The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-02
.HATT|ESBURG Is
 ID HAVE NEW JAIL Work of DemOIishing the Old
 Structure Begins BUILDING HAS A HISTORY Some Interesting Incidents That Have Happened In and About the Old
 South Mississippi 5astile.
 Some Noted Prisoners.
BUILDING HAS A HISTORY

Hattiesburg, Miss, August 1.-(Special.)- Workmen have started to demolish the old Forrest (formerly Perry) county jail building at Hattiesburg. to replace it with a new and costly jail building The demolition of this old square pile of brick means the removal of an institution that has been identified with many of the most sensational and thrilling episodes in the criminal history of South Mississippi during the past quarter of century. It was erected early in the sos, and since then it has been the place of refuge for desperate prisoners from all this section of the state, brought hither when the local jails were considered unsafe against mob violence This jail has been re- peatedly assaulted by mobs, and in more than one instance prisoners have been led from it and strung up to the nearest telegraph pole.
 One of the most remarkable prisoners ever confined there was Will Purvis, the man who became famous for having sur vived hanging. He was tried for mur- der and convicted at Columbia, and was brought here for safekeeping. Later he VI some disarrangement of the moose he fell through to the ground. Throughout his trial and subsequently, he had maintained that he was innocent, and as he fell to the ground from the gallows, un- harmed by the moose, he exclaimed: God Almighty Is with me yet" The hanging was a public one, and the gallows were surrounded by spectators A crowd rushed in and swept him from the ground. The sheriff soon recovered his man, but there was such expostulation against another trial with the moose that the hanging was deferred. The pardoning power of the governor was invoked. with the result that Purvis' sentence was commuted to a term in the penitentiary. After serv- ing a few years he was pardoned. He is now living on farm few miles north of Hattiesburg, prospering and enjoying the esteem of his neighbors.
 Another notable prisoner was farmer named Hathorn, who lived near New Au- gusta, and who, with a negro man, was convicted of murdering his wife. The story of the crime, the detection of the guilty persons, the efforts to lynch tho guilty men, their trial conviction and execution were the sensations of the newspapers of the country at the time.
 Another famous case that made a sen- sation over the the country was that of Hopgood, Marion county man, described as something of an outlaw, who was brought here on a murder charge, but who was afterwards acquitted when broupht Tn trial at Columbia
 One of the most exciting incidents In the history of the jail occurred few years ago, when all the inmates of the jail, white and black, planned a delivery by murderlng the jailer. M. M. Sexton was in charge of the jail at the time. As he entered the main door to carry their meal to the prisoners, they leaped upon him, having gained access to the corridor by which he entered Seizing his gun, they fired to kill him. The bullet penetrated his chest That night the in- dignant citizens surrounded the jail With the avowed purpose of lynching two ne- groes who were conspicuous in the at tack on the jailer. The mob got one negro and soon dispatched him, but the other escaped While the mob were busy with the negro on the second floor of the jail. Sheriff Tom Batson sneaked three others out on the ground floor, hurried them to the railroad and carried them to Jack son, thus preventing a wholesale lynch ing.
 Although the jail was one of the most secure in the entire state of Mississippi, it has had its experience with escapes. One of the most remarkable of these was accomplished by Red Daniels, a negro, who, under sentence of death by the court at New Augusta, was brought here for safety. He had a motion pending for stay of execution, and on the night before it was to be decided, and just a few days before he was to have been hanged, he disappeared. It has never been learned how he got possession of the tools with which he cut through the steel bars and the brick walls. He was gone for several months, and was finally recap tured in Louisiana. Before he was again sentenced to hang executive clemency had niterfered and he was carried to the state penitentiary for life He is now in the penitentiary.
 The new jail which is to replace this landmark will cost about $40,000 with its equipment, and will be one of the most secure and complete in the south.