The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-01-16

Tried to Break Jail.
Archie Edwards, noted criminal, a
rived at the jail here at noon on Frids
and apparently Immediately began to a
range to gain his liberty. This atteml
was made shortly after midnight Sunda,
, Boston" man employed at the jail, WI
in the kitchen and heard some one movin
around. He asked who it was but ii
fellow gave no name and in reply to
question how he got in the yard said b
came in by the back gate. Boston
knew that was not so. and he Gale
another prisoner and they questioned th
intruder who at last told them he ws
Archie Edwards and had escaped frol
his CELL
, Deputy Sheriff Fleetwood was aroun
, and soon had the prisoner in custody Ell
J animation revealed the fact that Edward
had sawed the bars in his cell window
|. Tearing the blankets on his cot he made
rope by which he lowed himself to th
Jail yard He had also cut the lead pip
in his cell and made hook. This he al
tached to a rope made out of blankets an
threw it over the wall into the court hous
yard. Drawing the hook up until
caught on the wall outside he began tn
ascent He had not gone far, however
before the rope broke and the jig was u
for that time at least, and another jai
breaking record was spoiled.
Edwards is now in the murderer's cell
heavily shackled, and a watch will b
placed over him until he is removed to tn
State prison. He will probably be sen
fenced on Saturday on the charge of hors
stealing and atrocious assault and battery
of which he has been convicted. WheI
Edwards was brought to the jail on FRIDAY
he had on new suit of clothes giveI
him by the Pennsylvania authorities
He was searched before leaving Phila
delphia and on arriving here All thai
was found was about So in money Yes
terday morning he was again searched
and he was found to have $21 In cash
The Innings of his shoes had been torn out
and 1t was thought that the saws with
which he did the saving were concealed
under them when he arrived In Mount
Holly.
The Jail authorities will be glad when
he has left their charge and has been
landed at Trenton. He certainly is in a
position to cause them to lose considerable
sleep.
Archie Edwards, expert horse thief,
amateur actor of Shakespearen roles, Beau
Brummel, raconteur and declared to be
one of the most successful ICON" men who
ever took in a gullible farmer, enjoyed a
liberty of about six seconds on Friday.
Edwards had just finished serving a
nine months sentence in the Eastern Peni-
tertiary, at Philadelphia. He had
smilingly taken lingering farewell of his
prison companions. when Emanuel, Cen
trail Office detective, tapped him on the
shoulder.
Il want you, Edwards" said Emanuel.
All right, Cap" was the response,
Lead on Macduff," he cried, striking q
majestic attitude, and forthwith accom-
panied the detective to City Hall.
He was turned over to Deputy Sheriff
Fleetwood and Detective Ellis Parker, of
Mount Holly. They had with them the
necessary extradition papers and in con-
sequence, Edwards, who is also known by
the alias of William Revener, was taken
to Mount Holly without a hearing in the
City Hall police court.
There are no fewer than twenty-four in5
dictments lodged against Edwards in Bur-
lington county for alleged horse stealing,
assault with attempt to kill Isaac Timber.
and with breaking jail
Edwards, although but thirty years of
age, has spent, it is said, eight years In
Jail. When he was arrested and sentenced
to nine months in the Eastern Penitentiary
the New Jersey authorities learned of his
capture and detainer was lodged against
him.
Edwards has had checkered career.
His method in New jersey, it is said, was
to stop at store where some farmer had
tied his team. admire the rig. declaim the
good features of the horse, and then granted
the permission to give him a trial, disap-
pear in cloud of dust.
In February, 1908, he was arraigned be-
fore Judge Gaskill on charge of attempt
ing to kill Isaac Timber and for horse
stealing. He had induced Timber to drive
a horse for him to Beverly, when Timber
became suspicious aud Edwards set upon
him and beat him.
He was in jail under sentence and was
working in the prison yard when he espied
a long plank on the ground. He instantly
picked it up and before anyone knew
what he was about, Edwards had reared
it up against the WALL and running up the
incline leaped off Hedrifted to Scranton,
landed in prison there, and again made
his escape, this time going to Philadel-
phia.
well, when / see Judge Gaskill again."
said he before departing on his enforced
journey to Mount Holly, II am sure he
will be surprised at the progress have
made in my Evolutionary powers. He
then intimated that for the benefit of the
Judge he would quote passages of Hamlet,
King Lear and Richard Ill.