Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-08-30
jail DELTVERY AT DOpEIs.
The Notorious Bob Allen Escapes,
Taking Five Companions Along.

The Notorious Bob Allen Escapes,
| Taking Five Companions Along.
| Special Correspondence OF state journal.
| DOVER, Aug. 27.-About s o'clock on
Saturday evening six prisoners headed
by the notorious Bob Allen, effected their
escape from the Kant county tail, and
fve OF Thorn are yet atiargc, ous being
recsptured and returned 20 iii The
escape was made by emitting 49, iron bar
In the rear OF the Jail yard aud taking
out another bar, which made passage
for exit q by 132 inoh-s, thfoGsh which
the prisoners escaped into the all yard.
After getting into the yard, board was
sawed from the fence surrounding the
| Jail and through this the msn escaped.
The names of the escaped prisoners are
Bob Allen, notorious burglar who
was arrested by Special Officer Jones in
Wilmington last May, for committing a
number of burglaries in vsrions parts of
the State. Search o. Aliens hauuts dis
covered much OF the plumber which was
afterward returned to its owners. Allen
has broken from different jals three or
four times bsiore.
Harry Raisen, Aliens accomplish, ar.
rested with him by Detective Jones' !;
both prisoners were awaiting trial.
Joseph Cook, colored, awaiting trial
for committing rape.
Israel Loate, colored, serving SEN
tence for larceny.
Henry Watson, awaiting trial for lar
oeny.
James Leagle, tramp arrested for
horse stealing. He was captured last
night near Ksnton by John Greenlee,
dashed to horse and returned to the
Sheriff's custody.
The prisoners were all locked In their
cells excpt Israel Loate, who was out in
the corridor. Some think he went to the
cell OF Allan and by the means of some
small instrument unlocked the door and
turned him loose. The two prisoners
then went through the hall, unlocking
the doors of those who followed them in
the escape.
Bvery cell In the building contained
prisoners, yet it is ststed that
none Of them heard or saw
the fugitives getting out. This state
msnt, however is disbelieved, as the
peculiar way in which the doors are fast
ened makes it impossible to unlock them
from the Cell and even from the outside
thcJ Ddhbob D6 uutOChtu WltuOut IhhluE
considerable noise, sufficiently loud 10 be-
heard in all parts of the building. The
Sheriff was absent when the prisoners of
fected their escape.
Another version OF the delivery, and
the one generally accepted, is that Allen
was the ringleader in the movement. 1t
is known that fne-looking mulatto
woman has been III Dover several days
past and, representing herself to be
Aliens cousin anxious to reform him, was
admitted to his call. While there it is
thought she took an impression Of the
cell locks and furnished him the key by
which all the fugitiyes were released aud
allowed to Escape. The bars across the
rear window show that they have been
cut of with sharp saw, probably by a
confederate from the outside, but the
fleeing criminals left saw-knicked knife
behind as sort of blind and to lead the
officials to think they had escaped I'M
aided.
1t is furthermore said that Allen went
among the prisoners ard offered all their
liberty who desired it. Those who desired
their liberty accepted his offer aud
escaped. Joseph Truitt doing life
sentence for msnslaughter WAS offered his
liberty but states he refused il. The
officials disbelieved this and thought the
reason he stayed behind WAS that he
could not get through the aperture. TWAS
afterwsrd ascertained that he could climb
through without difficulty, but pre-.
ferred TO remain and take his chances Of
being pardoned. Aliens female confed
crate left Dover soue time on Saturday
and hna mt bppn sppD Since
The regular outside warden states that
the prisoners had been locked up for the
night and he was Off duty. The inside
warden is a convict, completing SEN
tence for mauslanghter, and was trusted
with the cell keys, but it is not thought
that he gave them any aid or was aware
of their intentions to escape. The Deputy
Sheriff headed a posse of men and began
search OF the surrounding country for the
fugitives as soon as their flight was
known. The Sheriff of Kent county tele-
grsphed to Special Detective Jones of
Wilmington and to the police officials OF
surrounding cities, informing them of
the delivery and Offering the following
rewards for the recspture of the prisoners
and their return to his custody For
Bob Allen, five feet eight inches
in hight, heavy set negro, very dark,
aged 25 years, 500 for Henry Raisen,
negro, worry dark, 5 feet & inches in hight,
weight lao pounds, $50; for Henry Wat.
sou, white man, and Joe Cook aud
Israel Loate, both oolored, the sum of $50.
When the facts of the escape OF the
prisoners became known there was con
siderable excitement in the town.