Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-08-09
LIBERTY OR DEATH
Jerry Blackwell. the Northum ber.
Iand Criminal. Chose the Latter.

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land Criminal. Chose the Latter.
In its last issue the CITIZEN was
enabled to inform it's readers of the
suicide of desperate criminal in
Heathsville Jail. We were indebted
to the energy and friendship of
Deputy Sheriff II. Il. Broun, of
northumberland, for this, be having
driven to Lancaster Courthouse and
'phoned the news to us Just before
going to press. The wires in Lam
caster have beer IN miserable coudi-
ton for some time, which chronic
condition greatly handicaps us in
cur efforts to get all the news.
The Peatbsyille correspondent of
a Richmond paper gives an inter
estlng account of the negro Black
wells career, part of which we ex.
tract and give below:
Blackwell was a desperate char
acter, and had won no little noto-
riety for his cunning deception of
his fellow-man and artful achieve
ments in making his escape from
officers of the law. He was 5O-odd
years old, and with the rascality of
his years, it seems that this was the
first time that the hand of the law
clutched him sufficiently tight to
hold him within its grasp. Several
times he had run from the county
to escape punishment, and after
many months had elapsed, trusting
the people had forgotten his misde-
meanor, he would return.
Last winter Jerry went to the
smoke house of Mr.. Tom Haynie.
near Reedville, and relieved il of
Sl5 or $40 worth of finely CURED
country hams.
lie was arrested and placed IN
Jail. One Sunday morning in March
Mr.. helms, the Jail keeper, weat TO
give the prisoners break fast. He
opened the small door, close down to
the floor, and gave Jerry his plate.
He also left his small window open
IN order that the darky might give
Jerry a fresh bucket of water, after
which he stepped across the hall to
feed the other prisoners.
No sooner had Mr.. Nelms entered
the other cell than Jerry crawled
through this small opening and was
gone. All day a party searched for
him IN vain. No more had been heard
of Jerry till telegram was sent Co
the sheriff, notifying him of his ar
rest in Baltimore.
The fugitive told a reporter that he
bribed the Heathsville jaiIer and the
door was ''aung ajar;" also that the
jailer saw him when on the search
aud told him to run, after " hich the
"fiicer held the searching party
back, All this was the fabrication
of desperate, as well as, perhaps, of
an affected mind. There is not a
shadow of truth in it, and even
Jerry denied having told such a
thing after reaching here.
lie became so noisy and bolster
Gus that Mr.. Nelns was advised by
the justice to shackle his feet, which
was promptly done. Jerry broke
these shackles himself. Mr.. Nelms
attempted TO enter the cell to adjust
another pair of irons, and Jerry
promptly warhed hlm that if he
cared anything for his own life he
would not enter. In short, he defied
our whole town TO come into the
cell. MIR. helms told the prisoner
that when he gave up the broken
handcuffs-which he was using as
his weapon-he would get more
food, and not till then.
Regularly three times day the
jailer carried Jerry his meals, but
each time had to return with them.
for the negro would not accept the
conditions. Last Thursday morn
nag, however, Jerry came over and
all thought he would become quiet.
But he was held too tightly, and
rather than realize the inglorious
tate of spending his old days in the
penitentiary he silenced all by hang.
ing himself with the strips of his
towel.