The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-11
BY CUNNING RUSE
ssCRACKER" CRUMMITY, NOTORIOUS
HIGHWAYMAN FOOLED OFFICERS.
ESCAPED FROM PRISON..
SWEENEY RETURNS FROM PHILA-
DELPHIA EMPTY HANDED.

Georgia Negro who Was Confined
in Moynmemsing Prison, PhilHdcl-
phia-When Name WINS Called lie
Answered for Him, and Was Lib
Grated in His PInce-The other
Negro is Held as Confederate.
OmciaI Circles Agog with the
News CrUmmity Crook of
Crooks.
BY successfully executing one of the
most daring schemes ever undertaken
in Moyamensing prison, Cracker
Crummity, alias Henry Williams. one
of the most desperate highwaymen
who ever operated in Georgia has eff
fected his escape from the famous Phil
adelphia prison, and added the eighth
TO his list of escapes.
The story of the escape reads al
most like a novel, but it is founded on
fact. The fact is best evidenced by
the return of Chief Deputy Sheriff
Thomas J. Sweeney from Philadelphia,
yesterday, empty handed and disap-
pointed. When he left Philadelphia
official circles were all agog with the
news, and thousands Of pictures of
the notorious crook have been sent
broadcast over the country already.
The ruse which was adopted by
Crummity is the kind one reads about
in Jesse James, but seldom sees in life.
In the history of the famous Philadel-
phia bastile it is the first of its kind.
Cracker got his cellmate, a Savannah
negro, named Nat Burroughs, TO
change clothes with him, and with a
bride, induced him' to allow him to an
swer 10 his name when the time came
10 release Burroughs.
How Rusc Was Worked.
Cracker had but $1.04 but he offered
Burroughs s. to help him out of his
trouble. He persuaded him that when
the mistake was discovered the Off
Gals could do nothing but turn him
loose; and told MIN to meet him on
Rotterdam street, where he would give
him the rest of the S..
The ruse looked good to the mark,
for he needed the money. According
ly he feigned sleep the next morning
when the names of the prisoners who
were TO be released that day were call
ed. Cracker" answered the name in
a strong, husky voice, and marched
unconcernedly as did his associates
This all happened on Wednesday
morning. but it was Wednesday aft
ernoon before il was discovered. Then
there was furry at the Jail Chief
Sweeney. who had been awaiting eX-
tradition papers. was naturally very
much veXed when the matter was re-
ported to him. Supt. II. NJ. Kirk of
the prison ordered thousands of the
pictures of the negro duplicated; the
police department was notified; in
structions We're sent out for all the
force to watch out for the escape, and
an investigation was instituted.
Confederate is Held.
Burroughs. the other Georgia negro,
who by his confederation, made the
scheme possible, will probably stand
the brunt of the matter He is now
being held for action by the grand jury
on the charge of aiding and abetting
an escape. Had he not participated in
the scheme, he would have been liber- |
ated, since he was only held under a |
peace bond.
Cracker Crummity is the most widely |
known negro crook and highwayman |
in the state. He has escaped eight |
times, the most recent escapade before !
this one. being his escape from the |
county changing. On that occasion |
he led a gang of five negroes, who |
STRUCK uoWn lne guard, ONeTpOWefeu |
him, deprived him of his weapons, and |
escaped into the woods.
Chief Sweeney determined to catch !
the escape, and set about at large ex-
pense to do so. He has had a man
living in Philadelphia for two months |
past for the sole purpose of spotting |
Crummity. When ii was learned that |
he has been captured he would not en-
trust his safety to any of the deputies,
but went himself for his man. His |
disappointment and chagrin at having
the trick turned on him at the last
minute, and having to come home |
empty handed, is not surprising.
Superintendent Chagrined.
The superintendent of the prison de-
clared that never before in the history
of the institution had such a daring
scheme been carried to a successful
conclusion. He is very proud of the
record of his prison, and said that he
would not have had the trick turned
on him for thousand dollars specie.
The search for Crummity will be re-
newed, now that he has escaped again. |
With the Philadelphia and Savannah
authorities making a determined effort
TO locate him, and the other cities and
towns cooperating, there is little
doubt that the notorious highwaylnan
Will be run to cover, and that he NAV
have the pleasure of serving sentences
on both the Savannah and Philadel-
Dhia chaingangs