Smyrna times., 1898-08-24
BROKE JAIL AND FLED.
SLICK SCHEME OF PEcK" STEPHENS TO
ROB FARMER pUNNING OF HIS WATCH
AND MONEY.

AND MONEY.
Emanuel Stephens, alias 'Peck"
Stephens, residing with his father,
Albert Stephens, on Frazier street OF
this town, was arrested and brought
before Magistrate Cooper yesterday
morning charged with robbing $12 i'll
money and a $40 gold watch from
Davis H. Dunning, of Marydel, and |
held in bond of 800 for his appear
ance at court. One hour after his |
commitment he broke jail and fled.
The case brings out an interesting |
story of the slick scheme he used to |
make the robbery. MIR. Dunning |
drove to Smyrna on Monday for the |
purpose of renting farm, and it fell
| to his lot to make the inquiry of Peck
Stephens. The latter being unknown
to the stranger saw his chance, and at
once spoke up and represented himself
as being Mr.. GoldsbOro, land owner
claiming he had just the farm Dunning
wanted and offered to show him the
| way there. They drove down to within
| two miles of Dover, when Peck pulled
up to thorn hedge and showed the
farm that he represented he owned.
| Farmer Dunning asked that he be
taken over the place, but Peck did not
see that it was necessary, and told him
he saw all there was from the road.
The former soon acquiesced, and they
drove on to Dover talking about
terms, &c. After they had reached
Dover Mr.. Dunning offered to pay
the railroad fare of Peck back to
Smyrna for his trouble, and he was
to have driven on to Marydel from
Dover. Peck objected to this and
insisted that he be driven home, claim
ing that it was very little out of his
way. The farmer again gave IN to
Peck's scheme. On their way to
Smyrna they imbibed freely of some
spirits which Peck had procured, and
J it was while under the influence that
the robbery was made. In the vlcln-
ity of Garrison's mill the harness was
broken. While Dunninng was out of
} the carriage examining the broken
} parts, Peck, having hold of the reins,
took the whip and cut the horse, hop
ing that he could escape from Dun
ming. But the scheme did not work,
S and by sudden lurch of the horse
S Peck was thrown out and his face
| badly skinned Charles E. Mallory,
e living on the mill farm saw them III
T their distress and offered them his
S house and bed for the night. After
/ they had gotten i'll the house Farmer
+ Dunning missed his valuables and al
Y once accused Peck of stealing them
r The case was clear, and seeing he was
# cornered, Peck handed back his watcl
: and money, minus two dollars. Thel
s soon got rid of him after this act, anC
e Peck walked home. The next morn
IS ing Farmer Dunning came to Smyrni
h and swOre out a warrant for his arres
a with the details as above stated.
e When Magistrate E. Y. CoOpe
IS committed him to the custody of Con
r stable Pratt, the latter lodged him il
(, our Smyrna lookup while he ate hi
ii dinner and made the necessary al
s. rangements for taking him down t
" Dover. Within the brief space of on
j. hour, Peck Stephens broke Jail an
D, fed, there being no one at this hOu
n, of the day in the Alderman's office
t, He made his escape by breaking tn
J. top lock and with the aid of his shoe
which he took off and wedged in tn
door, he managed to spring it enoug
rs to allow him room to squeeze out 8
st the top. The back door of the offic
u being wide open, he ''flewed de coop.
s. He was seen an hour or two afterward
It. by Chief Engineer Wilson of til
,r- electric light plant, making his wa
n through the branch at the rear of ii
ey power house.
~ Peck Again Caught and Taken to Dover.
a. A few hours later Peck was see
r.. concealing himself in The Odd Fellow
le- cemetery. Constable Pratt and p
% liceman Garner were notified and /
no going through cornfeld in the re-
nv of the cemetery they came out ne
he enough to Peck to hold HIM at bl
q. with their revolvers. He was imm
I'M diately taken to Dover jail by IL
no Constable and is now incarceratt
+ n there to await the October term
re-: Court to answer to the charge.
A.: The family moved here last sprll
I from Dover