The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-24
NOAH TAYLOR ATTEMPTS AN ESCAPE.
Tho Sheriff Almost Catches lila Prisoner
In the Act or Boring Bimsclf Out or
Jail-A Few Minutes Longer
and Taylor Would
Have Been Out
and Gone.

Noah Taylor who was convicted at
the July term of court for killing his
wife, and was sentenced to the peni.
tentiary for life. and Is confined in Jail
pending an appeal to tho Supreme
Court for new trial, came near max
ing his escape from prison on Wcdnes-
day night, and had it not been for the
vigIlence of the Shelilf, Taylor would
have been goner.
Taylor occupied u cell on the second
floor, in which he was locked at night,
being allowed to walk around in Il
larger cell or hall between the cells dur
ing the day.
1t has been customary to allow Tay-
'Or's relatives and friends to visit him
In the Jail, and it is plainly shown that
some one has taken advantage Of the
Sheriff's kind treatment and good ma.
ture, in assisting u criminal to make
| his escape from the officers Of the law,
for without the assistance of some one
Taylor could not have nccomp ished
what he did.
Sheriff Bulord is careful to examine
every morning to see that everything
IS safe and in order and that no effort
Is being made by any Of his prisoners
to escape, and yesterday morning when
he made his rounds and came to Tay-
lor's cell, he moved his bed and found
that he had bored through two parti-
ton walls, got through into u second
cell, bad worked at and cotton loose
two iron bolts that had been put
through iron bars to repair the place
where attempts had been made before,
and he only had to unIoosen two more
bolts, lift out two pieces OF plank, push
aside two iron bars, and slip into the
corridor, attach the rope on the inside
and let himself down from the window
to the ground below.
He had been supplied with good
inch and quarter auger. detachable
handle, aud Il thirty-siX foot half.inch
cotton rope. The auger and rope Tay.
lor had hid in his bed clothing.
Taylor was much chagrined when
his plans of escape was discovered. He
told the Sheriff that arrangements had
been made for friend to meet him on
the outside and carry him away as soon
rs he reached the grOund--but his plans
failed.
This reporter called to see Taylor
yesterday morning and asked him if
he had anything to say, and his reply
was: "No, only they sworc lies oD ne, or
it would not be as bad as it is. They
wanted to break my neck, and if they
are SO. bad of to see it, and will give
me rope and place to jump from,
IL uleth IL loI ltlelll.
On being asked if he had had q hard
nights work, he said: mo, not much,
but it was my business to get away if
could, and am ready to go to he peni-
tentiary now"
Sheriff Buford is proud man at
saving his prisoner. He has had since
his election to the Sherif's office only
| two escapes-and both have been re-
captured. One he had to go to Geor-
gia and disguise himself and spend q
| week to capture, but he brought his
| man back. He examines every cell
| every morning and man has to he a
slick one to get away from him.
Taylor has been transferred to the
third floor and put into al iron cage
| where he will be kept and closely
| watched, and the Sheriff will exercise
| his right to search all parties who want
to see him hereafter.
WHERE THE TOOLS WERE BOUGHT.
While this reporter was at the jail
yesterday morning getting the facts as
| to the attempt of escape Of Taylor and
| on examining the tools, we noticed tie
cost mark, which showed dimly on tho
handle of the auger, and put it down
in our note book, and on our rounds
yesterday afternoon found that the
mark was that Of Mr.. Wm. Johnson
Mr.. Johnson and his clerk remember
selling few days back an auger and a
handle, but cannot remember who was
the purchaser. We thought by finding
| this out some clue could be had as to
who was assisting the prisoner in his
attempt to escape, but it being a busy