Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-20
BOLB BREAK FOR LIBERTY.

Continued from First Page.)
den Daily was at the door of Lewis cell
in few jumps and discovered the men
attempting to hide something under a
cot, having, in the meantime, thrown a
paper into the water closet. He ordered
the men to stop, and Sheriff O'Rrien and
Deputy Burgin stepped inside. The men
were marched down stairs and then the
search began with good results A kit
containing rat tail, fiat and half round
files, saws, picklocks, keys. etc, was soon
found and taken in charge by Sheriff
O'Brien. These he took over to his office,
in the meantime ordering the prisoners
stripped and searched. State Herald
reporter was on hand during all these
operations and noted the look of chagrin
on the countenance of Freeman Lewis as
he began to strip.
Freemen Lewis Confesses.
After having changed clothes, Freeman
Lewis remarked to Sheriff O'Brien:
"Well, captain, have made the trial and
failed. You can't blame me-. He then
stepped TO one side with the sheriff and
made a clean breast of everything. He
stated that he was the chief operator and
that the tools had been accommodating
ever since July. The keys had been pro-
cured early and were filed down at night.
The keys were made to fit the brake
locks and those on the cell doors. Two
ugly weapons in the shape of "bilies'
had been made-one of them out of a
piece of lead pipe and the other of wood,
with lead and bits of iron bound tightly
on it. He told where some knives made
of pieces of steel taken from the soles of
shoes, and which had ben sharpened to
razor edge and needle point, could be
found. They were secured. 1t was de-
termined to use these on a German in
side the jail, who the men feared would
weaken at the last moment. The clubs
were intended for Night Warden Nc
Laughlin. He said that two of the saws
had been brought to the Jail by friends
of Daughdrill. The files and other saws
and poison, with the exception of two
small saws,-2 and inches long respect
lively, had been procured before Sheriff
O'Brien assumed office.
During his confession Lewis implicated
an outside party, who, he said was due
to come to the Jail Saturday or Sunday
afternoon and bring something with
him.
The Outsider Turns UP.
After a thorough search and the mems
clothes changed they were changed from
their former cells to others. Then the
sheriff and warden patiently awaited the
coming of the outsider. Late yesterday
morning NE came. and was Immediately
corraled. He was taken into the jail and
thoroughly searched, but nothing was
found. 1t was thought he had valuable
verbal information for the men, but as nc
clue offered itself whereby he could be
detained he was admonished to leave in
post haste which he did.
The Men Now Safe.
The ringleaders in the plot to escape
are now safe under double lock and key
and they will hardly have another oppor-
tunity to hatch up another scheme to get
away. The sheriff and his deputies feel
that great piece of work was accom-
plished, murder prevented and the COM
munity saved from having a horde OF
desperate men turned loose on them.
Sheriff 'Brien Congratulated.
Those who were on the inside as to the
attempted Jail delivery were profuse in
their congra tulations to Sheriff O'Brien
Warden DAILY and the others who had a
hand in thwarting Lewis and his desper-
ate gang.