Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-15
FAMOUS YEGGMAN
MAKES HIS ESCAPE

Especial Dispatch to The Journal,)
CINCINNATI, o., June 12.-'Toronto
Jimmy" classed by the late Detective
William Pihkerton, as one of the most
desperate yeggmen in the country, broke
jail at Williamstown, KY, about mid
night Friday. He was hurried away
from Williamstown by some one who
had an automobile. The fugitive,
whose prison name is Matthew Willard,
apparently had little trouble in getting
away. SO far as is known, no one saw
him escape. He sawed his way out,
stepped into the auto and was whisked
away. Detectives in every large city
know the fugitive, and the police of
Cincinnati have already set plans to ap-
prehend him. He is wanted in this
city on the charge of having burglar
tools in his possession.
PERFORMANCE NOT UNEXPECTED.
The performance of Toronto Jimmy
was not altogether unexpected at police
headquarters, for IL was known that
the man had confederates who could
find methods and money to aid him.
Saturday morning at 8 o'clock the sher-
if Of Grant county called up the Gin
clnnati police department and told them
that prisoner had gotten away. He
said he did not have information at
that time of the particulars. Later
information was that the prisoner first
sawed the lever to the lock of his cell,
letting him out of his cell, and that
then he sawed through two steel bars,
climbed through a window and jumped
to freedom.
About midnight an automobile passed
by the Jail. II stopped for a moment and
then went on. Jailor Arnold says the es-
cape was not discovered until daylight.
When the jailor gave the prisoners their
breakfast he found Wizards cell vacant.
II have no idea how he got the saws, "
said the Tailor. HE had several visitors
but they never saw him alone. 1 was al
ways there, and watched them closely,
and they could not have passed him any
thing like that. He received letters from
his wife in Chicago. l read them, and
there was nothing suspicious in them. 1
think that he escaped about midnight,
the time the auto passed through here.
1t must have taken him several hours
to saw the lock and bars"
NOT EXPECTED AT TRIAL.
When Detectives Bell and Schafer re-
turned from williamstown, KY, last
Tuesday after the case Of Matthew Will
lard, alias Toronto Jimmy" had been
postponed, the officer declared he would
not be on hand for his trial next Wednes-
day.
Matthew willard was charged with
blowing the safe Of the bank near Will
Jamestown. He had been arrested by Gin
cinnati detectives.
He was put In the jail at Covington for
safe-keeping, but Monday night was tax
en- to williamstown.
On October II, last year, Detectives
Grimm, Kuhfers, Bell and Shafer ar
rested Toronto Jimmy" and doc"
Davenport in this city. Dynamite fuses
drills and others tools used by yeggmen
were found in valises. The men were
armed with reviewers of the latest make
and the largest calibre. Davenport, want
ed at jackson, Tenn, was sent back there
at once. willard was wanted on the
charge OF robbing a bank at Corintf.,
Ky. He was acquitted but was returned
to this city to answer to the charge of
having burglar tools in his possession.
While here 1t was decided at Williams
town today to try him on another charge
OF Swallowing. He was put in the Cow
ington jail. The man smiled as he was
being handcuffed Monday night TO be TAX
en- to williamstown.