The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-12-06
Fim-RIammer
Almost Breaks Jail.
b. j. Edwards Places a Dummy
in his cell and digs a hole in
jail wall.


D. j. Edwards alias Watson made
daring but unsuccessful attempt to
break out OF jail here Monday night.
Three or four days prior to that he
pretended to be sick and spent much
OF the time in bed in his cell. He lay
generally with his head covered up. At
4:30 o'clock Frank Wells, the turnkey,
made his usual rounds and rocked the
prisoners cell doors. When he came
to Edwards cell, he noticed what APP
peared to be person in the bed In the
cell, and opposed Edwards was quiet
ly sleeping with his head under cover.
Frank locked the cell door without
making further Inspection and went
on his way.
Edwards had made dummy out OF
clothes he had in the cell an placed
his creation in the bed. Then, he
crqwlcd up on top of the cell and bid
ed his time. After the shades Of
night had fallen and all was quiet in
Jail, Edwards crawled down from his
perch and worked diligently at the
west wall of the jail. He had piece
ola case knife and a broken pair Of
scissors which had been used in cut
ting the prisoners hair. With these
he managed to dig ont several brick
and needed to dig out only two more
to have hole big enough to crawl
through. In only a few moments he
would have gained his liberty, but
Policeman William Myers detected
him in the act and fired shot or 80
from his pistol This was about $3.50
O'Clock in the morning. Myers then
notified the authorities at the jail and
an Investigation was made. They
found Edwards in corner quakinR
with fear but pretending to take a
drink OF water. They also found the
dummy in bed.
Edwards is said to be noted Grim.
inal and is under sentence OF three
years IN the penitentiary for film
f,ammIng Edward L. DennisUn, of
Nashville, out OF $500 in October,
1900, in trick card game. But an APP
peal was granted some months ago by
the State Supreme Court and has,
never been taken to the penitentiary'
Edwards represented himself to be a
Fairmont coal operator and went to
Dennison's home and got him interest
ed in coal and oil lands. They start
ell out together topurchase some land
and met another fellow on the road
The fellow claimed to be from Ala
bama and said he had ben left big
estate by his father Then he pro-
ceeded to show them trick at cards,
which he claimed had just been taught
him. 1t was three-card monte
game and Dennison was allowed to
win a time or two. Then they all
came to the city to get money. Dem
nisOn drew out a rollat the Merchants
oInk and they all started back. Be
You'd Wilsouhurg Dennisrn got out of
the carrilsra dstarted for home after
Edwards had given him saichel with
tin box lnS dc of which WAS ppoS.
ed to contain big pile Of money
Dennison had wonin snms more games
they had PLAYED Edwards was to
drive his friend to Salem and leave the
carriage there and rel lin pennlSon
at his home, but instead Of goin, they
drove back toward the city. Edwards
companion disappeared on the way
and has not been seen since. Den
nisun walked ashort distance toward
home and opened the.box only.to lind a
lot OF worthless paper therein He
returned to WiGSonburg and had the
authorities notified here. Officer j.
It. BpggesS arrested Edwards as he |
drove up to Cores livery stable. Con-
siderable good money was found on
him, and a lot OF bogus money. His
trial followed and sentence was i'm
posed.
some months ago Edwards and a
negro Knocked the turnkey down and
escaped from Jail but were captured
Shurtly afterwdrd.