The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1894-07-11
AN EFFORT FOR LIBERTY.
AN ALMOST SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO
BREAK JAIL
WAS Made Dy TIE Prisoners Sunday An
Escape from the Guard House-A
Florida Criminal CAPTURED.


Escape from the Guard House-A
Florida Criminal Captured.
The prisoners confined in the county
Jail came very near escaping last Sunday,
and would have succeeded had it not
been for George Brannon, who is under
sentence to the penetentiary for burglary.
Brannon keeps the jailer informed as
to what is going on among the prisoners,
and has prevented other Jail deliveries.
II was during his absence that the plan
to escape was formed, and almost ex-
ecuted. Saturday Brannon's wife 6ied,
and he was permitted to visit her home
in charge of Jailer Slade. 1t was
then that the prisoners, who were given
the liberty of the corridor during the
day time, began the work which they
hoped would give them their liberty.
Seven or eight men were in the plot, and
their first work was to break off one of the
large iron bars which cross the cell doors
when they are locked. This was accom-
plished by breaking the half-inch staple
which held 1t. This done, their efforts
were directed in opening a hole in the
outer wall through which to escape.
The wall around the corridor lacks a
few inches Of being built to the ceiling,
the space left being occupied by six inch
wooden columns four inches apart, for
ventilating purposes. An iron bar fasten-
ed to these six-inch columns and crossing
the appertures between them ex-
tends around the top of the
Jail on the outside. In the northeast
corner of the corridor one of the columns
had been splced and was rivited with an
iron bar on the inside. 1t was here that
the prisoners made their attack upon
the wall. Some barrels filled with lime
were in the Jail, and by placing one of
these on another barrel they were en-
abled to reach the place through
which they intended to escape. Using
the iron bar broken from the cell door
as lever, they broke the bar extending
around the top of the Jail on the outside,
which left nothing between them and
freedom except the spliced column,
which could have been Erenched off in
in few minutes.
The return to the Jail of Brannon prob
ably caused them to suspend operations,
and await for another opportunity.
! xubaV1 Tailop Glodn
took Brannon to the funeral of his wife.
While Brannon was out the remaining
prisoners made their blankets into ropes
with which to lot themselves down on
the outside, and got everything ready
for the escape.
| Jailer SIade returned from the burial
with Brannon about l o'clock, and SO
cleverly had the prisoners made their ar
rangenents for escape that the jailer
noticed nothing wrong. He went for the
| prisoners dinner, and when he returned
| with the meal few minutes later Bran
non informed him of what had been
done.
| The prisoners we're locked in the cell
and Sheriff Christie sent for, when tie Jail
was searched and the. attempted escape
investigated. The negroes say that r.
N. HigdOn was the leader in the effort
to break Jail, while Mr.. Higdon disclaims
any knowledge whatever of it.
1t was the intention of the prisoners,
SO they say, to leave the jail at o'clock
Sunday afternoon when nearly every
body would be at the post office, thus
giving them better opportunity TO get
away unnoticed.
The prisoners are now all locked in
the cells, and will be pretty apt to per-
spire it out through the summer in them.
ESCAPED FROM THE GUARD HOUSE.
Saturday afternoon officer Jennings
arrested negro by the name of Gene
Gro WIDER, who was wanted in Sumter
county for assault with intent to murder.
CrOwder was placed in the guard house
and the officials at Americus notified.
Deputy Sheriff Henderson cameidown on
the o'clock cannon ball Sunday morn
ing, and after going to the guard house
and identifying Crowder went to the
hotel to get some sleep, intending TO re-
turn on the Y o'clock train with the
prisoner.
The prisoner didn't go with him, how
ever, as between the arrival of Henderson
aud daylight some one from the outside
broke open the door of the guard house
and liberated him. Crowder hasn't been
seen or heard of him since he was visited
by the officers just before day Sunday
morning.
A FLORIDA CRIMINAL CAPTURED.
A few days ago the officers here located
a negro in Quitman county who is want
ed in Florida for shooting at young
man seven years ago. Officer Arnett
went down and brought him to Dawson,
where be remained Jail until Monday
night, when Florida officer arrived and
took charge OF him. A. reward of $50
.nnn nAEnu..aI fnr. F,rr nar,frnraa