The Forrest City times., 1896-10-16
HIS SECOND ESCAPE.
Henry Webb, Murderer of Jim
 smith, Agaln at Liberty.
J. .. Roberts. the Death Watch of
 Williams. Accused of Treachsry,

 J. o. Roberts, the Death Watch of
 w'i'i"ms, Accused Of TreaChsry.
 Something of a sensation was crsa. ted m this city Sunday morning when It Decatie known that two prisoners confined in the county iail. had taken leg bail and departed for nar;s lin. Known during the night previous. The interest was derpeued by the fact that one of them WAS Henry Webb. the mur- dtrrr nt Jun Smitl'. whuse capture had cost the high sheriff ot thlS county many Nirrpless nights and much money aud made intense by the open charge. that J.t Roberts, q trusted deputy and respected citizen. had assisted thein ln gaining their liberty. Great indignation prevailed. and so strongly dld the sheriff believe the circtmstan- cial evidence of Roberts guilt. that he arrested him on the spot. aud confined him Ill the jail of which he lad so re- gently been the custodian. The other escaped prisoner is negro named Smith.
 Roberts has been employed at the Jail since the late term of the circuit court as death watch over Bill Vii. Hams, who is condemed to die in No vember, and as Il general guard of the Jall and It's occupants. tnight Rob. erts slept on cot in the corridor of the jail i'll which the iron cages are sit
 lattd. the cut being eight feet distant
 immediately in front of the d0or of the cage in which Webb and Smith were n hI at. 1I9IEs representative it is evident that he slept Saturday night as only tie just can sleep. He had charge of all the Keys belonging to the cells anal outer doors. On retiring at night he stated that 1t WIS his custom lo lock the two outer aoors leading from the corridor and the outer hall, leaving lne Keys in the lock. He claimed that he was not aroused by any unusual pro ceedlngs during the night and that he left the jail about 6 o'clock Sunday morning to go to breakfast. without noticing anything unusual except that the doors leading out of the corridor and hall were unlocked. an act which he attributed to his negligence Upon lh!S condition staring him in the face hs stated that he only took a survey down the rear side of the cells. noted that the fastenings to the small open ings were secure and left the jail, and as usual in daytime, left the outer doors open. At this hour breakfast was served the prisoners and the dis covery made and the alarm given.
 Roberts came to this ely four years ago from Mississippi and engaged in tile drug business. which he closed out about year ago. He has always borne good reputation and has filled posi-. tions of trust. He has an es,imable family. wife and two small children.
 Investigation showed that the small iron door @ 3 5xS i2 inches) in the iron cage through which provisions. etc.. were passed to the prisoners, had been pried from it's fastenines by some powerful instrument. the five eighths lapring securing the same showing signs of having been heated. possibly for the purpose of aiding in spreading the same--to allow the hasp attached 10 the door to swing back. X section of the iron bedstead was also broken off. which instrument possibly figured m the prying process. though experts in lEnn deny this, claiming the proceed ing [, be artful. Webb has figured in quite checkeTed career in the crinIi- nal history of thi3 state since last March d year ago, at which time he brutally murdered Jim Smith in this county.
 He was soon Captured. placed in jail and in the early days of the following October made his escape in d parallel manner which characterized his escape Saturhay night. He fled lo Clarke county. in this state. where iu cupnec- lion with tao of his brothers he pn. gagged in horse stealing. The althori- ties chased them to Mississippi. cap- tured and returned them to the Arka- delphia jail. In August his attorney at that place obtained change of venue to Hemstead county The ap, thoriiieS of this county brought him here for trial at the recent circuit court. which resulted in change of vpnur from this to Woodruff county.s Sunday morning Sheriff Williams wac to con- vey him to Henpstead county. Webb Is about 26 years of age, dark complex ion, black hair, dark specks in face. weighs about l35 pounds, is about } feet 6 inches in height and wore a plain work shirt and black pants, He was from Amory. Miss. and Ass father in the western part of tiiiSttate. The negro, smith. was tailed late Saturday evening for the theft of some house hold rlunder. and was placed in the cell with Webb; he weighs about lSO pounds.
 Sheriff Williams has dispatched dep uties. used the wires ami is otherwise making all possible efforts to reca ,ture the criminals.
 Roberts was released on $500 bail Monday. for appearance Wednesday,. On that day he had preliminary hear. ing before Squire Nelson. and was bound over in the sum of S500 to await the action of the grand jury. The iris oners are still at large. and DO news of their N ,lprpahotitS