Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-17
BIG JAIL DELIVERY.
TEN PRISONERS. INCLUDING A CON.
DEMNeo MURDERER, ESCAPE.
They Sang While they Smashed tho Steel
Bars-Ralcigh's Jsiicr Slept Soundiy-
Posses In Pursuit-Rewartl Offered.

RALEIGH, n. c., May l6.-(Spctial.)-
Raleigh was treated to n genuine sensa-
ton this morning when the fact was dis
covered that ten prisoners had made their
escape from the county jail. which IL In
the heart OF the city. three blocks from
the Capitol and two from the stations
house. The chief prisoner was Orange
Page, the murderer who was under SEN
tcnce tn be hanged Junc|Ist. and whose
death-scntence Governor Carr yesterday
refused to commute. The other prisoners
who escaped were Garner Dupree Rooe''
Fletcher. Thomas Holmes Monroe Lyon
and Isaiah Shaw. charged with larceny;
John Forsythe and Charles Faucet car
rying concealed weapons; Charles DUN
ston accused Of shooting Ham Johes'
young white man of Forestvilie' isaac
Gunter. a United States prisoner, chafge"
with Illicit distillng. All are negroes
They occ1Ipicd three cells on the ground
floor of the jail The doors OF these cells
were open. so that all the prisoners couid
use a water-closct. of which there IL only
enc 10 each three cells In one cell was
a wrought iron bcdstcad, the side pieces
Of which were feet long. riveted and OF
great strength. 1t was made by the nrm
which built the cflls. During the night
the prisoners no doubt led by Page. "A
DESPERATE man and an ex-convict. broke
up this bed, and using the side pieces as
levers broke four OF the crossed bars or
the cell or cage.
EASILY OBTAINED.
IL required great leverage. but this they
were easily able to obtain They made a
small opening right at the floor. easily
breaking the stecl bars of the CELL which
was built by the Panty Company. OF ~.
Louis. In 1883. One bar, It Is now found
was not rivcted. They then used the
same levers in breaking away the bricks
under window Immediately in front OF
the opening in the cell. This wall OF the
jail opens directly on street In 'front.' OF
a lvcry-stable. The jailer. a one-iegged
veteran named Leary. sleeps in the front
room Of the Jail, but says he heard no
noise.
SANG LOUDLY.
Tho prisoners sang loudly, but this they
frequently do II was . o'clock this
morning when Lcary discovered that the
ten men were gone. and that the jail was
nearly empty. There were left inside two
negro men and two negro boys. These
were on the same floor and in an adjoin-
ing tier of cells. one of them said he
heard no noise. No death watch was kept
upon Page. and an official said il was
not the custom here to set a watch upon
condemned man until the night before
his execution At the same time the pub
lie impression was that a condemned muir
derer was kept always in separate cell.
NO ROUNDS MADE.
FNc jaler does not enter the cell di-
visions at night. and no rounds are made.
The truth is. that the steel cells were
thought TO be unbreakable. The officials
now know by dear experience that they
are not. If the use Of iron bedsteads is
permitted. In most Of the cells ham
m0cks are used. kilograms were sent in
all directions. giving notice Of the flight of
the prisoners. Orange Page, 1t will be
remembered. was captured. after two
months pursuit in Ehgecombe county.
where he has a wife and children. Cover
nor Carr offered 500 reward for him and
his accomplice in the murder OF Rosa
Haywood. an aged negTess. near Raleigh.
last January. Pages accomplish Mary
Smith, is now in the penitentiary for life.
IN PURSUIT
At II o'clock this morning several
posses started in pursuit of the escaped
criminals. \ reward of SEQ will be paid
for any information leading to the cap
turn of Page, or $50 for his delivery 10
Sheriff NJ W. Page here. Page. the muir
ierer Is A. years old, 3 feet Gig inches high.
weighs 10 pounds. has brown eyes. black
hair. and his face is pOckmarked. lie
was in 1885 sent to the pcniteniiary from
IIlgecombe county Tor larceny, and was
released last September
All the Confederate veterans who are
here on the 22d are TO be given meals at
the Soldiers Home where a bountiful
supply of barbecue and other good things
will he provided.
AN OPINION.
II Is the opinion Of a prominent preach
'r. who returned to-day from the Southern
Methodist Conference that those North
Carolina counties now in the Virginia
Conference will be transferred to the
North Carolina Conference. He says there
Is little doubt OF this. and also that one
bishop will be elected.
). II. buchanan, who. II is understood,
IS 10 be the Republican nominee for Con-
gress In the Third District, is here. and
says he is firmly opposed to any fusion
between his party and the Populists.
The directors Of the insane asylum here
were in session to-day. They are en-
ieavoring to make some arrangements
for opening to patients the new building.
now almost completed. The pressure for
admission is great.
ANOTHER DIVIDEND
In n few days another dividend Of 10
per cent, making 80 per cent in ALL will
be paid creditors Of the First National
Bank of Wilmington. Receiver Robin
son says he will pay another dividend
ater Of not less than 10 per cent.
AS yet no notification of the coming Of
any troops here. save the Independent
company Of Fayetteville TO the monu-
ment ceremonies, May I'D, has been re-
ceved.
EX-Treasurer John NJ. Benson. OF Bla-
den, who IL short 81 POO, and who eighteen
months ago escaped from the Jail at
but was recaptured last
Saturday pipht 10 in iai1 ut \[iI- |