Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-22
BURROW WAY OUT
WITH A SPOON
PRISONERS BREAK FROM THE
COUNTY BASTILE
Two Convicted Men Make Their Way
From Emergency Tank Through
Ceiling of Jail and Reach
tho Streets

Harry Howard and Cyril Edlington,
two prisoners recently sent over from
the superior court convicted on charges
of burglary ana having stolen goods
in their possession, made their way to
liberty through the roof of the county
jail yesterday morning, between and
80 o'clock
The escape of the two prisoners is
one of the most remarkable that has
over occurred in the history Of crime
in Los Angeles. How the men with
only the use of an ordinary spoon and
within sight and hearing of score of
other prisoners and several deputies
and TRUSTEES, succeeded In carrying out
their plans, which were the most dar-
ing, is beyond the comprehension of the
county Jail authorities and the police.
and detectives.
The escaped convicts were confined
in what is known as the emergency
tank. Each day the TRUSTEES and dep
uties unlock the doors to that tank and
permit the prisoners to take little
exercise and eat their meals. The
breakfast hour comes between and
$3.50 o'clock. 1t was during this in
term that the men effected their
escape.
When the TRUSTEES unlocked the door
leading to this cell, Howard and Ed
lington, while the eyes of the TRUSTEES
and deputies were attracted in some
other direction, climbed up on top of
the iron grating enclosure of the
emergency tank. Two feet above this
is the ceiling to the room in which is
located the emergency tank.
Through Lath and Plaster
The ceiling of this room is composed
of metal lath and plaster, not exceed
ing one-half inch in thickness.
Like beavers the men commenced
digging away the plaster from the
network of the metal lathing. AS
they cut away piece after piece of the
over the top of the emergency tank
and struck with decidedly audible
rings on the floor of the tank. Yet,
say police, the TRUSTEES and the dep
uties failed to hear the sounds which
might have prevented the get away
In spite of the fact that as the plaster
was cut away piece by piece and that
the crumbling material under ordinary
occasions would have blinded the
workers effectively, the fugitives
worked on with wonderful speed.
When the plaster had been cleared
away and the frail material to which
it was attached appeared, the prison
ers had but to force their hands through
the malleable stuff and they were in
the attic of the Jail.
A few feet above the flooring of the
attic is the roof of the Jail. In that
there was Ventilator about sixteen
inches in diameter. 1t required but q
few seconds to force this open and
fnIr c1,A fI,a
of it were pulled open. The next mo-
ment the men We're out upon the roof
of the Jail.
Down a Ladder
From the roof of the Jail the men
ran rapidly to the roof of the building
Immediately adjoining the Jail on the
east side of it. From the roof of this
building the men climbed down to a
bath room window by means of q
short ladder stationed there for the
safety of the occupants in case of fire.
Once on the sill of this window the
men fearlessly made their way through
this building, out to the. street and
to parts still unknown to the police.
When the time came for the return
of the prisoners to the emergency tank
the deputies and trustees discovered
the hole in the ceiling, and the details
of what had taken place almost within
their sight was flashed to them.
The alarm of three bells was given
and the deputies, TRUSTEES and Jail Off
cials hurriedly made an investigation.
Armed to the teeth the officials and
deputies crawled through the openings
made by the escaped prisoners and out
upon the roof. The trail of the prison
ers was easily distinguished by
loose plaster that had dropped
from the clothing of the escaping con-
Victs.
Scour the Neighborhood
From the roof of the Jail to the roof
of the adjoining house a score of Off
clals made their way hurriedly. When
the avenue of escape through the
neighboring house had been determined
the alarm was given and the landlady
of the house was awakened. InVesti-
gatIon beyond the house was at once
seen to be useless on the part of the
Jail officials.
Sheriff White and Deputy Sheriff
Franklin at once set about to close
every avenue of escape from the city.
The police were notified and the detec-
tives given descriptions of the escaped
men.
Chief of Police Auble and Captain of
Detectives Flammer had their men out
upon half hours notice.
The securing of the criminal rendez-
vouses i'm the different sections of the
city was begun at once, but up to n
late hour last night neither the county
Jail officials nor the city police or
detective forces had obtained a clew.
The sheriffs and constables of all the
surrounding cities and counties have
been notified of the escape of the pris-
oners.
Considering the careful manner in
which the fact that an escape from the
jail was guarded nearly all day yes
terday II is apparent that the author
tiles have little or no hopes of the
capture of either Howard or Edlington,
On January 10 of this year Howard
and Edlington were arrested and placed
in the city prison. After a preliminary
trial before one of the police judges
the men were bound over TO the SUI
perior court for hearing.
Are Found Guilty
A little over one week ago the men
We're found guilty ON their respective
charges and sentenced to serve terms
in the county jail
Both of the escaped men have so far
as II known to the police only local
records.