The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-25
PURSUIT OF COLLINS
BUTLER COUNTY NEGRO IS sxYLA.
 AT LARGE.
Sheriff Watson Explains How His Pxza@ oner Escaped at GreemvfIie pew9&s He Is Not Kiln Ts Injured
 Gfwf.

The negro, Mack Collins, accused of attempting to assault young woman st Avant, and who escaped from HhsKiM Watson. of Butler County. at the 0rsan- vile depot. Sunday night, is atia at large, with a posse pursuing him.
 Sheriff Watson explains khn manner in which the negro escaped in the xots lowing letter:
 "Editor The Advertiser:
 Please allow me space in your paper to make a statement as to the true facts concerning the wouid-be rapistu Mack Collins. at Georgiana.
 Last Wednesday warrant, undeF- stand, was sworn out in the Just5ea Court of Beat 14. at Georgianas befoxa ". F. Bishop, Justice Of the Peace and the warrant was given to J. o. Bennett. Costable of that beat. In the meantime the negro. Mack Collins, was captured and delivered to Sheriff Irwin. of Co0a4 cuh County, and understand. was n his possession until Thursday night when he was delivered to sherin Nonn- tain, at Brewton, Ala.
 \ went down on Train No. thne night, and carried the negro te Mons~ gomery the next morning (Friday1 0m Train No 2. On my arrival at tho 5mzx in Montgomery, informed Mr. Re31M&s the day jaiier. that had no papers for Collins; that the proceedings were tm the Justice Court at Georgianas and that did not know how long he WnulA remain in Montgomery. but that hN would be called for later.
 Late Saturday afternoon. received letter from Mir. Bishop. the Juatle@ Issuing the warrant. and Mir. 6enneexs the constable holding the warrant aAM~ ing that advise them when they could get the negro, Mack Collins. for & pre- iiminary hearing at Gsorgiana- In kh meantime. had seen several repukab citizens of Georgiana, who informed &1.ak rrraR nn there of mob violence, except by q immediate family of the young Ia upon whom the assault was atfempte
 "In view of these facts decided take advantage of the Sunday rat and went to Montgomery on the aft. noon train. with the intention of turning to Greenvtile with the nt Sunday night and hold him hero uf a day had been set for his preltmins trial at Georgiana.
 sOn my arrival at MontGomer went to the sheriR's lobby at the between and o'clock in the even did not inform any one of my mess. but remained there and tai some little time with several of deputies. found that Mr. George man was going to take man to asylum at Mount Vernon, and faa carriage waiting to take them to depot. then informed him that come for the negro. Mack Collins. would accompany him in the carri4
 .f informed Mir. Mccord that thef had been no day set for the prekuinax hearing, but that 1t would be ahortlS As to Mir. McCordS suggegftng that let hIrR hand-cuff the negro, this fa n error When I got ready for the priss oned Mir. McCord said that need not I'd with him unless so desired. as tiis negro was on the third floor. I ther handed him my hand-cuf2s, and stated to him that I would be very glad tf ne would put the cuffs on the negro bae fore bringing him down.
 "Mr. Norman and I camo together a@ far as Greenville. At Greenville there was no demonstration of any sort what ever that I saw or heard of. On aIighfing from the trains was met by my chief deputy. MT. Murphy, ana aa we turned to leave the station, the ne~ gro made g break. and succeeded in get. ting away from us through the crowd that had gathered. There are no lights of any sort round the station and the night was exceptionally dark, which made it much easier for the negro "a escape.
 with the assistance of about thirty men we made a diligent search but without success. and nothing was hears from the negro until about dayiight this morning when we learned that tna negro was seen a little over four miies from Greenville. going west The ne- gro was bar@-footed and had only foud toes on his left foot. and his tracks were frequently seena which eonvineea us that he was going west from Gresnr vile.
 "A posse, headed by my chief dee@ uty. is now pursuing the negro. ana 1t fs thought that the negro will ha captured by night
 q have always preferred to have un newspaper notoriety or publicity which | fact is borne out by the tso editors of my town.
 am concerned. I would gladly give q premium for the capture of the negr0
 q have never heard before todsys issue of The Advertiser, that was ree lated to the young lady. However. z see no reason why that should cut any figure in the case. The young lady is of a family of good repute and weils standing.
 'Fw S. Watson,
 "Sheriff.s