The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-05-07
A Convict Whom Prisons 10 Not Hold.

One of the c,onvicts in the Kentucky
State prison is q man named Doddrldge,
whom prisons have never been able long
to confne. A few years ago, for some
crime, he was sentenced to twenty years
imprisonment in Tennessee. The second
year of his confinement he managed to
secrete pair of the uniform striped pam
falcons of the prison when new suits
were served out. BY the most cautious
and tedious process he contrived to paint
these spotless white, so that the prison
clothes disappeared under the layer. OF
paint. The furniture manufactured at
the penitentiary was disposed of by con-
tract to a firm in Nashville, and as the
manufactured articles accumulated they
were hauled from the prison court in
wagons. These wagons were driven ny
"trusties, or convicts who were granted
considerable freedom for good behavior.
Working at his task of vanishing the fur
niture, Doddridge observed the op;
portunity, and began to wear the painted
pair of breeches under the prison suit.
This he did for two years and more,
watching eagerly, but never impatiently,
for the opportunity which he knew must
come.
One day there were number of ward
robes to be moved, and Doddridge was
assisting in carrying them out into the
court and loading the wagons. lie
watched the chance, and, as the last was
in place, quietly opened the door. and
quick as lightning was inside with the
door closed. There he lay quaking with
doubts as he heard directions given, the
hustle of guards and fellow-convicts, and
then the wagon moved out. In five min
utes he was beyond the prison walls. The
driver of the wagon was a "trusty," but
Doddridge dared not trust him. Lying on
his back in the wardrobe, he stripped OFT
his prison jacket and trousers, and re-
tanned his gray woollen shir5and painted
breeches. Then he cautiously raised the
top Of the wardrobe, saw that the driver
was walking along by the horses, and, rs
they passed through unfrequented streets,
he clambered out and found himself free,
bareheaded, coatless, and in the suburbs
of the city. He hid in stable, however,
until mig ght, and then struck out through
alleys for the country.
Luck favored him and he found means
to got away from the dangerous vicinage
of Nashville. He drifted to Evansville,
Ind, and found employment in the St.
Louis and Southeastern railroad as a
painter. He lived an honest life for some
months, and allowing his beard to grow,
his face was soon covered with hair,
which, with his alteration of dress and
affectation of habits, made him feel
secure against detection. Then the pro-
pensity for robbery returned. He had
already committed murder, and he felt
the fatal compulsion of fate. He gave up
his situation at honest labor, and began
to look about for field for operations.
He went to Uniontown, KY, and in 4 day
or two had planned to rob a adistill"ry, not
of money, but of whisky. lie had dis
covered means to introduce Il hose from
the roof to the cistern-room, and by
converting this into siphon he could eX-
tract as much whisky as he could handle.
He returned to Evansville, bought a
small fish boat, three large casks (Which
he arranged ingeniously y under the boat
in the water securely against search) and
a confederate. On arriving at Uniontown
they were out ofready money, and while
waiting to begin operations conc ludcd to
rob the store, which proved their ruin.
He was again sent to prison. but says he
is sure to get out.