Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-31
TWO GIVE CITY
JAIL THE SLIP
TRUSTEES TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THEIR PRIVILEGES
One Is Quickly Recaptured, but No
Trace Is Found of the Other.
Woman Assists to
Escape

Charles Roberts, four times in the
city prison for the longest terms that
can be imposed under the misdemeanor
act, and Bert Miller serving 12O days
on a charge of vagrancy, made their
escape from central police station yes
terday. Miller absconded yesterday
morning and is still at large. Roberts
got away last night, but found his lib
erty short-lived, for in less than two
hours he was arrested in Pasadena on
description sent out by the local
police. Both men were TRUSTEES in the
Jail stable.
The escape was a prearranged affair.
For some months Roberts had been
allowed to go daily to the grocery store
of Charles Vogt, near the Jail. He
always returned promptly within a
minute or two, and the officers never
dreamed of his trying to escape, as his
term was almost at an end
Miller was employed each morning to
clean off the sidewalk in front of. the
Jail building. Early yesterday morning
he was taken out by Driver William
Pliscke for that purpose, and when he
screwed the hose on the hydrant ne
turned it so tightly that it could not
be taken off except with a wrench.
PliScke returned to the stable to secure
a wrench, leaving Miller in front of the
Jail, still working with his hands to
loosen the hose coupling.
AS soon as the officer disappeared
Miller ran up the hill, turned down Hill
street and was out of sight when the
officer returned.
Another prisoner said Miller would be
back in a moment, and thus delayed a
search. In a few minutes, however, it
was learned that he had run away,
and officers were sent out, but he had
made good bis escape.
Second Man Escapes
Last night Roberts obtained pernis-
sion from Driver Jack Mart to go to
the VOgt grocery and buy some cheese.
In few minutes, as he did not return.
the officer went in search of him and
found he had stopped in the store only
moment, having inquired for a pack
age left there for him by a woman. 1t
was learned that for some time a wom-
an, young, tastefully dressed and of
rather comely appearance, had been
calling at the store from time to time
and leaving packages for Roberts.
Until last night the packages always
had been small ones and contained
nothing, so far as known, but cakes and
pies. The package left last night was
bulky one, and is believed to have
contained a suit of clothing and money
with which he was to make his escape.
An hour after Roberts had left the
Jail it was learned that he had gone TO
Pasadena, and the officers there were
notified to be on the lookout for him.
An hour after the alarm was sent out
a telephone message was received from
Pasadena that the man had been
caught there. Secretary Lyle Pende-
CAST went to Pasadena and returned
the prisoner to the Jail, and he was
promptly consigned to the dungeon,
where he will spend the balance of his
term as a dangerous prisoner.
By questioning Roberts it was learned
that the escape of himself and Miller
had been prearranged and that it was
their intention to walk from Pasadena
to Dolgeville, there catch a night
freight on the Southern Pacific and beat
their way down into Arizona or Nevada
The woman who left the package for
Roberts proba bly, will be arrested today
for aiding and abetting a prisoner to
escape.