned as to the means by
which they escaped from Jail, woodward
unbOsomed a long, but Straightforward and
interesting tale. He revealed q new fact,
which had not yet been discovered, but
which enters as a very important factor in
the solution Of the mystic y. he said the
bolt holding the chain which fastened the
inner door Of their cell was sawed in two,
so that the door could be opened by the
prisoners at any time.
Actual inspection c9rrobOrated his state
ment, and the Jail people now knew for
the first time that tins was so.
To understand the advantage gained by
this: Each cell has two doors, one open
ing on the inside and the other on the out
side. The latter is closed only during the
night, the other being sufficient to restrain
The inmates in the dav time. The cunning
parties in No. cut the bolt holding the
inner door of their cell, so IS 70 be able 10
open it and slip cut late in the evening,
lust before the outer door was closed, and
conceal themselves in an empty
and unlocked cell They knew that
Il N Oh
and disclose the saWn bolt, and 50 they
kept a looking glass on the door and inva-
riablv cautioned the turn-keys not to slam
it.. The plan, Woodward continued, was
that when he and EasOn got out and made
a hole through the yard wall, they should
ra-urn, knock of The locks of the outer
dor Of cell No. and let the others out.
This, however, they concluded not to do
after they saw their own way ont.
Woodward described a number Of
schemes which had been matured in that
cell for an escape, some Of. them dating
back before Christmas. Afte- the bolt was
sawed, which was two OF three weeks ago,
the first plan was that enc should 90 out
late some evening ana occupy an empty
cell till late at night, when he was to pick
the locks and let the rest out. Under this
~ ldil-ClLAc-AlF -iAd1l-- ANAt lALI Ill an
remained ont one night about
a week before the recent delivery. He did
not succeed, and re-enteTed cell No. 4 early
next morning, after the outer door was
opened, in the manner that he had left il
the evening before.
Wien Woodward had made a clean
breast Of all the cOnoOctiOns Of the idle
brains which had been penned up in cell
No. 1 for months, the interviewing party
adjourned, much wondering at the in
genUity Of man.
Mason is still! at large, though vigilant
search is being made for him.