Smyrna times., 1899-07-19
BROKE JAIL AND FLED
A NOTORIOUS NEGRO CHARACTER ARRES-
TED AND ESCAPED FROM CELL.
Another case of the Insecurity of our Lock-
Up-The Need of Better Jail PrOtec.
tiOn-Neglect of Town Officials.

Another case of the insecurity of our
lookup has come to public notice.
Joseph Cubbage, colored, who has
been keeping away from the officers
for over six months, wanted for assault
and robbery near Middletown, was ar
rested last Wednesday. He was work
ing on the "Rothwell Farm" for Her
bert Price at the time, and word was
sent by Constable Hushebeck, of Mid
dletown, and Detective WitZell to Con-
stable p. p. Collins and the police au-
thorities of this town to proceed to
make the arrest. Subsequently Con-
stable Collins, Policeman Garner and
Sherbert Collins, of this town, went to
the Rothwell Farm, where Cubbage
! was helping to thresh wheat. He was
not aware that he was under arrest until
he was covered with revolvers at the
hands of the officers. He was hand
cuffed, brought to Smyrna and incar-
cerated in one of the cells of the lock-
up. When searched he had concealed
in his hip pocket bulldog revolver.
Cubbage offered little or no resistance
when he was arrested, though he
reached back for his revolver, presum-
ably with the intention of using 1t.
He warned each one of the officers that
if he ever got the chance he would
shoot them.
The prisoner was left in the cell to
await the disposition of the New Cas-
tie county authorities, who were no.
titled by phone soon after the arrest.
He remained in his cell until Thurs
day afternoon, when he broke Jail and
fed. His escape caused a great deal
of CONSERVATION among the police au-
thorities of this town, and indeed they
have cause to be indignant This time
it seems to be more to carelessness
than to the condition of the lookup,
although it does not relieve the fact
that our cells are very insecure. 1t
seems that the Alderman, who believes
in abundant fresh air these summer
days, had come down early in the
morning and opened the back door of
his Office leading into the Jail yard
from the cells. Cubbage was confined
in cell No. 2, and it was an easy matter
for anyone to walk in while the Alder
man was out of the office and lend the
prisoner assistance. When Constable
Collins came down about eight O'Clock
in the morning to give Cubbage his
breakfast, he found the Alderman had
gone up town, and the back door wide
open. The conclusion is naturally
reached that some of Cubbages friends
, were on the alert, and sought the Op
portunity to bring such instruments al
needed to free their fellow comrade
At any rate when the Alderman left tn,
:. office shortly after o'clock in the
> afternoon, he locked the door
and when he came back he foun,
the three locks of the cell broken, tn
CRATE bar door open, the back door un
= locked and the prisoner gone.
! 1t would seem that after so many es
capes from our lookup that the Tow
Council would interest themselves i
making the place secure. The graf
= doors should be heavier, the meshe
smaller, and if fresh air is needed i
= the Alderman's Office, it might be
wise thing to have a CRATE door at tn
back entrance into the office, whic
should be kept locked day and night
With some extra precautions, our loci
up might be made secure place
Under the present condition of thing
it is no credit for our our officers t
Il make an arrest It is not safe for thel
;, to be ieopardized by fugatives frol
d justice, and there is really no excus
O for it. If the officers do their par
III surely the Town of Smyrna ought
10 do it's part toward enforcing the la
4 and preserving good order in th
community.
q