The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-24
BROUGHT CRACKER BACK.
The Notorious Escape Artist Will BE
ON the Gang Again.

The Notorious Escape Artist Will BE
the Gang Again.
Robert Crommittie. alias Cracker. is
again in the Chatham county Jail. He
was turned over to the jailor yester-
day morning. having been brought
from Philadelphia by Chief Deputy
Sheriff Sweeney, who was notified some
time ago that the man had been
caught there.
Crommittie's career as an escape is
a remarkable one. Sentenced originally
for twelve months, he now has over 4
years to serve without having commit
ted any other offense than repeatedly
running away. His last escapade has
kept him out of the clutches of the
law since June, and according to his
own story, he has been in several
states in that time and once spent
three days in Savannah while on mis-
tour of pleasure. The trouble. he says,
is that he gets tired of work and when
he docs so he leaves to have some fun
and having had it. does not mind re-
turning to the gang to work while
longer
Cracker looks fiourishing and the
cl1stodians at the Jail say he has grown
sto,uter While on the little vacation
trip of about three months. He is well
dressed and has money in his pocket,
whichS he flashes when talking to any,
body lie was warmly greeted by the
inmatesNo f the Jail, who "jollied" him
on getting caught and chided him with
being a regular gang-bird.
An effort was made to get him to
fal Of oxTearipnna VacfardaW aft
ernoon. but he was surly and uncom-
municatiVe and even What he did tell
was questionable as regards Veracity,
for some of his statements did not COR
respond with the known truth. He
says that when he ran away in June
he went straight to Florida, and spent
about two weeks in Tampa, Jackson
vile and Fernandina. Things having
grown dull there and being beset with
ennui, which is the thing that bothers
him most in life, he returned leisurely
to Savannah, and loafed around for
three days and then started north
ward, getting as far up as Philadel-
phia, where he located. He went to
work there and got quite chummy with
another negro, to whom, in moment
of weakness, he confided that he was
an escape from the Chatham county
gang He later regretted this, for
when he and his friend fell out, his
confidence was violated and the police
were told that Cracker was wanted in
Georgia.
His arrest swiftly followed, and no.
tice was sent to tine local authorities.
The casus belli, as has been true since
the world was young, was woman,
about whom the ersitwhile friends fell
out Cracker added that he did not
mind getting back, as it was to have
heen exnected that he would be caught
sooner or later, and he might as well
have it all over with one time as an
other.
Crommittie was first sentenced about
three years ago for twelve months.
After serving a short time he skipped
out and was located months after in
Florida. He was brought back. but
something he did caused the authorl-
ties to look favorably upon his prom
Use of reform, and the unserved sem
tence was suspended. He kept out of
before the bar of justice until March
II of the present year He then got
thirty days, the old sentence not being
put on. He stayed nearly two weeks
and then ran off, He was caught in
few hours and again went off at
the first opportunity. Arrested again
on May 9, the FORMER sentence was
placed against him., with an additional
twelvemonth. May 16 he was gone
again and on the 2Srd was given an
other additional year. He now has
four years to serve and has not yet
appeared in court ITO answer for the
last offense.
The indications areAthat he will have
no opportunity to again run away, for
he win be so placed that escape will
be we'll nigh impossible