Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-09-05
Buried Himself n he Earth unOl
Guards Left Then Escaped.
MS SECOND ESCAPE From GAHG
While Working With Other conviets,
Negro Dug Hole In Ground, Pulled
Boards Over Him, Then Waited
Until Darkness to Steal Away.

RICHMOND, VA, Sept. 4.-Clai-l
borne Motley, coiored convict NO.
G95s, is missing from the penitentiaryI
this morning. Motley got away be
tween $3.50 o'clock yesterday and s
o'clock this morning. The mans es-
cape was made possible by his own
ingenuity and efforts. Motley bur
led himself temporarily. pulleu
boards over his hiding place, and III
the stillnes of night he escaped. The
boldness of the escape. its conception
and execution are the subjects OF
discussion at the prison today.
The man was employed with al
gang of convicts on the new armory
building at the big prison. and was
at work on the third floor OF incl
house up to o'clock yesterday AFTER
noon. Then he disappeared, and al
force of twenty men spent some two
and a half hours hunting for MIN. He|
is a professional getaway man, TINS
being his second escape. He has prov
ed to be one of the most orlgiha'
of men in devising a scheme whereby
to gain freedom.
Dug Temporary Grave.
| A vast amount of lumber and buii"-
ing material is scattered all over the
LOT around the new building, when
is directly in front of the new cen
huilding. and outside the prison walls.
Motley went to the rear of the ar
mory building. where the ground was
soft, and with a piece OF poaru liz
ding away enough earth to make
Mace large enough for his body. lp"
loose earth he concealed under scat
jtered timbers. Getting into the hoie
h., nulled some boards over him. anu
once ont of hight he bid ID his tlihe:
The Guards were almost in view o.
Who Mace at which Motley concealed
himself. hut a pile of lumter obstrucI-
ed the view.
| As soon as the negro was MISSED
Major Morgan had the men assemD.eu
and then a search was begun. Inc
grards were aided by several or the
trus,ies hut not a trace of the missing
convict was obtained. Major Morgan
said to-day that he and twenty others
vent over the place at least dozen
times but that as the boards were
Having loose and the earth could "
tseen beneath they were not mo'eu
THE man had so arranged the o'he'
boards as to completely hide the ea.'n
which he had removed to make NO
"temnorary grave" and when the day
puards for the men on the oatSid''
worl wait for the approach of night
and to take his chances OF Set''hs
ayay from the place unseen. II IL
believed that he crawled away tFom
tho hole and went over the fence anu
lc,ose nm to the street wall and there
Inv managed to regain his liberty.
i. His Second Escape.
:. Claiborne Motley is about twenty
one wears old. He is dark ginger
ibresd color. weighs about $50 pouhds'
medium build and is five feet you.
inches high. He vas sent 10 'h''
citv from Danville to serve two year
, for felonious wounding. He was re-
; ce;xed Dec. 81. 1906. nut because he
; had hecn there before he receive"
a prize of FIVE years for being
second termer. The man was put &c
work on the road force in Rus'e'
county in 1907. and Sept Is he man
aged to make his escape. He wa
caught March "a, and returned TO TN
prison. $500 .,o click
T regard this as about the s',N
&C, escape that has ever come uaae'
nv observation said Major MOT
can The escape OF Motley was al
endurance test. but for cleverness U
concsp,ion and execution. digging III,
hole and hiding the new earth an'
: tho, covering himself with boards u
s,ch a xay as to completely disarn
suspicion. looks to me as very sooe
, piece Of work z;s,
u have fifty dollars on my ihS,a'
; ,octc, that viii gladly give thH
.. morning to anyone Who will hand mn
!h,ck TO me. do not think ne ""
, leo 10 ranyiIic again. That Is MS W,
romc lie is too smart 20 go nac'
,bc,c Rut We will get him all rish'
I've hav. a good Beriil!on measure
, !m.n, and the mans picture has =,
,,a6y been sent IN every dirce''o"'
4 Died .. Dixie hospital.