The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-31
louisa COURTHOUSF

| ESCAPE OF 4 CONVICTED AND SENTENCED MUIR
DERER-I ENORMOUSLY DEVISED AND EXECC-
TED PLAN OF ESCAPE-OTHER MATTERS.
Correspondence OF The Richmond DispatchI
JANUARY 80, 1880.
Albert Mitchell (cOlored), convicted Of
! beIus a uorty tv ne murder OF G.. Il. Wal
ton (Which horrible crime was committed
last March,, and sentenced to be executed,
escaped from the county jail last night.
Mitchell was sentenced 10 be executed on
the Oh day Of the present month, but the
| Supreme Court awarded bin a writ OF er-
rOr and SuperSedeGS, and the sentence OF eX-
ecution was hence arrested until this court
could consider and act upon the application
| for new trial. But Mitchell deemed il
| best as the sequel proves, TO discard all lc-
| gal processes and take "leg ball.; and his
| determination thus TO act was most inge-
niOusly devised and successfully executed
and when the iailer entered the iail.yard
| this morning TO carry his prisoners their
morning meal, outward and visible signs
| at once betOkcncd the fact that Mitchell had
breakfaSted out" that morning, aud that
| he had one more breakfast than the mum.
Der of inmates OF his prison demanded.
TIE jail is brick building, but in addi-
ton to the brick wall there is solid wall
Of oak sills or beams l2Xl2 inches in thick
ness, and in addition to this the cell the
escaped prisoner was in was lined with iron
One-eighth Of an inch IN thickness. and
around the building is wall fourteen feet
in height. Upon the whole the building
seemed to be thoroughly proof against
prison-bre3EerS, and was so generally re-
garded. TO make his escape from such
seemingly secure prison Mitchell contrived
the most ingenious plan that could have
been thought Of, probably, and certainly
the one most likely to be successfully exc
cuted. To evadc the iron lining, 80 to term
il, of the outer wall OF bis cell, be burned
through his window-sil, enabling him TO get
at the wood wall, and through which he
must needs burn and then b eak a hole in
the brick wall, both Il which he did, sue
cee1ing in making the main aperture OF
egress about seven inches. This was IL
small aperture, but answered Mtchells
purpose, though 10 a man who knows no
thing 0fthe terr0rS ola death penalty hanging
over him it would seem impossible for any
man to get his body through the same. TO
lower himself TO the ground he tied together
two blankets and fastened one end securely
TO something in the CELL and thus succeeded
in reaching terra trina, when be sue
prison.. e., the yard enclosed by the hieh
wall referred to-and babe farewell to his
old prison.
An inspection Of the cell revealed the fact
that Mitchell did not execute his plan in
single night, and that ne was probably en-
gged in il good many days and nights.
Several things evidenced generalization. The
iailer, however, seems to think that ii was
all executed last night, and that otherwise
he would have certainly detected and foled
the prisoner in his work. BE this as it may,
Mitchell to-day breathes the air of liberty, |
though it is since ely hoped that he cannot
thus evade justice long, but that he will be
recaptured and again placed in the hands of
the law; TO which end the most strenuous
efforts will be put forth by the good people |
OF Louisa, and to assist which also, ills |
hoped. II e Governor will offer reward FOR |
his apprehension.
Our newly.electcd county Judge, james |
III. Voolfolk, is universally regarded as
gentleman OF thorough honesty, integrity, |
and unbemished character, and the Re- |
adiusters are TO be congratulated upon their |
selection.
And right here | must say word in re- |
ea to the Readinsier representative from !
Louisa. Mr.. Ii j. Vale Is o thorough gen.
tleman Of most excellent character, and is a |
most worthy citizen, and we who disagree |
with him politically concede to hin thorough |
honesty 10 his convictions. He has dealt
radlcalism many blow, and | have no
doubt thar he will do ii again.
Louisa Council, No. ". Friends Of Tem-
perance. last night elected tbe following Of
1cers: w. NJ. Blckcrs, president: G. l..
kennon, associate president; W. ii. Young,
chaplain; II. II. Pfiichett. secretary 4. p.
Bickers, financial secretary; n. II. Craw-
ara, treasurer; j. L. Bib, conductor; Ii.
.yn BOYD, assistant conductor; James L.