The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-30
PRISONERS ESCAPED.
FIVE ASSAULT JAlLER COLEMAN
AND BREAK OUT.
Three Yet at Large-Jailer Blinded With
Ashes ar Rush is Made to Got Away.
Pistol Fails to Fire.

COLUMBIA, S. O., Dec. 24.--Five
negro prisoners confined in the coun.
ty Jail escaped yesterday after.
noon soon after O'clock; by over
Jailer Coleman as he en-
tered the door opening into the main
corridor, the privilege of which is Civ
en- the prisoners during the day.
Jailer Coleman has been in charge
of the Richland county Jail for long
time, but he has never had such an
as befell him yesterday.
he is always rather wary in dealing
with the prisoners in his charge, but
somehow yesterday they managed to
s,et the best of him.
About o'clock he started up to lock
the prisoners in their cells for the
night, 1S IN all. At the top of the
steps is the big iron grated door lead
ing into the main corridor, where the
prisoners charged with petty offenses
are allowed to run at will during the
day instead of being confined to their
cells. Immediately to the left Of the
door is another long corridor leading
from the main one, anCl along one
side of it are cells. It was just inside
of this second passage that one of the
prisoners, George Wright, stationed
himself where he would be unnoticed
by the jailer. 1t was q well laid plan
he and four others had entered upon.
In his hand he had a pan filled with
ashes. and just as Jailer Coleman en-
tered he dashed the entire contents in
his face and eyes. Blinded for mo-
ment by this sudden shower of ashes.
MIR. Coleman was helpless, but never.
theless he attempted to close the door.
Wright bounded through and went
bounding down the steps. The jailer
quickly cleared bis eyes of the ashes,
drew his pistol, aimed and pulled the
trigger, but the cartridge did not ex-
plcde. Again he attempted to shoot
and again his pistol failed to fire.
At the sight of the weapon in Jailer
Coleman's hand the other four pris-
onels in the plot huddled together and
were afraid to attempt to pass out.
On seeing that it was harmless they
rushed on the jailer, threw him to the
floor and ran out of the door. Jailer
Coleman was up in all instant, had
the door locked before the other .pris-
oners who were not in the plot had
fully realized what was the matter,
rushed down stairs. seiz ed his gun and
was in hot pursuit.
Four ran toward the canal, and the
fifth, Melvin Trezvant, came at full
speed to the police headquarters. He
met officer Sloan in rear of the city
hall, and shouted to him: Run, MIR.
Sloan, run; the prisoners are murder
in Mr.. Coleman down at the Jail.
Run, Mr.. Sloan, run; ] am a prisoner,
too, but I came to let you know. Run,
Mr.. Sloan, rum"
This naturally excited the doughty
officer, and leaving Trezvant where
he stood, he dashed into headquarters,
told the chief, and together they were
soorI spinning along in the patrol wa.
gon toward the Jail at a rapid rate.
Trezvant took the officers abrupt de.
parture to signify that his presence
was not wanted, and he, too, moved
on, whittier, no one knows. ~
Sheriff Cathcart was in his Office at
the court house, and, as mis- telephone
was not In working order, he did not
get the news until a special messenger
brought it. He jumped in q hack arr.
made in the directiA-SS7!D- !s5sa.ives
lpaa-Eone. AZ the penitentiary he
borrowed a pistol and gun and coptin-
ned in hot pursuit.
JsIiler Coleman, in the ardor of the
chase, had pushed ahead Of the other,
who were coming to his aid. Near
the Jewish cemetery he overlook one
of the prisoners, Walter Smith, who
was hiding in a patch of pines. Alone
and single.handed, he arrested him.
By this time the chief had come up
and not far behind was Sheriff Cath
cart in shack carriage" lope. When
the officers of the law had held short
consultation they decided to return to
the Jail with their captured prisoner
and reorganizs the chase. The pris-
oner was bundled into the patrol wa
gon and off the procession moved at a
good round trot. 49,
A reporter for The State reached the
Jail as the party drove up. The pris.
oner was hustled out of the patrol
wagon and taken into the Jail. The
door was again opened and the party
entered. To make sure of the number
that escaped Jailer Coleman ordered
the prisoners to line UP against the
wall. There they stood, 13 ragged
negroes, grinning from ear to air, as
Jailer Coleman scanned the face of
each to spot the missing ones. Smith
was at the head of the line, hatless,
breathless and more ragged than the
rest, but looking wonderfully pleased,
nevertheless.
This inspection of the ragged bri-
gade showed that the four still at
large were George Wright, Melvin
Trez want, Billy BowlegS and Charles
Williams.
Sheriff Cathcart was an interested
looker.on at the inspection. He
looked ready for almost anything that
might turn up as he leaned on a
double -barrelled shotgun, while from
his overcoat pocket protruded an enor-
nous pistol.
Jailer Coleman was asked for a
statement. "All can say" he an
swered, sis that one OF prisoners
threw some ashes in my eyes and the
others threw me down. I tried to
shoot but my pistol wouldn't work.
If it had only fired I would have
killed the first negro that ran out and