Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-07-18
Richardson, Forger,
Escaped Last Night
(From Mondays Daily.

At 9 O'Clock last night when Coun-
y Jailer Bates went to lock John
Richardson in his cell he called to
Richardson who answered, as Bates
supposed, from the inside of the cell
This morning when he opened the cell
to give Richardson his breakfast he
found the cell empty. An examination
OF the jail developed the fact that
Richardson had dug his way through
the foundation wall and made his es-
cape.
Richardson had been given the run
OF the jail and had evidently been dig
ging for several days, as he had car
ried the debris and carefully conceal.
ed 1t under the head of his bunk.
He selected that part of the wall
through which the steam pipe runs as
the easiest to dig out and his judg-
ment proved correct. as this makes
the third escape effected through that
particular place. which had been re-
paired by filling around the pipe with
plaster, and was easily removed.
The work was evidently deliberately
planned. He tore off one of the iron
supports of a sink and used this as
tool to dig the hole through which
the escape was made. He had care
fully wrapped towel around the pipe
to prevent the tool from making
noise by striking the pipe.
1t is supposed that when Richardson
answered the jailer he was at work
digging and stopped when he heard
him coming. and his answer came
through the ventilating places in the
cell and sounded as though coming
from the inside. After Bates retired
he continued his work
During the night Mrs. Bates heard
noise in the jail part of the build.
ing and woke Mr.. Bates to ask him
II he was sure he had locked Rich
ardson in the cell. Mr.. Bates was
so sure of it that he went to sleep
again without investigating
That Richardson had planned for |
several days to make his escape is |
evidenced by the fact that he had
been calling for an unusual amount |
of provisions the last few days. He |
probably stored the surplus to be used
in getting out of the country.
Richardson was arrested about six |
weeks ago on a charge of forgery and
passing worthless checks.
Sheriff Clarke Immediately tele-
graphed Richardson's description to |
the sheriffs of the various counties
through which Richardson would have
to pass in getting away. also to the |
railroad stations along the various |
railroads. The description is as fol- |
lows: About "A years old. sandy com
plexion, six weeks growth of reddish |
brown beard, about feet in height, |
weight 1856 pounds. a Scotchman of |
stocky build. lower front teeth worn, |
small eyes, close together, wore dark
suit, black and blue striped pants
1t is not probable that Richardson |
followed any of the regular highways
in his travels, but made tracks di |
Ifect 10 New Mexico.
County Commissioner Charlton said |
this morning that no plaster would be |
used in repairing the hole in the |
foundation, but that it would be re
paired with concrete, which would not |
be so easy to dig out.
1t is probable that Jailer Bates will |
not in future be so considerate of |
prisoners as to let them have the run |
of the jail. but will keep them locked |
in their cell. Had he discovered last |
night that Richardson was not in his |
cell and made a search for him the |
chances are that fight would have
ensued in which Richardson would
have had all the best Of it by attack
ing Bates unawares and using his
iron bar with deadly effect.