The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-01-09
DARKNESS
Came to the Aid of the Black
Wretch Who
Escaped From Jail-The Trail
Lost in the Stormy Night.
Blackman Had Murder in His
Heart and Was a Desperate Man.

How the Negro Effected His Escape
Turnkey Vending Was Simp ply Over
powered-His First Shot Little
Wide of the Mark or Different story
There Would be TO Relate The Blood
hounds Tracked the Desperate to
woods-sheriH Doll Will Use Every
Effort to Capture the Man.
George Blackman. the colored man who
effected his escape from the stark
county Jail, as noted in the extra edition
of the News Democrat, Is still at liberty.
He was traced to the woods northeast of
Myers lake, by Turnkey Vending,
Sheriff Doll, Deputy Sheriff Stone, Police
Officer Wielandt and others, with the aid
Of the blood.hounds from the work-house,
but through the aid of darkness, he made
good his escape and is still at large.
Blackman was in sight once and with
the revolver taken from Turnkey Adam
| Vending, he fired at Deputy Sheriff
Stone who also shot at the fleeing man,
but without effect.
At o'clock this morning the seacrh
was given up as fruitless.
Blackman, together with Charles Coe
another colored man, was in jail on a
charge of burglary and lacreny commit.
ted in Louisville. He was a paroled pris-
oner from the penitentiary wheie he had
been serving on charge of manslaughter.
Thursday, Daniel Blum began his SER
vices as jail barber. He had shaved the
prisoners in the afternoon while they
were in the corridor of the jail although 1t
has been the custom Of his predecessors to
do this work In the morning while they
were yet confined to their cells. 1t was
while Mr.. Blum was coming out of the
jail, through door opened by Turnkey
Vending that Blackman suddenly sprang
by Mr.. Blum. The turnkey quickly
pulled his revolver and shot at Blackman,
the bullet going wild, and just grazing
Mr.. Blum's head above the right ear and
striking the index finger of Charles Coe,
who was seated among Others In the corri-
dor. The negro Clinched with the turn
key and in the tussle, both rolled to the
bottom of the ste in the hallway OF the
| Jail. The negro succeeded in getting
control of Wendlings' revolver. Break
ing away at the bottom of the stairs, he
shot at Vending, the bullet striking the
door of the Jail office. He passed ON out,
! pointing his revolver at l.. +. Slusser,
who tried to catch him, also threatening
to kill Henry Paar, who had just entered
the office He was followed by the other
officers, who had been attracted by the
firing, and who continued in the chase,
while Vending returned and locked the
jail door before resumiug the hunt.
Blackman was n desperate character, as
is evidenced by the fact that since the es-
cape occurred club and old shoe tied in
the shape of billy for use, were found
under his bunk in the Jail. 1t is therefore
evident that he intended to make a strike
for liberty as soon as the opportunity pre-
sented itself.
During the sheriff's term five pris-
oners have made their escape from the
jail, and some of these are said to have oc.
CURED through carleessness on the part Of
the turnkey. In this instance however,
carelessness can hardly be charged, unless
in the way of allowing the new Jail bar
Der admittanoe to the corridor while the
prisoners had their liberty, and against
the sheriff's orders.
When asked what course he proposd to
pursue regarding Turnkey Vending,
Sheriff Doll said: "I shall thoroughly in
vestigate the matter before taking any
action regarding Mr. Vending. AS it
looks now, he was not carless, and no one
could have done more than he did in his
| efforts to keep this big colored man under
control, under the circumstances.
STILL AT LARGE.
At o'clock this afternoon nothing had
been heard at the sheriff's office in regard
to the escaped negro, and it is thought he
has succeeded in getting well away from
| Canton.
| AFTER HIM.
Sheriff Doll has sworn In number of
deputies who reside in the immediate
vicinity of where the negro Is supposed
to be, and they are on the lookout for
| the much wanted man.