The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-04-21
Escaned from Lookup.


Weyman Beechman, the negro cap
tured in Camden early Thursday morning
by Sergeant Horner and Policeman Abbot
and who confessed that lot OF goods il
his possession had been stolen by hin
from the store of G. W. Joyce at Palmyra
escaped from the lookup at the latte
place Thursday night.
| Richard Brown, negro attendant at The
Jail, is under arrest on suspicion of know
ing all about Becchman's escape.
The burglars cell was not forcibly
opened, but was unlocked and when the
robbers escape was discovered the door
to the cage in which he had been confined
was open.
Beechman, who gave his age as ~
years and his residence as Camden. was
taken to Palmyra Thursday afternoon by
constable. He was placed in one OF the
two cages which constitute the town lock-
up which is located under fire head
quarters. The only otuer occupant OF the
Jail was the negro Brown. He was not
prisoner, but had charge of the place
when anyone was under arrest there.
When Squire Haines went to the jail
to give Beechman hearing and arrange
for his commitment to the county prison
at Mount Holly, he discovered to his
dismay that Beechman had flown. Brown
was in the prison, but he failed to give
auy explanation of the absence OF the
burglar. When the negro was searched
a bunch of keys. including those to the
locks on the cells were found in his pos
session. These keys, it is said, belong to
constable, and how they came to be in
possession of Brown, is mystery which
Prosecutor Atkinson is investigating,
pending which Brown is under arrest
Beechman was to have been questioned
about the robbery of William Sprague.
the driver of laundry wagon near
Riverton.
Young Sprague was so nearly strangled
by the gag which the robbers showed
down his throat that he could not talk
we'll until Thursday. "A description OF his
two assailants was obtained and the
appearance of Beechman tallies with that
of one of the highwaymen.
Besides the numerous crimes of which
he is suspected of having been connected
with, Beechman was to have faced
charge of robbing the home Of f. Z.
Corey, in Riverton.
A highly polished colored gentleman
boarded Trenton trolley car Saturday
night in company with another negro.
There was distinctive difference between
the two, for one shone like piece OF
ebony while the other made a very APP
parent contrast with the total absence of
anything like having had finishing touches
applied to his cuticle.
well, have seen all shades of persons,
from albinos to dark skinned negroes, but
never have laid eyes on one OF such an
ebony hue as that fellow" said a passen-
ger.
1t was not long before most of the other
passengers were looking with curiosity
upon the polished African and the sur
misses were as varied as the individuals
aboard the car Finally the conductor
concluded that the unusual polish had not
been placed on the negro's cuticle merely
by nature. Sizing up the situation exact
ly he became imbued with the idea that
the curious individual was trying at some
game of hiding his identity. So, when
the car reached East Camden, the
conductor called upon Police Sergeant
William Horner to take look at the
peculiar appearing passenger. One squirt
was sufficient.
"Hello there, Wayman," said the big
bluecoat, who very readily recognized
the negro as Wayman Beecham, who
had been in hiding since he broke out
of the Palmyra Jail on Thursday night
after being taken there for breaking into
the butcher shop of Benjamin Joyce.
Wayman made no further attempt to
conceal his identity and both he and his
companion, who proved to be George
Mason, were sent to the City Hall. Ar
rived there, Sergeant Schregler found
that the polish on Wayman's face was
nothing more than shoe backing, which
the negro applied and then shined with a
lustre that would create envy in the heart
of dude of toothpick shoe propensity.
He is a chocolate colored negro and he
thought by making himself several
shades darker he might escape detection
Just how unsuccessful he was it is un
necessary to repeat He was subsequent
ly taken back to Palmyra by one OF
Squire Hires constables
Mason was held on suspicion, as Ser
geant Schregler found several pawn tickets
in the negro's pockets which seemed tt
suggest that he might have given al
''uncle" some things that perhaps be
longed to another person.
O n a.
%. sThe Kind You Have Always BOugh