The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-06
NOT COMPLAINING
OF COUNTY JAIL |
Denied at Goochland That Petit
ton to Judge Grimsley Is
Being Circulated.
KNOWS 4 NOTHING OF IT
Judge Grimsley Has Not Heard
OF Escape Even, Except
THROUGH NEWSPAPERS.
KNOWS NOTHING OF 1T
Especial to The Timcs-Dispatch..


GOOCHLAND9 c. H, VA, July b.
Considerable surprise was expressed
here this evening over reports which
apparently originated in Richmond that
citizens were signing u petition TO
Judge D. "A. Grimsloy, asking that the
recent escape of two negroes from the
Jail here be investigated. No one at
the courthouse had heard even Of the
existence of such a paper. and not ono
would believe It. 1t is true that tho
supervisors have offered a reward W
5000 for the capture Of the men. the
implication in an afternoon paper that
Sheriff Crouch was not as prompt AMI
vigorous as might be in his efforts to
capture the negroes is also Indignant.
ly denied.
Judge Grimsley, who lives at Cu:-
pepper, was communicated with, and re-
piled that he had heard nothing Of any
complaint on the part of the citizens
regarding Goochland jail, and knew
nothing Of the escape OF the prisoners
except what he had seen in the papers
and learned through one private letter.
Mr.. Ben II. Barrett Of this city, has
written letter to Judge D. a. Gri ms
ley Of Culpeper. calling His Honor's
attention to the recent escape Of VIII :
liam Freeman and Eugie Johnson from
the Goochland county jait and alleg-
ing that the officers have not mada
diligent efforts to recapture them.
Judge Grimsley presides over the Cir
cult Court OF Goochland, and Mr.. Bar
rett is a son OF the late DR.. Barre t.,
Of that county, whose barn is alleged
TO have been burned by one OF the
negroes. William Freeman. during the
year 1904
Freeman was captured by a Rich
| mond detective agency some time ago,
and the trial resulted in a hung jury.
| He, along With the other negro. Eugie
| Johnson. who was under Indictment
| for murder, escaped from the county
| Jail at Goochland Courthouse on the
night of June 18th. The county has
offered reward Of 5000 for the re-
| amount has been supplemented with
| $50 from private sources. Common
wealth's Attorney "A. X. Monteiro has
written Governor Swanson requesting
| that His Excellency further supple
| ment the amount, and the Governor
| Will take up the request upon his re-
| turn to the city.
Sheriff CrOuCh'a View.
No one seems to be charging that the
officers of Goochland county were
derelict in their duty In providing
4 against the escapeAof the negroes, but
/ 1t Is intimatcd that they have probably
J not exerted their best efforts to re-
capture them.
4 Sheriff W. NJ. Crouch. who Is a
veteran handler OF prisoners says that
!, no efforts have been spared to appre
!, bend the negroes. and that II 1t is pos.
sible to do so. they will be run down
1t Is said that the locks were broker
from the outside. and this Is taken a
almost, II not quite, conclusive evidenc
that the negroes had the co-opcratio
: OF confederates from without
There is hardly a more convenien
place In Virginia for such work tina
Goochland Courthouse as only n fey
4 persons reside there. and the Jail l
far removed from any Of the residence!
S May Never lie Caught.
The alleged firebug was at large 70
a long time after the commission c
I tho crime. In which q splendid barn c
: DR.. Barrett was destroyed. Mr. Isaa
!. Digss. of this city, has been assistin
: Mr. Ben 7, Barrett in tho latter's Ell
forts to convict the negro. They hav
law offices together in this city. an
have spent n great deal of time
, working on the case.
: 1t Is the opinion of many that Pre-
: fitlng by this narrow escape frol
n death or life imprisonment. Freema