The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1894-10-25
A Bravo Woman.

TEMPTING TO EsCAPE-A WELL
LAID PLAN FOR LIBERTY AND
How IT WAS DEFEATED--GooD
CONDUCT OF A CoLoRED "TRUs.
rY."
At tho Greenville Jail the priso-
ners are allowed the freedom of the
Railways until the big iron doors
at the ends arc to be opened
Then all prisoners were ordered
to their cells and the cell doors are
locked on them simultaneously by
turning lover outside which
throws bolts running along each
side of the halls.
Monday evening it became
known that Victor Posey, a colorsd
prisoner who had served u short
term, was to be released yesterday
morning, and Anderson Davis, who
is awaiting trial for assault and
battery, laid plan for escape.
He hung blanket ovor the win
dow of tho hallway to mako it
dark. Yesterday morning be-
tween 8 and 8 Mrs. A. D. Gaillard,
jr., wife of the jallor, went to the
upper story whore the colored pris-
oners are kept to reloase Posey, Mr..
Gaillard being absent at the time.
She ordered NIL the mon from tho
hall except Posey and then had
Jim Harrison, colored "trusty"
who is serving n short sentence
and who she took up with her,
turn the lever and lock the oell
doors. Davis had iurkcd in the
dark place at the rear of the hall
and slipped bohlnd the stove in
stead of going to his cell. Posey
passed out and down the steps,
Harrison going with him. AS Mrs.
Gaillard WAS closing the door to
the hall Davis made O quick rush.
She saw him coming and tried to
get the heavy outer hasp over the
staple, but ho was too fast. The
door opens inward and Davis seized
the bars and pulled it open with
all his power.
Mrs. Gaillard is rs brave and
nervy n woman as lives. She
swung on to the door and pulled
it shut. Davis is stout, thick sci
fellow and had all the advantage
of leverage on his side. He braceC
his feet against the inner facing
and tugged desperately. He got
/ the door half open half q dozen
times, but Mrs. Gaillard pulled it
shut again every time. Each
struggle ls marked on her right
are, for she was crowded close up
against the corner of the stone
wall, and whenever she was pulled
forward the skin and flesh on that
arm were torn and bruised. It was
not a long struggle, but it was q
hard and desperate one. Mrs.
Gaillard called to her father-in-
law, A. D. Gaillard, sr., who was
down stars, to bring pistol.
She says she would have used it
and there is no doubt she would
for she has steady eyes in which
there is no suggestion of being
afraid of anything. Mr.. Gaillard
hoard the call but did not under
stand what was wanted and won't
halfway up the steps before he
knew the pistol was wanted. He is
old and can not move very fast,
and by the timo he got back with
it the trouble was over. Jim Har-
rison, the "trusty" heard the noise
ana ran BACK up tho stairs to Mrs.
Gaillard's assistance. Meanwhile
Burt. the jailer's little son----a chip
of the old blood evidently, had
gathered and loaded his parlor RI
tle and stationed himself on the
stairs with the injunction to his
mother to "let him come" and
Stove Howard had sung out from
! the window down stars to John
Forrest, o United States prisoner
in the yard, who had improvisod a
club and stationed himself at the
lowor door. So there was not the
slightest chance for Davis to es-
cape. He had got one log through
tho door, but Mrs. Gaillard and
Harrison together pulled the door