Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-23
A BOLD FUGITIVE.
Mrs. Vermiiiion's Experience With an
Escaped Convict From tho Workhouse.

Yesterday Mrs. Lloyd Vcrmillion, who lives
on the eat bank of the Eastern Branch about
one-fourth of mile north Of the Pennsylvania
avenue bridge, had startling experience. Her
husband was away from the house and Mrs.
yermiilion was alone with her baby. About
noon white man almost nude, having only a
shirt, appeared suddenly before her. lie asked
for a knife and pistol and some clothing
He said that one of the prisoners had knocked
down guard at the Jail and had made his es-
cape. coming over in boat, and he was in pur-
suit. Mrs. Vermilion said she had no knife,
pistol or clothes. The man then went to a
chest, from which he took pair of pants and
coat and at once put them on. He again de-
manded q knife and pistol, and Mrs. Vermillion
again refused Then he spied "a watch on the
mantel which he grabbed. Mrs Vermillion
determined that he shouldn't have it. aud Crap
pied with him aud succeeded III wrenching it
from his hand. The man then lcft the house
and started off toward the Maryland line. 1t
turned ont that he was a fugitive from the
work house. He had stripped off the striped
uniform OF the work house prisoners and swan
across the branch. coming to land in the
vicinity OF Mrs. Vermillions house. Officer
Mari having learned that some one had crossed
the branch started in pursuit Of the man and
followed him to the District line, but failed to
overtake him. The officer states that the flee
and that some OF his jumps he afterward meas
ured were from 10 to IL feet
The escaped prisoner is a white man named
James Roach. He was arrested here on the
18th instant by Officers Grealy and Cater and
sentenced by the Police Court the following
day to 1915 days in the work house on a charge
of carrying concealed weapons and disorderly
conduct He gave his occupation that of a
carpenter, but is said to have spent much OF his
life at sea.
Roach is tall, slender man and his face
showed evidence OF his having spent consider
able time in the water. At the time of his ar
rest on Friday night he was under the influence
OF liquor and when taken to the station he was
found armed with revolver. He also had in
his possession a chisel which could easily be
used jimmy to pry open q door or window
Miller heard the mans statement that he had
been threatened by another man who lives In
Georgetown. The Judge concluded from the
proc! that the prisoner WAS q dangerous crimi-
nal and gave him the extent Of the law.
HOW ROACH ESCAPED.
Roach exhibited considerable ingenuity in
his plan 70 escape and had studied the details
pretty we'll. He was one OF a gang Of sixty
Hen at work under the officers. Taking of
liis shoes and stockings he arranged with two
other convicts that one should watch a chance
and run to take the attention of the officers
and that the other should kick his shoes off
the bank. He had also slipped stone in his
stocking to use as q slung shot. His fellow
prisoners carried out the plan and as one ran
Roach took tho opportunity to run down the
bank for his shoes carrying his improrised
slung shot IN his hnnd. Using the weapon on
the lock of skiff in the branch he got il loose
and padded across the branch, dropping his
clothes on the other side