West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-04-04

day morning from Chicago, bring
Ing with him J. Edgar Walton, who
escaped from the West Virginia
penitentiary on the night of No
vember 9TH, last.
Walton, who was a newspaper re.
porter, was sent to the West Vir-
ginia penitentiary two years ago
from Washington, D. c., to serve a
sentence of ten years for obtaining
money under false pretenses by
floating forged checks. About a
year ago he developed consumption
and from that time until he effected
his escape he was an inmate of the
hospital. While there he made the
acquaintance of William Lee. a dis.
tant relative of General Fitzhugh
Lee, who was serving life sen.
tence for murder. Lee was Grip
pie. something like SO pieces of
bone having been taken from his
right hip, which had been fractured
by rife ball fred by an officer
when the notorious criminal had
been brought to bay In his noun
tain rendezvous In Virginia.
PLANNED ESCAPE.
Shortly after their meeting, Wal
ton, who was almost at deaths door
with consumption, and Lee, a
cripple on crutches, put their heads
together and formed a plan of es.
cape and were successfuk In carry.
ing 1t out on November 9TH. Lees
clutches were left on top of the
wall. It has been the general be-
lief that they had friends waiting
fol- them ON the outside.
The fugitives separated, Lee
giving Walton some travelling
money. The next heard In regard
to them was that Walton was In
Chicago, where he had resumed his
old trade of floating bogus checks.
Warden Haddox sent out descrip.
tive circulars including his picture,
and on March 22nd there came a
dispatch from XeniA, ILL.,, that a
man answering the description of
Walton had been arrested there.
WAS NOT uArroN
A guard was at once dispatched
to the above city but 1t failed to be
the right man.
On Monday last Warden Haddox
received word from Chicago stating
that man had been arrested there
who tailed with the description and
photos sent out. Guard Williams
left for Chicago early Tuesday
morning, and arriv 4 at Mounds.
vile with his man thursday morn
Ing.
TRAVELLED WITH A GIRL.
Walton since his escape has been
exceedingly active In his criminal
pursuits, and has been travelling
with girl companion. The Chi
cago detectives have been on his
trail for some time past, following
him on one occasion to New York
and back. but failed to effect his
capture until the latter part of last
week.
When brought into the warden's
office Thursday morning about 2
p. m, Walton put up fue appear
ance In contrast with his appear.
ance when he escaped. While he
still retained the consumptive ap.
pearance, he had gained at least 20 |
pounds. He was dressed to per.
lection and carried a handsome
grip. we'll filled with clothes.
Walton did not appear to be in
the least downcast over his predica.
ment.
welded ACTRESS.
He said he had raked In over
$1,000 during his FIVE months of
liberty. married a pretty actress
from Auna He1d's theatrical com.
pany at Chicago and enjoyed him !
self thoroughly. The wife Is still |
In Chicago.
LEE IS FREE.
Meanwhile Lee has been having
a comparatively free and easy time
In the mountains along the south
eastern border of the state, He has
b en- seensa number of times during
the past winter. He Is a veritable
arsenal and his skill with a
gun Is we'll knowu and thoroughly
appreciated by all who know him.
1t Is the common belief that If he