Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-11
MAKES HIS ESCAPE
PRISONER IN POLICE COURT
TAKES FRENCH LEAVE.
Attorney Leaves Client After a Con-
ference and Latter Has Not
Since Been Seen.

Charged with an offense which called for
a term in the penitentiary, Warren Crow
ell, a man about thirty-fve years of age,
who came here from Norfolk. Va, about
one month ago escaped from the Police
Court this morning, where he was await
ing preliminary hearing on a charge OF
assault with a dangerous weapon.
Before court convened this morning
Crowell asked to see Attorney Campbell
Darlington. The attorney was sent for
and the man was taken from the dock in
the United States court room to the jury
room adjoining. After conversing with the
prisoner short time Mr.. Darlington re-
membered an early morning engagement in
one of the courts in the city hall and left
the room, leaving Crowell alone. Marshal
Lacey was told that the interview between
the attorney and the man was at an end
and the former turned the key in the lock.
making the man a prisoner in the room so
far as egress through the door was con-
cerned.
A short time later the marshal entered
the room. but Crowell was gone. A
glance at the one window in the room told
how he had made his departure By fore
ing outward the heavy screen netting
which covered the window. he made a
space which permitted him to drop to the
roof of an adjoining one-story building.
The drop was short one. about six feet.
rance. an easy task. and then dropped to
the side yard, and there was nothing else
left for him to do but to walk out to the
street and lay his own course.
The screen is an unusually heavy one,
but Crowell apparently had but little diff
Guilty in pushing it outward, wrenching the
screws from the wood and bending the
iron bars on each side of the screen. When
1t was known that Crowell had taken his
departure without first making known his
intention. an attorney remarked: He has
taken the advice given by the late Daniel
Webster to his first client"
What was that advice?" a bystander
wanted to know.
Why, escape if you can,'" was the re-
ply.
Crowell's Alleged Offense.
Crowell was arrested by Policeman ]. H
Lee of the first precinct shortly before Z
O'Clock last night after he had created con-
siderable excitement at Haight's saloon on
E street northwest between 10th and 18th
streets. He had first had some trouble at
the saloon about o'clock in the afternoon,
and was elected. Armed with a loaded re-
volver, he returned shortly before Z o'clock
and caused considerable commotion by fir
ing shot at John Williams, colored, one
of the employees The bullet passed through
a tin can which Williams held in his hand,
scratching him slightly on the wrist.
After firing the weapon Crowell backed
out of the place and started to run. IN
fortunately for him. the patrol wagon, in
charge of Policeman Lee of the first pre-
cinct. was passing. Turning a prisoner in
the wagon over to Driver McCauley, Lee
started in pursuit of the fleeing man. He
was soon overtaken, and attempted to gain
his liberty by pushing the revolver in the
officers face, but the latter brushed it
aside and tore 1t from the grasp of the ex-
cited man. He was taken to the station
house, where he was lodged in a cell until
this morning, and was transferred to the
court house, from which place he managed
to make his escape undetected, as stated
The police of the several precincts have
been notified of the escape.