Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-07-07
The Negro Williams Again Behind the Bars

last week ASA ulteQ MISS Laura hnOue
near Harper's Ferry, who was cap
tured by officers in Martinsburg, and
who escaped from Sheriff BillmyeI
aud his fellow-offcers at Big Pool,
is now behind the bars awaiting his
trial. The REGISTER last week gave
the details of the crime and of the
escape OF the prisoner as he was
being taken to prison. The story Of
his recapture is an interesting one.
1t will be remembered that Sheriff
]. D. Billmyer and special deputy
Herbert Rogers, Of this place, and
Constable Rhodes, of Hancock, had
the prisoner in charge, taking him to
Keyser for safe keeping. At Big Pool,
where they changed cars, a mob
threatened the prisoner, and the off,
GERS took him afoot along the road,
and in the darkness of Tuesday night
the negro got away from them. Search
for him was fruitless, and when the
bloodhounds were taken TO the scene
Oh Wednesday they were unable to
track the negro.
Thursday morning the bloodhounds
were again taken to Big Pool, and
Sheriff Billmyer and his deputies, to-
gether with considerable crowd Of
other persons, kept up the hunt all
day without obtaining a clue.
When he made his escape Williams
had handouts on, and these led to his
recapture. He tried in vain to get
rid of them. He rubbed them and
pounded them against rocks, and
while he battered and twisted them,
they held, and he was unable to jump
a freight train, as he so anxiously de-
sired to do. About 4 o'clock Thurs
day afternoon the negro appeared at
a quarry near Pinesburg, along the
Wabash Railroad, few miles east Of
Big Pool. He approached one Of the
workmen and asked him to remove
the handouts, stating that he had
been arrested in Pittsburg for stabbing
a man and had escaped from the Off
Ger. He also asked for a drink.
While he was talking, another elm.
ployee of the quarry, j. Calvin Rock,
saw the negro and recognized him,
having seen him on Tuesday in charge
of the officers. Rock went to the Of
fee to call up Hagerstown officers, and
being suspicious of trouble,
disappeared. Rock telephoned to
Sheriff Downin at Hagerstown, and
that officer Immediately got busy. In
company with his lawyer, Elias B.
Hartle, he at once drove to Pinesburg,
and, organizing posse, began active
search for to regfD. J" is; tl.an an
hour Sheriff Dow-.a Came upon Will
liams in a thick growth OF bushes
among the pines. The negro at once
b, -, x the sheriff not
to harm - AM creed to 90 with
him Ailhra.y. Tie ste:iIi' plt his
prisoner in buggy and tooa him to
the home of Deputy Sheriff Huyett,
some four miles distant. Sheriff Bill
myer had been notified Of the negro's
at Pinesburg, and he
started for the place. By the time he
got there, however, the prisoner was
in the custody of Sheriff Downin.
TIE negro told to Sheriff Downin
a somewhat remarkable story Of his
escape and subsequent warderings, as
follows: "On Tuesday night when the
officers who had me were being press
ed by the mob near Big Pool Station
Constable Rhodes, who was leading
me, said Go, boy, go if had the
key l would unlock the handouts and
set you free. Sheriff Billmyer and his
deputy were some distance in the rear
of us trying to keep the mob back.
When officer Rhodes said what he did
I Jumped over into the wheat field,
ran short distance and then crawled
under a wild honeYsuckle bush. |
heard one man say Boys, he went
up this way.
1.-The pursuing mob passed within
few feet of where | was concealed and
l was badly scared. saw one man
carrying an AK and another a rope.
After they had passed on | shouted
to Sheriff Billmyer and his deputy,
but as they did not come toward me
l supposed they did not hear my calls.
The reason l called to the officers was
because was afraid l would fall into
the hands Of the mob and that they
would lynch me. l did not see Off
Ger Rhodes fall and hurt his ankle.
"When things became quiet | went
up along the canal and concealed my
self, but did not sleep any that night.
The next day "wednesday l heard
the barking of bloodhounds, which
seemed to be about three-quarters OF
a mile away. In order to throw them
off the scent and trail l doubled my
steps. 81 thought it was the mob that
was still after me-
The only stuff l had to eat since my
escape were cherries and raspberries
that found in the woods. l saw the
mob cut the harness and take away
the lines at the place they called Big
Pool. Part Of Wednesday slept in
the hollow Of large tree in the woods
l worked my way east on Wednesday
night and again slept in the bushes
on Thurs ay morning. Realizing
that l could not escape with the hand
cuffs on, made my way to the quarry
with the hope of being able to get rid
of them. If l had been successful it
was my intention to go to Cumberland
and give myself up. l knew l had