Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-15
TW0BAD MEN ESCAPE
CLARKE. THE NOTED sAFe-sLowea,
AND SMITH, THE BURGLAR.
They Break Out OF the Peniseasiafy and
Avoid Detection by Guards-ssward
offered, Descriptions, Etc.


confined in the Virginia State penitsntiay
made their escape from that prison early
yesterday morning. They were George
Clarke and Drew Smith. both white.
Clarke Is one of the celebrated Farmville
safe-blowers, and was sentenced to fifteen
years I'm the penitentiary His term began
August q. 1891 Smith was received at
the State prison In December 1856. having
been sent there from Franklin county to
serve eighteen years for house-breakiny
and highway robbery. The men occupied
cell No. lS, located on the third floor OF
the west wing OF the penitentiary. Two
other prisoners occupied the same cell.
but they declare they knew nothing OF
the escape OF the men until they awoke
yesterday morning.
THEY USED AN AUGER.
Clarke and Smith were locked i'm 'he
quarters at o'clock Wednesday evening.
and at S o'clock at night the final round
was made by the officer ON duty. and
they were found securely confined. Yes
terday morning u was ascertained that
the woodwork OF the door around tie
lock had been bored away. thereby re-
leving the door OF any fastening, and
that Clarke and Smith were gone. The
boring had evidently been done With an
auger. and Il Is supposed that the tusi-
tives had surreptitiously secured brace
and bit from the shoc-shop. The work
was evidently done quietly. as the atten-
tion OF the guards inside the grounds
was not attracted by Il. IL N believed
that, after getting out OF their cell Clarke
and Smith proceeded around the gallery
10 the hospital. and there, by means OF
suspended water-tank. climbed 20 the roof
OF the building proper. Passing over this
| structure 10 the outer edge they followed
| IL up 20 the northwest corner. where they
| made their escape To the ground by the
| use OF a rope made Of blankets and other
articles.
| WILL DISCHARGE THE GUARDS.
The little watch-house. where two
| guards. Captain V. $ Webhcr and Mr.
! Bernard Patterson. were on duty, Is 10
| Gated not more than forty yarls from
| this corner OF the building. Superin.en1-
| ent Lynn yesterday told a Dispatch ts-
| porter that ne would discharge these
! guards. as they should have been NOR
| alert. The Superintendent does NJ thini
| he would be justified I'm dismissihs the
! inner guards. as they could easily have
failed 10 detect the prison rs while the
lstter were climbing TO ne roof. He
| was much provoked at the accident. AMI
| WAS only consoled by the reflection that
| one of the men, Smith. had previously ts-
! caped from this ponitontiary. while clarke
| is wanted AT the Joliet dllJ prison, whiri
he broke out OF several years ago.
REWARD OFFERED.
Superintcndent Lynn early yesterday
! morning started a lot Of guards ana Otile'f
I'm search OF the fugitiyes, and offered ID
! reward OF $50 each for their delivery az
the renitentiary. ~
Clarke IS a desperate character. The
Chief of Police OF Chicago recently dubbed
him "a trainer Of criminals tie ls KNOWN
I'm police and detective circles as sprt
of rrince OF safe-blOwers. Ills dccompuceS
I'm the Farmyllle felony were James .'oN
and James Haley. who were arrested mere
and who are now serving ten-yeats sem
tcnce each.
DESCRIPTION or THE MEN.
George Clarke Is thlrty-siX years of age,
! and Is hideous 10 behold. lie Is Gauhs
and meager and has high cheek-bonss,
resembling in appearance the "skuli aii
cross bones on poison label lie Fl"
six feet and one-half of an inca IN hc'SnI
! lair complexion; dark bro"a hau' gray
; evfs. partly bald, and weigh lti POUNDS
An OF his upper front teeth are out ara
both arms are marked with designs n
India ink. on the right arm Is design
of the United States coat OF arms eEeie'
stc on the back of the left hand Is DOT
He has also a scar on the leii groin.
Drew smith escaped from the pehiteh-
tlarv in December. 1856, but was recap
tured and had one year added TO ms term
/ Ills description Is as follows.
Age forty-four years; weight ln pounus'
five feet eight inches high; dark cothpi'N-
ion. black hair: blue eyes. lie hah scar,
ON the left hand and left shoulder anu
Irdia ink on both arms. ON the leit ar III
vere a figure OF a girl and letters M. l.. D
I ond o. II. H.: also a heart ana TWO s,l,s
On the right arm. figures OF two Bt,s'
ON. OF which was surrounded by a wrSA'h'
IL also had a scar over the rilht eye.
Fox was the first OF the FarmVllle sliS
b,owers To be- arrested. He was picker
mn by officer williams at the cor.et
~ Nnth and Cary streets Win N',
..utensils" in his possession. clarke an,
Haley were subsequently causht py
esrceant Brooks. and officers sutton anu
pedford lust across the Petersburg M Dripse.
pollcemen Redford, sutton ana Nilniil'
escorted them 10 Farmville, anu Ws,r
treated royalty In that hospltaDle Ht''o
: 3 city