Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-01-27
ArERs AND AVERY.
The Escaped Prisoners from the Knox
willie JaiI-A Brace of Nice Jail
Birds.
Avery, the Most Accomplished ScOHn-
dreI of the Two, Arrested in Mon
roe County.

Knoxville Press and Herald, January 23.l
About half.past one o'clock yesterday
morning, daring attempt Wss made to
break jail in this city, which resulted, as
briefly stated in Saturdays paper, in the
escape of the notorious Joe Avery, who
is charged with completely in the Rey-
nolds murder, and Henry Ayers, who
swindIed the government out of twenty
three thousand dollars in fraudulent
claims. A little before half-past one,
Tom Ferriter, the watcbman, had gone
inside to replenish the fire, and while
doing so heard dogs violently barking,
and lust as he turned the corner of the
Jail saw q man struggling through the
window, when just SIS he touched the
ground, he was seized by Mr.. FeIriter,
who at once gave the alarm, and held to
the prisoner until Sheriff Swan and TIE
iailers arrived, when it was found that
the bird who had SO narrowly missed re-
gaining his liberty was Pryor Coleman,
who, it will be remembered, shot and
killed Miss Bell, in this county, during
the war, and for which Offense he was
awaiting trial. The prisoners, five in
number, Joe Ayers, Henry Avery,
Pryor Coleman, Henry Ditmore, a cOun-
terieiter from North Carolina, and Garter
Pfice, charged with leWdness, occupied
the cell in which John Webb was
confined, in the southeast corner OF the
Jail, on the ground floor. 1t is secured
by massive door, with three fasten-
ings, opening into the hall, while the
O0iy window, which faced the river, was
deemed impregnable with its heavy
grating. The prisoners sawed through
two upright and one cross bar in the
lower window, and pried up the ends OF
the former, which were imbsdded in the
masonry, with an iron rod, which they
had in the cell for the purpose Of clean
ing out the sewer-pipe. The cutting was
done with a saw made from the steel
shank Of one Of Avery's boots and an
old watch-spring, Coleman gays, and
further that the work was done IN day
light. The cu,s were clesr, as if done
with keenly-tempered tool, and the
edges were bright except where coated
with grease. The grating was discol-
ored from top to bottom and rusted,
evidently to distract attention from the
point they we're going through. Ayers's
brother-in.lsw visited him q lew days
ago, and it is hSghly probable that he
was privy 10 his escape. Ayers an d
Avery, SIS soon as they got out, went
across the jail-yard into lot, and climb
ing pig-sty, were within two or three
feet OF the top Of the high fence sur
rounding the jail, from which they
easily dropped into the street. Sheriff
Sven and several deputies immediately
saddled their horses and went in pursuit,
but up to this writing nothing had been
learned of their whereabouts, although
he was in hopes of effectiDg their cap
ture.
CAPTURED.
Press and Herald, 25Lh.l
After getting clear Of the prison wall:
Ayers and Avery separated, the fOrmel
proceeding to the residence Of his broth
er-in-Iaw, Alversop, who lives abou
eight miles from town, where he go
breakfast before daylight Saturday morn
ing, and soon after took his departure
Alverson was arrested, but gave bOndl
during the day and embraced the frs
opportunity to leave, and has not beer
seen since by an officer. Saturday nigh
Sheriff Swan and his deputies weTr
securing the country, and while that off
cial ana Deputy Fox were riding along
the road near TrOtter's bridge they came
suddenly upon "a solitary hOrseman,
as the Veracious g. z. r. James WOulC
| have put it up, whom they
ordered to halt, and caught thu
bridle-rein, thinking, as he made
no response to their summons, that he
was the man they were in search of, bu
giving his horse the sptr, the nocturna
! rider was off like the wind with the
officers in hot puIsuit, who fired severa
| shots at the fugitive without effect. We
| on through the mud and darkness tht
race was continued for some distance
being occasionally enlivened by ran
dom shot from his pursuers, till the fugi
| tive left the main road and escaped
through an open field into the adjoining
| woods, where he abandoned the horse
| which was afterward secured by th'
sheriff and the fact ascertained that
| had been furnished Ayers by friend
| The accomplished scOundrel, Avery
Gro ssed the Knoxville and Charleston
railroad bridge Immediately after leav
| irg the iail, and made his way to the
residence OF Henry Kidd, on Little
river, which he reached about dsyligh
| spd obtained breakfast. He was fun,
posted as to the geography of the coun
try by a felloW-prisJ Jner. Avery toll
Kidd his name and stated that b
had been acquitted by the Fed
eral count for Illicit distilling an
was on his way to Georgia. He wa
barefooted AMI Mr.. Kidd furnished min
with pair CT she es, which he thankful
Iy received and went on. The following
dispatch was received at ten O'clOcl
last night:
swEETwATER, TENN, January a.
Information has just been recsive
| I,oro HENRY A rU PQDtnrn6 q
five o'clock this evening, eight mile
south Of this place, by two Knox count
officers. 10. J. WINS.