The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1893-12-27
HARRISON STEVENS FREE.
WELLS MURDERER ESCAPES FROM
JAIL.
He Rushed Down the Steps When the Door
Was Opened and Disappeared in the
Darkness,


way to supper he heard screams anC
cries for help at the Jail.
The chief started for the Jail in ru1
and when he reached the yard gate founC
the prisoners all out and making for the
street.
Chief Savage covered them with his
pistol and under threat to shoot the first
one who attempted to run marched
them back into the jail.
There were twenty-five prisoners in
Jail, and count showed that two of
them, Harrison Stevens, who assassinat-
ed j. G. Wells, and Clayton Aaron, who
was convicted at the last term of court
and sentenced to eight years in the penl-
Tertiary for burglarizing McLain Bros.
store, were missing.
Jailer Tedder was down town prepar-
ing to to go to the country to make an
arrest when the escape occurred, and it
appears that Jim Brown, a negro who
waits on the prisoners for the jailer, is
responsible for the delivery. The pris
oncrs had spent the day in the corridor
and Mrs. Tedder says that awhile before
night Brown came to her twice for the
keys to carry the prisoners water. She
refused both lines to let him have
them, saying that Mr.. Tedder would wa
ter the prisoners when he returned. Mrs.
Tedder was feeling badly and lay down
for nap, and, she says, while she was
asleep Brown came in and got the keys
and went up stairs with bucket of wa
ter. AS he opened the door to the en-
trance to the Jail the prisoners made
rush for their liberty. The noise awoke
Mrs. Tedder and she an up stairs with
pistol, but the prisoners knocked her
back 1own the flight of stairs. She was
considerable bruised but not dangerous
ly hurt.
Parties watched Stevens home and
the trains Monday night, but he could
not be found. Sheriff Christie has mail
ed circulars describing Stevens and of
fering 500 reward.
Sheriff Christie had given positive in
structions that Stevens be confined in
cell to himself and closely watched, and
his establishment when he heard Of the
murderer's escape snnot be expressed.
John Clayton, one of the prisoners, de-
serves much credit for his acts. He
fought the prisoners back, and 1T Was
due to his efforts that they had not left
the Jail yard before help arrived. When
Chief Savage reached the yard lay o
had one of the prisoners down and was
dragging him back to jail.
The supreme court had affirmed the
sentence of death upon Harrison Stew
ems. and had he not escaped he would
have been resentenced when court con-
yenes next Wedn, Sday Below is the
decision of the supreme court in full;
Stevens v. The State. Before Judgt
Griggs.
Terrell Superior Court.
l. The rule of law which torbids a
iudg. to express or intimate his opinion
as TO the facts of case or as to the guilt
of the accused has reference to he ex-
preston or intimation of such opinion
during the progress of the trial. Code,
section 3248. No such expression or IN
timation of opinion is involved in the use
OF the word ''murGer'' in the order call
ing the special term ''fOr the purpose OF
trying criminal business, and especially
to try such as may be indicted for sthe
murder of j. q. Wells"
2. No facts being shown in support OF
the motion for continuance on the
ground of public excitement and want OF
time to prepare for trial, it does not APP
pear that there was any abuse of discre-
ton in overruling the motion.
g. Where, after a grossly improper
remark by bystander has been made
on the arrangement of prisoner and IN
the hearing of persons summoned as
Jurors. the defendant allows the case to
proceed without objection and without
moving to postpone the trial or in any
way invoking the ruling of the court
such improper remark does not furnish
cause for new trial, especially where
as in this case, the presiding judge
promptly rebuked the offender and had
him removed from the courtroom. I'm
proper remarks male by another by
stander. but not heard by she court, no
attention being called thereto unit, after
the trial, will not require new trial.
4. Grounds of motion for new
IL -. 1.;..e; N, ,f teStimO-