The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-26

 EASY ESC APE
 FROM JAIL Thomas 0, Burwell Gains
 Freedom. SMOOTH CONFIDENCE MAN He Remained in Prison Only
 Five Hours. T Asked Permission to Step Into an / Adjoining Room, Raised Window and Stepped out-ohaeers are l,- Searching For Him.

Thomas o. Burweil who. if one-half of the warrants sworn out against nlm are founded tn facts, is one of the smoothest confidence men that Alabama has produced in several monthss made an easy escape from the Montgomery County jail yesterday afternoon at D o'clock Burwelfs stay in the jail was extremely short He came in with deputy sheriff at few minutes to l2, put left alone at 5 o'clock.
 BurweN was brought from Birmingham on a charge of obtaining money under false pretences. The prosecuting Wit ness was Capt E. w. Booker and the amount lost was 80. An indictment had been found against Burwen and a capias issued for him. He was arrested on an other shady transaction in Cullman ana carried to Birmingham Saturday, ana although there were number or war rants out against Burwell for confidence tricks, the Montgomery officials were given the first chance at him.
 Deputy Sheriff Belser went up for Bur we'll and came back with him yesterday \morning. Burwell was a model prisoner. ,JIe gave the deputy sheriff no trouble at al and was prompt and accommodating hn all things. He was, moreover. most Jentertaining talker and appeared to be a complete gentleman. At the jail Burweli lcraved permission to sit in the 1ail of- flee to receive his friends when they call ed. After a conference between Deputy Reiser and Jailer McLe more, this per mission was granted. He sat in the of- flee all the afternoon and led the con yersation but mo friends called to pay their respects.
 Burwell about o'clock went to room in the front part of the jail building for 9 few minutes At that time Jailer McLe- more had gone over to the courthouse and Deputy Jones was ol duty at the jail When Burw-ii went out of the or flee Mir. Jones was reading.
 When Burwell failed to return after few minutes, MT. Jones went after him He found that Burwell had raised 3 window which opened on the plot oi ground on the west side of lhe jail ano had stepped out on the ground. Ht climbed over the little iron fence into the street. Negroes standing near by sa1c that after getting out of the window ht had turned down Perry Street in a fast walk The officers had not been able te locate him at last account.
 BurweIl Is said to be wanted In Shef' field. Mobile, New Orleans. Decatur. Bir mtnghaua and Cincinnati. His favoritt confidence scheme was to represent him self as a railroad man and get the ac ouaintances that he made cash bogu! checks and drafts for him. He Is said tt have worked that scheme successfully 1T cities all over the South. It is understood that the officers of the Big Four Railroad sent out special warnings against Bur well and his schemes. There is war rant at the county jail for Burwell sworr out by c. B. Ashe of Sheffield. charging him with obtaining $25 under false pre- tences The county authorities will no undertake to say how many similar war rants are out against the smooth conf derce man who made so quiet an escape yesterday.
 Burwell was formerly successful business man in Birmingham, being member of a prominent hardware firm He failed, however. and since then it is alleged that he has been living of his friends and acquaintances by means oi various confidence games He Is vel educated and accomplished. and is oi pleasing address.