The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-10
Willy NEGRO GETS
OUT OF CITY JAIL
Stevedore is Thought to Have
Been Bribed
HAD RESOURCES TO BURN
Walked Into Court Room, Paid 81 Fine
of Another Man and Is Now at
Large With His
Receipt.
HAD RESOURCES TO BURN

By one of the cleverest tricks ever
known to the city officials, VIII Jackson,
a negro escaped from the city Jail yes
terday afternoon. The case Is another Of
those for which the stevedore. upon
whom so much responsibility is placed, Is
to blame.
1t would seem, however, as though no
officers, Jail or anything else, could hold
this negro. He has a mind ready for all
emergencies and never fails TO grasp
them The theory around the city hall
is that he must have Indian blood in his
veins.
Twice in as many days Jackson has es-
capped from the clutches of the law, and
in both cases the trick was turned as
easily as playing an ace. The first &C.
casion was yesterday when Policeman
Williamson was bringing the negro to
Jail He had been caught with horse
and wagon full of brass and the police
man was walking behind, while jackson
drove himself and booty to jail.
Just as they turned into the alley at
the city hall, Jackson babe the OFFICER
goodbye, skipped over the side of the
Second Chapter Enacted.
Later in the day the second chapter Of
the story was enacted. Policeman Elledge
accosted the negro on his beat and again
put him under arrest. According TO the
officer, Jackson attempted to escape from
him. and had gone several feet when he
was pulled up in his mad rush by the
| nf hiT SiX-glOOteT.
Having finally been safely lodged IN
jail, the negro's resources were not haii
given out His next move was to so man
age circumstances as to be ushered INTO
the police court room as Tom Williams
and calmly pay 81 fine, which the negro
by that name had been assessed in court
yesterday morning. He even waited FOR
his receipt and then went on his way
rejoicing.
Court was over and Judge Feagin had
retired. There was no one in the room
but Clerk Cunningham and Doorkeeper
Curran. Mr.. Curran states that the stew
edore brought Jackson across into the
| iron cage and shouted out, Here's Tom
| Williams ready to pay his fine Curran
did not recognize the fellow and opened
the door to let him enter.
| 1t seems that Tom Williams was tried
yesterday morning by Judge Feagin and
fined 81 for leaving his horse unattended.
Tom did not have the money on his per-
son, however, 80 had to go back in jail,
Bribery Seems Evident.
The supposition is that when Jackson
arrived he managed to get in with con-
siderable money on his person. and hear
ing Williams wishing for 81, Immediately
began plotting. He probably Matched up
a scheme with Williams and the steve
dore by which, on their receiving a bride,
he should be ushered into the court room
as Williams and pay the small fine. Mr..
Curran believes that the stevedore was
undoubtedly bribed.
At any rate, when the smoke cleared
away Thomas was still In jail. although
his fine was paid, and Jackson was out
in the land of the free.
A fact which increases the suspicion of
bribery is that a half hour later the real
Williams presented himself to the warden
with the necessary 81 to pay his fine,
but instead of letting him out Warden
Waldrop accepted the fine, but docketed
another charge Of aiding and abettlng
a criminal to escape against him.
1t is probable that when the case comes
up for trial this morning the stevedore
will also be arrested and his sentence ex-
tended for his part in the escape.
The incident caused quite a stir when
it was discovered. The whole thing was
not unearthed until Williams approached
the warden to pay his fine. The books
showed that the fine had been paid in po-
lice court, and an investigation proved
that Jackson had fooled the officers once
! more.
Stevedore In Limelight
This serves to once more bring the
stevedore into lmeight. AS was de.
veloped when the last prisoner escaped
this individual is always a convicted
prisoner, who is working without pay,
and is sure to he crininally inclined.
When he sees fit to accept a bride there
is nothing to keep him from contrivlng
| to set a prisoner free.
There is a great deal of responsibility
placed upon him. He is expected to keep
| all the prisoners who are on trial back in
the main jail and out of the court room.
| The jail and court room are SO construct
ed that the cage in the latter Ia directly
connected with the main corridor of the
jail.
jackson was a confessed thief, and
would have been bound over to the grand
Jury of the criminal court on the charge
of grand larceny. Whether he will remain
in town and subject himself to re-arrest