Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-14
LONGING FOR LIBERTY.
DARTNG DASH FOE FREEDOM.
Eseape, Pur.uii. and Recsptare OF Three
Convtets- -Four Men wenBdedi Ose Sc
steasaf, Sc Not taiaiis.

TIN about by 10 inches Is naileu
across the door near its centre. On
this Questionable door-plAte is painted
IN white the names Of the parties who
winter and summer, pass their nights
within, and as much Of Sunday as they
choose. The names now seen on the
door are Edward Green, Joseph Panley,
and Hugh Nixon-all white men.
Green was sent to the penitentlary
from Loudoun county for twenty-tour
wears. lie is a horse-thief, and aggra-
vatcd his offence by repeated attempts
to escape from prison.
Pauley is from Wythe county, and
for murder in the second degree was
sentenced TO eight years.
Hugh Nixon comes from Botetourt
county, and the charge against him was
an attempted assault Of an outrageous
character. lie is reported by the
prison officials as a bad, bold man, and
his term Of confinement is recorded on
the prison register at eighteen years
lie is the same convict who a year or
two ago dofed his prison garb, left it
in bundle inside Of the prison, and
sccreted himself under the floor Of the
cooper-shop inside Of the walls Of the
pcnitentiary. An old negro convict
informed the guards that Nixon was
under the building, and a hot search
followed. The planks were torn up in
various places. but 1t was two days be-
fore Nixon was found.
These three convicts some time ago
planned an escape, and quietly made
their preparations for It's execution.
By some means. at present unknown.
Green and Nixon secured q pistol
apiece and quantity Of cartridges.
Green had a Selfcocking breech-loader.
32-califc. but coarse IN manufacture;
Nixon had a cheap pistol, breech-
loader. but not self-acting; calibre, b.
IN order 20 get ont Of the narrow
cell tie bars 70 the window had 10 be
removed. The walls Of the prison are
thick and substantial, but are very old.
and lt was not a matter of much DIFF
fculty % pry the entire grating from It's
fastening, at the top and push It
ou,waGds. The blankets and bed
ticking were torn up and made into
strong ropes. One Of these was fastened
90 TIE window. and down this for
c-l teen feet the three men safely de-
sc,r.Dd.
Tucaution had caused them to make
rough ladder by boring holes at inter-
va's DO q stout piece Of plank torn from
one of the hunks IN the cell. This lad
Ger wa. carried ont when the delivery
from the cell was made. The next
thing was % scale the outer prison
walls. Here the mproyised ladder
came in well. l. was placed upon
pile of lumber ly.n- against the wall,
AMI one Of the couyictS vas soon upon
the top. and had fastened there one
end oi a blanket rope and was sliding
down it 90 tie ground ON the outside.
The convcis had lcf, their prison
cloths. aud wore al the tIile rough
.ut, ma1e o. blankets.
As SOON O.. tae first msn scaled th>
wall c.sfd De womcn's depart
mtat ..-,.,ssal im and gave the alarm
Iy .fe- Co. s.-t.I-,hot at him. The
,.u,- -. r.l, O. ha .uiy followed their
,.fiaa..l. anu ths three were soon
rlrr -. toward thc open gate Of the
,. q efoaL! the Womt1's department.
10 Va, o. clock al tbs time, and in
tie ohapj inside tie prison some three
or four hundred convicts were listening
20 divine service.
Mr.. Washington >ydnor was oricer
Of the Jay, aud when hc heard .ae
firing gave 20 De attention. Two
Caards-Mr. L. Carte- and Mr..
Thomas Eldriuge fsa out through the
main entrance. and discovering the fu-
clti,es Just coming out from the
gate at the wcmens department, fred
upon them. They were astOuishe5 70
see Two Of the convicts stop q second
and return the fire from p'stols. The
firing for fcw minutes was very brisk,
fifteen OF twenty shots following each
other IN as many ~ Jnds.
The people Of Sidney were aroused,
and turning oat IN numbers, joined the
chase. The fleeing convicts made for
Hollywood, where The ornamental un-
deTgrowth and TIE protection Of the
forest offered safety from bullets and
chance 10 battle pursuit.
A crowd Of men, armed with pistols
and shoi-cJus, fired upon the convicts as
they acd past, followed by two OF three
guards and conStAniiy-increasing
crowd Of citizens.
Before Hollywood was reached
Pauley broke down and was retaken
unhurt. lie had no weapon, and was
taken back 10 prison and pat n the
dungeon, there 20 rumnate N darkness
over ms bad luck.
Green and Nixon separated, and
Green was pressed SO closely that he
sought safety in a culvert. While Mr..
Carter, one Of the guards, was follow
Ing IN hot haste after Green he was as
saulted by citizen, and several blows
passed. the citizen trying to prevent
pursuit Of the convict. The police are I
looking for tins man, and II caught he /
viii be properly punished.
Il was some time before Green was
driven from the calvert, but after send /.
ing for Antern he finally jumped from /
IA, other end Of the calvert and made I
Tor the thicke. 4 yosng man about 4
years Of age, Mr.. Peyton 1
resident OF Sidney, being /
hear. sprang tow ards Green and attempt
I'd 10 seize han. AT point blank range 4
Green fred his pistol. the ball taking /
eject ~ Handleys abdomen. ranging /
around snd lodging near the hip. The
v oand We : painful and serious one,
I'D may prove 'aisl.
jus, st ,his time some one fired
PISTOL at Gr' y, and b. fell shot IA the
1p. He wss taken back 70 the prison
.osp,tal b.eedisg freely. but swearing
,engeAnoe against the crowd arc and
Am.