Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-27

back of Johnson's mill, but turned and
came bnck to the river. The officers
then came back on the Portsmouth side
and the dog found the trail back OF the
}navy-yard. following it out toward
:l3Wton's Point A negro woman told
the officers she had seen a man who
answered Cottons description. Near
Columbia Park the trail was lost, and
after vainly trying to find it again the
hunt was abandoned at 2 o'clock. The.
possee was composed of MIR. Andrew
ESivertson, Officers Hoofnagle, Dillsburg
and Arthur Culpcpper, Deputy Sheriff
Abbott and Constable Huybert.
Is The crowd at Burton's Point was
quite large, SO much SO that the
crossing and recrossing the trail con-
fused the bloodhound Tom" and made
the trail exceedingly difficult TO fol-
low. Deputy Abbott and Constable
HuSbert were at a late hour last night
sun following all the clues obtainable.
COTTON'S CELL.
n The cell occupied by Cotton was a
small steel cage. in which his hammock
was strung between diagonal corners.
1t is supposed that file was fur
nlshed Cotton by a negro woman who
was allowed to talk with him occa-
l'sionally while confined in jail month
ago for some petty offense. The same
woman must have given Cotton q Bar
low pocket Knife. which the police all
along nave known that he had.
l Cotton filed through two of the, up
right steel bars where they Joined
cross section These crosspleces are
shout ten inches apart. The cutting
was done at the bottom of the perpen-
dicular bar, Where it joins the second
cross section above the floor, and with
u vigorous wrench he was able to break
the bars off flush with the next cross
l.section above it. The filing must have
occupied some time, as some of the
white prisoners say that Cotton had q
couple OF old shirts hung so as TO dis
guise his work. These men say they
Knew nothing OF Cottons preparations,
and neither they nor the guards, though
none were but a few feet away, heard
the breaking steel as Cotton snapped
off the bars.
MURDER IN HIS HEART.
When Cotton came out of his cell he
brought the heavy iron lid of bucket
win the Intention, no doubt, of brain
Ing the guard with it. But rs the
guard was asleep there was no occasion
to use the lid, and Cotton left II in the
vestibule. lie took the guards coat and
hat. as stated. leaving his own thin
coat and straw hat behind
Cotton was convicted in September
OF the murder of Mr. Charles Wyatt,
n prosperous storekeeper on Glasgow
street. near SCOTS Creek. The negro
visited Wyatt's house for the purpose
of robbery, and finding Wyatt sleeping
downstairs in his clothes, Drained him
with Il coupling pin as preliminary to
fcpping his person of money and Jew
elry.
lie was sentenced on the 26th day
OIL september 10 be hung November II.
but after pronouncing sentence Judge
Watts granted stay OF execution for
sixty days. AS this stay did not ex-
pre until after the date set for the
execution. the prisoner had to be re-
sentenced, when the day of execution
was set for January H.
Many theories are advanced as to the
iroute taken by Cotton, but it is safe to
predict that he vii! be hunted more
closely and with greater determine
ton Than any other man who has
escaped jail in this city or section,
and the public hope for his speedy re-
capture, as he was looked upon as
the most desperate criminal ever cap
turcd In Virginia
MIR. SANDERS ARRESTED.
Justice Charles II. Nash issued war
rant FOR MI. Sanders, tho guard, charg-
Ing him With criminal negligence in al
lowing prisoner to escape Police
Officer l3roughton found Sanders at his
home. in North Portsmouth, and ar
rested him. lie was placed in Jail and
no one allowed communication with
him. He had no statement to make, ex-
cept that he was asleep when Cotton
escaped.
Commonwea Attorney Griffin said
he would write to the Governor to
offer reward for Cottons capture.
LATER DEVELOPMENTS
Late yesterday afternoon Mr. Walter
Duly, moiorman on the Columbia Park
Inc of the Portsmouth Street Railway
Company, in conjunction with his con-
ductor, reported at police headquarters
that Cotton was in Chimney woods,
having been seen by them at Bakers
station, in Chimney woods, crossing
from one SIDE of the road, at that point,
TO the other, going in an easterly 'direc-
ton, as IL making for the river a
possee went at once to the scene, but
could find no trace of Cotton
ThcI returned TO the city, and about
1850 O'clock last night. being reiolned
by hurricane" Branch and his dog
Tom sheriff's possce took up the
trail where it was left in the forenoon,
and were pushing forward with as
much haste as possible. the dog Tom"
giving unmistakle- evidence that they
were on the right trail. The possee
was composed of Sheriff Smith, Deputy
Abbott, Gorge Mooney, Andrew Slvert-
son, Police Officers Hoofnagle, Dills-
burg, CuDepper, Broughton and Nc
Carris.
BIG REWARD OFFERED.
Colonel *. r. Griffin, Common.
weaith's ATTORNEY for the city. wired
Governor Tyler of Cottons escape and
asked the Executive to offer reward
OF 5000 Later the Governor had
talk with Colonel Griffin and said he
only had $500 in his contingent fund.
therefore could NOT offer 900, but would
make it 500, which was, of course. ac-
|'ccpted with thanks. This, in conjunc-
ton with the $3.50 reward offered by