The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-07
BY FIRE 10 FREEDOM.
4 Prisoner Held Tor Burglary Tries to
Burn the County Jail.
CLOSE CALL or BUILDING AND INMATES
A Prisoner Gives the Alarm nnd The
Warden Arrives In Time to Ex.
tinEuish the Flamcs-The Author
ofthc Fire shay be Tried for His
Life-yarIety, Notes.

Suffolk. Va, April Elm a desperate
and reckless effort to gain his freedom
Alec Banks jeopardized his life and tina {
or every other inmate Ill the county
jail al II o'clock last night. He wanted
10 be free and decided that torch was
the most effective means to accomplish
his end. He won't try it again.
APPLIED THE TORCH.
In the still hours Of the night he went
to his cell door and fired it. He hoped
to burn the barrier between himself
and Starlight. 1t burned too fast and
the blaze was soon beyond his control
4Abou. this time Ransom Manly woke
up nearly suffocated and alarmed Dep
uty r. r. Norlleet, who summoned as
sistance, and With the aid of 4 bucket
brigade and hose soon had the flames
under control. During the period when
Deputy No!fleet was trying to get to
Banks cell. his hands were badly burn
Ell by the iron bars. which he says were
almost red hot. He carries the signs Of
the contact yet.
JAILER TAKES A HAND.
Before leaving the cell Deputy Nor
fleet gave Banks a sample of his mind
as we'll as fists and feet. He knock ed
him down two or three times, and tried
his feet on Banks ribs. Now he feels
like he had been through Il thrcshing
machine, for Captain Norilcet Is a fighter
when mad. He was mad last night
Banks will 'be put in irons until court
convenes. Then he may be tried for his
life.
HAD THREATENED TO ESCAPE.
Banks was held for burglary. He had
been sent on for Iobblng j. IS. Saun-
ders' store. and was awaiting the next
grand jury for indictment. He has been
insolent and sullen since his incarcera-
tton and had several times threatene
to escape. Nobody thought. though.
that he would select a torch as the
means. Had he passed the first door
there were two more ana high wall to
scale. The cell occupied by Banks ana
Manley is the largest in the Jail. Man
ley knew nothing Of The plan 10 fire
the building.
ALTERNATE ADVANTAGE.
As the postoifice race approaches
inis the pace gets hotter. Colonel l..
j.. Harper and Captain II. L. Brooks,
the two remaining candidates, are turn
ing all the stones In sight, and some Of
them twice. They have had apparent
advantages alternately 1t is first Har-
per, then Brooks, then Harper. then
Brooks again that seems to have the
best or It. Now It's Brooks. The rise IN
his stock is probably due 10 the r,lmor
that somehow got into circula ton that
POSTMASTER General Gary was going to
In his behalf, owing to the former
friendly relations existing between
their two families. Nobody knows
whether this is true. but * influences
the odds Just the same
HARDER THAN CALCULUS.
It's hard to determine who's going TO
reach the persimmon. One can't always
tell In large cities till it comes TO a call.
Somebody might be 'blufting. One thing
Is sure, Captain T.. Is. Br!tt, the pre:-
ent incumbent, is taking it easy. lie
knows very We'll that n hot fight and q
long fight is better for HIM In Tho
meantime he draws his salary
LEGATEES GET THE CASH
The Peters burg defendants to The vii,
case brought by Judge r. r. Rawles
IN behalf OF the Suffolk heirs Of T.. Nj,
Jones, deceased, and won by him be-
fore Judge Mullen. in the Hastings Court
or Peters burg. will not be appealed to
the supreme Court. The case has been
COMPROMISED and the local heirs made
small concessions. Judge Rawles wen,
TO Petersburg this afternoon and got
the money due his clients. He returned
tonight on the 1902 train.
COW THIEVES SENTENCED
The Goodman brothers. Garter and
wells, set three years each. They Wer.
tired to-day in Gatesville, n. c.. SUI
perl0r Court Judge Rryon ,,rer,,i,>,