The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-23
TRAIN ROBBERS ESCAPE.
FUTCH AND FLOYD BREAK OUT OF
ORLANDO'S JAIL.

/ - NY A1000 Soh vi AGAbS0 oAOL
Opened the Door OF Their CELIA
Hole Then Made in the Brick Wall
of the Jail and Liberty Gained.
| JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Oct gam Or
lando special to the Times. Unton says:
Train robbers Futch and Floyd, the two
| who confessed being implicated in the
scheme by which Express Messenger SAun-
| ders lost his life last June, escaped last
night, There were two csges in the jail,
the uppar one having been occupied by the
men who escaped and the lower by ether
men accused Of train robbery. and by about
a dozen negroes. Some time in the night the
two prisoners succeeded in opening the door
| OF their cage, and made hole In the brick
wall at point where water pipe passed
| through. About daybreRk the jailer's
attention was attracted by shouts
from one of the prisoners and he
| found that the men had gone. 1t is not be-
lieved that they had money, weapons or
any outside assistance. but that they acted
by the advice OF their attorney. Stafford,
another prisoner who is accused of being
| implicated in the robbery, has told what
| little he knows about the affair. He said
that Floyd made the necessary keys from
melted shot He did not know how he got
the shot. He said that they offered some
time ago 20 take him with them, but he re-
| fused. There is no clew to the direction
| they took. Deputy Sheriff Plucket once
gave Floyd some shot to be used for medi-
cine and they could not be found in his
CELL"
ANOTHER STORY OF THE ESCAPE.
ORLANDO, Fla. Oct. 22.-Two Of the
train robbers, W. II. Futch and r. Z.
| Floyd, broke out OF the Orange county jail
| here early this morning. They were CON-
| csrned in the robbery OF the mail train
near Monroe Station last April, and were
| held for trial under heavy bonds. The jail
| is fitted with the latest improved combina-
tion lock cells, but the prisoners were not
| locked in their cells The jailer, John
| Simpson, was absent from the jail until
| midnight, having previously seen that the
| door Of the cage in which the prisoners
! were confined was securely locked with
three massive locks. Last night
the negro prisoners were making
great noise, singing and shouting, and it
| is believed that under cover Of this racket
| Futoh and Floyd, having had the cage door
| unlocked for them fed downstairs and hav-
| ing dug a hole in the wall OF the
| ground floor got into the Jail yard, which
| presented no serious obstacles TO their get
ting out. Al daylight the negro prisoners
by their yells and shouting awoke John
| Simpson, who proceeded to inform the dep-
uty sheriff Of the escape.
The hue and cry has been raised and six
teen or twenty men are out securing the
country in all directions, but so far in
| vain.
ASSISTED FROM THE OUTSIDE.
The general opinion is that the prisoners
were assisted in their escape by friends and
relatives, who either brought them skeleton
| keys or used them themselves to open the
cage door. Following Is the description
telegrsphed to all sheriffs and police off,
cials:
Arrest Bob Floyd and w H. Futch, train
| robbers, who broke jail here last night.
Futoh is "a years old, weighs i40 pounds. has
| dark hair and mustacne, gray eyes, and is fool
ish looking He wore gray suit and soft black
| slouch hat.
Floyd is fee inches tall, weighs 1870 pounds
has light complexion. light brown hair, blue
| eyes aad a smooth face. He is very straight
| and is wearing cheap new brown tennis shoes
Futch raised S 300 to retain Hon. H. c.
Mcfarland of Tampa as his counsel, and
| doubtless had more where that came from.
Bob Floyd was the adopted son Of
wealthy Georgian who resides near Monte
yuma and who would 60 to large expense to
secure his freedom.
| So far no clew has been found as to the
road taken by the Jail birds. Some believe
| that the two men walked to Winter Park,
the next important station north of Or
| lsndo. and took the midnight fest mail
north-bound. If they have, the chances for
| their capture are not as good as IL they re-
maired in South Florida.
| BENEVOLENT AND CHARITABLE DEEDS BY
THE SOUTHERN EXPRESS COMPANY.
| WAUKEENAH, FLA. Oct. 22.-On May q
| last W. N. Saunders, an employe OF the
| Southern Express Company. while In the
| discharge Of his duties as express messenger,
| running between Jacksonville and Tampa
was murdered by train robbers. He was
the eldest of five orphans. The four younger
were somewhat dependents on him for a
| support.
c. L. Myers, the energetic and efficient
superintendent, devised plans by whioh
| the murderers we're soon captured He then
| visited the home of the children at this
place to ascertain whether he could in any
way relieve their financial necessities and
| promote their future welfare. He kindly
| offered employment to the two boys, Mast
ers Joseph and Paul. which they very
gladly accepted. As soon as O guardian
was appointed for the children Mr.. Myers
represented the matter TO the management
of the company, the result Of which is shown
in the letter printed below:
sUPT. MYERS LETTER.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Oct. 16.
| Mr. J. p GrdnthdRl, Guardian of Misses Kate
and Nellie Saunders, Waukeenah, Fla:
DEAR SIR-Complying with the wishes of the
| management OF the Southern Express Com.
| pany, herewith hand you check of its cashier,
| No. 2l9, on the Savannah Bank ana Trust Com
| pany Of Savannah. Ga, for 81, 1000 to be de-
voted to the care OF Misses Kate and Nellie
| Saunders.
The company, approaching the devotion to
| principal and duty which characterized w. n
Saunders in life, and his heroic struggle to pro-
| tect it's interests, resulting in his death, con-
| tributes tsis amount to his sisters, who looked
| to him for guidance and aid. and asks that it be-
| expended ia their behalf in such way as in
| your Judgment will be most beneficial
| The honesty and integrity of Mr.. Saunders,
| the unRinching courage which surrendered life
| TO the protection Of trust, deeply impressed
| tho management, and as an earnest of con-
| tinued miudfulDess OF faithful conduct the In
| closed is sent.
| Asking that you keep the company advised
| from time to time OF the requirements Of the
| young ladies, am, yours very truly,
@. l.. MYERS, Superinten dent