The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-10-24
A Brave Woman.

At the Greenville jail the prisoners
are allowed the freedom Of the hall
ways until the big iron doors at the
ends are to be opened. Then all pris-
oners are ordered to their cells and the
cell doors are locked on them simulta-
neously by turning lever outside
which throws bolts running along each
side of the halls.
Monday evening it became known
that Victor Posey, colored prisoner,
who had served a 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 a blanket over the
window of the hallway to make it
dark. Yesterday morning between 8
and 9 Mrs. A. D. Gaillard, jr., wife
of the jailor, went to the upper story
where the colored prisoners are kept
to release Posey, Mr.. Gaillard being
absent at the time. She ordered4all
the men from the hall except Posey,
and then had Jim Harrison, "trus-
ty," who is serving short sentence
and who she took up with her, turn
the lever and lock the cell doors. Da-
Wis had lurked in the dark place at the
rear of the hall and slipped behind
the stove instead of going to his cell.
Posey passed out and down the steps,
Harrison going with him. AS Mrs.
Gaillard was closing the door Of the
hall Davis made quick rush. She
saw him coming and tried to get the
heavy outer hasp over the staple, but
he was too fast. The door opens in
ward and Davis seized the bars and
pulled it open with all his power.
Mrs. Gaillard is as brave and nervy
a woman as lives. She swung on to
the door and pulled it shut. Davis is
a stout, thick-set fellow and had all
the advantage of leverage on his side.
He braced his feet against the inner
facing and tugged desperately. He
got the door half open half a dozen
times, but Mrs. Gaillard pulled it shut
again every time. Each struggle is
marked on her right arm, for she was
crowded close up against the corner OF
the stone wall, and whenever she was
nulled forward the skin and flesh on
that arm were torn and bruised. 1t
was not long struggle, but it was
hard and desperate one. Mrs. Gaillard
collnd to her fathcr.in-law, A. D. Gail
lard, sr., who was down stairs, to bring
a 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 any
thing. Mr.. Gaillard heard the call
but did not understand what was
wanted and went half way up the steps
before he knew the pistol was wanted.
He is old and cannot move very fast,
and by the time he got back with it
the trouble was over. Jim Harrison,
the "trusty," heard the noise and ran
back up the stairs to Mrs. Gillard, $
assistance. Meanwhile Burt, the jail,
ors little son-a chip Of the old blood
evidently-had gathered and loaded
his parlor rife and stationed himself
on the stairs with the injunction to
his mother to 'lct him come" and
Steve Howard had sung out from the
window down stairs to John Forrest, a
United States prisoner in the yard,
who had improvised a club and sta
toned himself at the lower door. So
there was not the slightest chance for
Davis to escape. He had got one leg
through the door, but Mrs. Gaillard
and Harrison together pulled the door
so hard oissiit that he presently weak
ened and sullenly begged to be allow
ed to return to his cell. They let him
20 then, sore, mad and disheartened
i iiail bird with his scheme for liberty
spoiled
household work as usual yesterday,
evening with her injured arm wrapped
in bandages and her nerves unshaken.
And. her husband was the maddest
man this side of Columbia and the
nroudest man anywhere-mad because
his wife had been hurt, and proud be-
cause she and the boy had shown
such undaunted pluck. Greenrllle
News.