The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-15
TWO CONVICTS ESCAPE.
THEY BORE THROUGH THEIR CELL
DOOR WITHOUT Trouble,
And fhen Climb Down From the Roof on .
Rope Made OF Biankets-Passed Two
Guards Unseen.

plest means TO leave the prison. and why
their break for liberty did not attract at
tenion seems to be due to the careless
ness and complete ineficlency of two Of
the guards on duty at the time.
One OF the convicts, George Clark, Is
notorious burglar, and at present owes
time to the Joliet prison in Illinois. from
which place he escaped several years ago,
He has also found the means OF leaving
other penitentiaries. and first made his
appearance in this city with the trio OF
burglars that caused so much consterna-
ton in Richmond about a year ago. He
was captured after having robbed the
bank at Farmville. and was convicted
In that town, Detective Alex. Tomlin-
son and other officers In this city being
among the witnesses.
With him at that time, and convicted
by the same court. were James Haily
and Thomas Fox, and these latter crooks
were sentenced TO ten years in the peni-
tertiary. Clarke, who was the leader of
the gang, received fifteen years
The other convict who escaped With
Clarke is Drew f. Smith, who was sent
TO the penitentiary from Franklin county
to serve thirteen years for house-breaking
and highway robbery. He escaped from
the prison in 1887, but was recaptured
and five years additional was added TO
his time.
With two other white men, Rogers and
Hale. the two escaped men occupied cell
No. 1Sj, which is on the third tier. Clarke
and Smith were looked upon by the
guards as desperate men, and received
more than ordinary watching. The Of
ficers well knew Clarke's reputation for
making good his escape from prison,
and being especially warned by Detective
Tomlinson that he would evidently make
an attempt while in Virginia's prison,
the officials kept a strict watch upon
him when he first entered within the
walls. The vigilance Of the officers must
have recently been relaxed, and Clarke,
knowing this, seized the first opportunity.
1t is evident that Smith was fully cognl-
zant OF all the plans. and to one Of them
belongs the credit Of an adroit move
in securing a gimlet or augur Of some
sort, which aided them materially In
their escape.
The prisoners are locked in their res
pective cells at 6 o'clock every evening,
and the night guard. which serves until
midnight, is posted about the institution.
inside OF the prison, and two patrol the
walls to watch any movement that might
be made on the outside OF those high
white-washed barbados. Gas lamps are
lighted in the court Of the prison, which
Is surrounded by the cells Of the men,
and outside Of the walls the lighted jets
about the grounds are so arranged as 10
bring all parts of the white wall out Of
the shadow. and make any object near
or about them perfectly plain to the men
on watch above At O'Clock the turn
keys again make the rounds Of the pri-
son, and each cell is unlocked. The con-
victs in each OF them answer to their
names a careful inspection is made OF
the premises, and the four guards are
left in charge until midnight.
AZ that time when the entire institu-
ton is wrapped in silence. when nothing
can be heard save the splashng Of the
water from the fountains I'm the court;
when noises are distinctly heard; when
the distant locomotives puffings are re-
verberated about the walls Of The silent
prison. then is the watch changed, and
new guards go on duty to serve until
daybreak
1t is evident from the meagre informa-
ton that could be obtained on the sub
ject yesterday that Clarke and Smith left
ed the augur, nobody knows when or how,
they set to work diligently Wednesday
night, and bored a hole sufficiently large
through their cell door, to admit their
pulling back the bolt on the outside. All
that had to be done TO do this. was for
one OF them some time during the day 10
gauge the spot on the inside Of the door
TO know at night where to bore the hole.
so that after the hole had been bored.
the bolt could be easily reached and
drawn back. Having done this, they
next paid attention TO the lock. and sue
ceeded in cutting away the woodwork
so that the lock did not hinder the door
when 1t was opened
Having succeeded safely IN opening the
cell door, nothing remained for them 10
do bit TO tear up their sheets. blankets
and other bedding and make rope OF them
They then left their cell, and crawling
snake-like TO a corner OF the corridor or
tier IL was a very easy matter for them
to climb upOr the top Of a water tank.
Reaching this position I'm the shadow.
and out OF eye shot Of the guards In the
court below. II required but little effort
for them to reach the roof. Just as |
the states of the building. their chances !
soon as they planted their feet fairly on |
Of escape became doubled. for they had |
inside contaminated.
The night was propitious for the success |
of their undertaking, it being dark and |
gloomy. Having reached the roof they |
noiselessly crawled around upon II until |
the front OF the building was reached, and |
then awaited their chance TO let them |
selves down by their rope of bedding. |
They were not forced to wait long, and |
soon reached mother earth without an |
alarm. There were no cries Of halt, no |
firing Of guns. no excitement. They had |
made their escape without any one in the |
prison being aware OF IT. and not until |
daylight yesterday did the guards upon |
the walls discover the tell-tale rope hang |
Ing from the front OF the building.
No cleverness was required; no inga- |
nuity was used save 10 possess them |
Sc Ives Of an argur, and that can hardly |
be called ingenuity IL they are allowed to |
have such tool in their possession with |
out the officers OF the institution know |
Ing something about IT,
But no one had the slightest inkling |
Of the matter until daylight. The men In |
the cell with the escaped prisoners de- |
clared when awakened that they knew |
and did not know that Clarke |
and Smith had escaped.
Superintendent Lynn, speaking TO me |
yesterday sbout the twater tank, on /
which the prisosers had stood to reach |
the roof. said that he and the board |
had long ago decided that the arrange |
ment OF the tank offered a place for |
escape. He might have we'll said that |
he knew that should a prisoner get out |
d IFS cell he could easily reach the roof |
from the top OF that water tank. and |