Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-06-04
TIRED OE JAIL LIFE.
Sugar Awful" and John Dough.
erty Escape from New Castle.


Under the Pretext of Going After Coal
They Slipped Out Into the Yard
Climbed Over the Wall by Means of a
Rope and Fled--StilI at Large.
Special Correspondence OF Gazette and journal
NEW CASTLE, June 2.--llarrison Roth.
well, colored, alias Sugar Awful" made
another successful dash for liberty from
the, New Castle jail last night between 8,3C
and $50 O'clock He was accompanied in
his escapade by John Dougherty, white
man, who was serving years imprison.
ment for horse stealing.
Both men were employed as cooks and
on account of their good behavior they
were allowed the privilege of the corridor,
kitchen and yard. 1t is the custom of the
prisoners who work about the kitchen To
clean up and bank the fires every night.
Last evening Rothwell and Dougherty
stepped out into the yard, it is presumed,
70 get quantity of coal or wood for the
fires. Twenty minutes later Warden Den
nison, thinking they had been out too
long hurried to the yard to call them in,
but to his astonishment they were not
there. He at once instituted Il search but
heing unable to find them he notified the
sheriff, who telephoned description of
the men to Wilmington and other neigh
boring places, and told the authorities TO
be on the look out for the fugitives.
Sheriff Simmons and Day Warden
Tucker then secured team and started in
pursuit but up to late this morning they
were unsuccessful in capturing the men.
The escape was made by the same means
that others have been effected from New
Castle jail. Bed clothing had been torn
into strips, out of which rope was made.
A heavy iron poker bent to a hook, was
attached to the rope and thrown over the
wall. The men pulled themselves up to
the top of the wall, where they either
jumped or let themselves down with the
rope to the ground outside, distance of
20 feet
Dougherty was sentenced al the Novem-
Der term, 1890 for stealing q horse, to one
years Imprisonment He has been very
intimate with Sugar for some time past
and it is now known that they were then
planning their escape.
Rothwell is notorious negro. He has
spent one-half his life behind prison bars,
and has attained some previous reputation
as a Jail breaker. He was sentenced on
September 10Th 1888, to 10 years imprison-
iInent, $50 fine, stand one hour in the pill
Tory and receive 10 lashes, for assault with
intent to kill Mrs. Cecilia McLane. The
last time he escaped was on March 10Th of
last year, during sheriff Aliens term. He
was afterward recaptured.
Rothwell recently remarked to visitor
at the Jail that if he had not become in
toxicated the other time he escaped he
would never have been recaptured but if
ever he got outside of New Castle Jail
again, he would bid it good bye forever.
New CASTLE, June Sup to this morn
ing Sheriff Simmons had heard nothing
from his fugitive prisoners, Harrison
Rothwell, alias Sugar Awful and John
Dougherty. The sheriff and his posse
tracked the men for mile or more above
this city yesterday. The imprint of their
feet was plainly visible in the sand along
the shore, but the tracks were lost sight of
in a wheat field. 1t is supposed the men
took the Edge Moor cut off and went in
the direction Of Philadelphia. The sheriff
was there by 3 O'Clock yesterday morning
and gave Chief of Detectives Wood de-
scription of the prisoners and notified him
to he on the lookout for them A reward
Of 800 has been offered for the capture of
Rothwell and S25 for Dougherty.