Evening journal., 1891-02-12
oEMeY,s DARING esoApe.
The Negro AssRilanu Scales the Wester
WALL of the county jail

I
WALL of the county Jail
Special Correspondence EVENING JOURNAL
/, NEW CASTLE, Feb, 12.-EdwarC
| Demby, young eolored man. late Of St
Georges hundred, escaped from the
county Ill here last evening at 3(
O'Clock. The prisoner had been going
about the jail doing some chores Nigh
Warden Dednison was in bis offiea hen,
but went out to answer a call. While be
was thus engaged, Demby, with two other
| coiored men. went out Into the wes ern
yard and quietly conceived and cal ried
out the plan Of escape
Two large BED ticks had been pli ced
ont in the yard late Inv the Afternoon to
be washed The men seized the ong
furnace poker and with it tore the cks
into Grips These we're tied together by
the three men IN less than n minutes
time, and strong rope was made. One
OF them then bent the poker into the
shape Of hook and threw it over the
high stone wall The men then p, He'd
on the rope until the poker was drawn
up to the top OF the well aud caught in
the ledge there.
The three men then started to 90 up
the rope one at time 1t Is said that
Demby's companions made two attempts.
but failed He then seized the rope and
as be climbed up be held the slack, SO
that when he reached the top Of the
wall he had all Of the rope witL him.
Leaving his pals behind he turned the
hooked poker around, caught it on the
other side, and the descent occupied but
few seconds. Demby allowed but "little
grass to grow under his feet, " and n ade
a. once for the railroad The thought OF
what would happen him should he Oe re.
captured, no doubt became nauseatng,
and he made good his escape 1t is
thought that Demby made directly for
the West Yard, Wilmington, where he
boarded the through Norfolk freight
train. He told some fellow prison, rs
some time ago that II he ever escaped he
wonld make for Norfolk at once, as he
had people there who would take care of
him
When Dembys associates saw that he
bad been successful la his daring atten pt
they at once informed on him. Sheriff
Simmons Immediately started with a'posse
to search for the fugitive Deputy Sheriff
simmons went in one direction and the
sheriff and party went towards viii
mington. They were unsuccessful even
in tracing him The rope BY which |
Demby escaped was left hanging on the |
wall for some time afterward, and was
examined by crowds Of people. 1t was
so strong that two men swung on it at |
one time.
Edward Demby is a spry young negro,
8 feet inches tall and weighing about
l45 pounds. He is very dark ia col
aud has clean shayen face He wore a
cap, no coat and check shirt with a
hole burned ia one shoulder lie was a
long term prisoner, having been con-
victed at the September term of court Of
an attempt to feloniously assault Mrs.
Margaret 5. Hukill OF Middletown and
sentenced to FIVE years in jail. Mrs.
hukill was driving to her home il
one very dark night in Sep
Iember, when the negro sneaked up 10
her carriage and made three attempts 60
get into it, He was captured with great
iitiiculty, colored boy finally inform.
ng on him. He stood one hour ia the
'illory and received forty lashes, the
argest number received by any prisoner
or number Of years.