Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-28
HOLDUP MAN
BREAKS JAIL
TAKES ADVANTAGE OF JAlLER's
FoReErFuLNEss
CROOK PASSES OUT AS A NIGHT
LopeER
Police Blame Escape on Crowded Con-
ditlon of Local Prison-Reward
offered for Arrest Of
Fugitive

The oyercrowded condition of the city
Jail is responsible for the escape OF one
man yesterday, man who is, according
to his own confession to the police,
footpad and against whom there is one
case of robbery pending.
The man who escaped is William Roes-
Ter, and the manner in which he succeed
ed in getting out of the Jail proves him
person of resources, and with
knowledge of the inside working of city
prisons that shows his familiarity with
police methods.
Roesler was arrested by John Hender-
son, a watcl.man of Chester place, No
vember II, while apparently trying to
escape the observation of persons in the
neighborhood. When arrested Roesler
carried a revolver and in his pocket was
found cap, with large peak that could
be pulled down over the eyes, obscuring
part of the tace.
After he was arrested, the police say,
he confessed he had held up and robbed
Frederick G. Smith, who lives at 4044
Woodlawn avenue, of 81 and an overcoat,
and the overcoat was said to have been
found on him when he was captured.
The robbery took place November II,
at Twenty eighth street and Maple av-
enue, and Roesler was held on this
charge for arraignment after the holi-
days.
Every night there are a number of
persons, poor and without homes, who
apply at the police station for lodging.
These are given what accommodations
the station affords, which are extreme
ly meager at this time, when the Jail
holds about $50 men. 1t was built to
contain only 125.
Among the poor men who Tuesday
night applied for place to sleep was
William Baker, who, after day passed
in fruitless earcn for work, dragged his
tired limbs to the police station, and,
overcome with fatigue, slept so soundly
he did not hear his name called in the
morning, at the hour when these poor
fellows are turned out, again to carry
on their search for labor.
Roesler, with other prisoners charged
with felonies, was kept in one of the up
per cells Of the Jail.
Another man, ]. p Jansen, was ar
rested Tuesday night on a charge of
robbery, and the detective who ar
rested him, wishing to take no chances,
insisted he be placed in. one of the upper
the men already there was removed, and
the detective asked that Roesler be placed
in one of the compartments down stairs,
where the one-night dodgers sleep.
This was done, under instructions of
the night jailer, who, when he was re-
deved the following morning, failed to
tell the man who relieved him.
The morning jailer at 6 o'clock called
the dodgers by name and each responded,
until the name of William Baker was
reached, when there was a pause, a mo-
ment of hesitancy and then a man
arose from the floor, called out, Here"
and walked out a liberated man. while
Baker, exhausted, slept on peacefully
1t was not until four hours later that
Baker awoke, and going to the jailer, de-
manded to be let out.
An investigation was Immediately
made and it was discovered one of the
men who is supposed to have recently
committed some of the numerous hold
ups and burglaries in Los Angeles had
escaped.
Chief of Police Kern was much cha
grined when informed of the escape but
said he felt no surprise, as the jailers
had repeatedly told him the overcrowd-
ed condition of the prison was such they
found it extremely difficult to keep
track of the prisoners, especially those
charged with serious offenses
In five small cells, constructed to hold
two men each, there are now confined %
prisoners, while other prisoners charged
with serious crimes are compelled to re-
main in the cells made to hold persons
charged with petty offenses.
Roesler is described as about % years
of age, feet 6-7 inches tall, weighs
155 pounds; blush gray eyes, light
brown hair and fair complexion He is
German. The only mark on his per-
son is a small vaccination scar on the
left arm.
The police have offered $50 reward for
information leading to his capture.