The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
PUCKETT MAKES EFFORT ID ESCAPE City Jail Delivery Averted By
 Robert Harris CHECKED JUST IN TIME Two stevedores Claim They Knew Nothing of Attempt-Matheny
 Partner of the Alleged
 Land Sharper.

s. S. Puckett, who has created quite a sensation by the manner in which he is alleged to have swindled persons by the sale of property not belonging to him, made bold attempt at escape from the city jail last night, and but for a timely warning given by another prisoner to the warden, Puckett and number of others would undoubtedly be at liberty today.
 A heavy bar in one of the windows had been sawn in two while Puokett was talk ing advantage of a thunderstorm to knock off the heavy iron screen with a large sledge hammer. His partner in the at- tempt to escape was Thomas Matheny, who is serving out s1O fine for drunken ness.
 The attempt was made about g o'clock, at which time there was quite an amount of thunder. A window in the rear of the ward had been selected as the way to freedom. One of the bars had been sawn in two at the bottom, then with the aid of heavy sledge hammer the bar had been bent to one side. At the time of the discovery the screen on the outside of the window was nearly off, and a few
 
 removed 1t entirely
 None of the prisoners in the ward were locked in their cells all of them having been allowed the freedom of the corridors. About o'clock Robert Harris, who Is serving out a small fine, came to the door way and told Warden Henderson that two men were attempting to escape from a rear window.
 warden Henderson and Officer Nation, who happened to be in the warden's of- flee, opened the door and started for the rear of the corridor, one going one way around the large prisoners cage and the other taking the other side. They reached the window without detection and discov- cred Puckett and Matheny there. Puckett had the sledge hammer in his hand. When he saw the officers he rushed to corner of the place and 1t is thought dropped something in drain pipe there Officers, are of the opinion that 1t was saw which he dropped
 Both men were placed In cells ana locked up, together with all of the other prisoners including the two stevedores who had been on duty at the time. The prisoner, Harris, who had notified warden Henderson. was then appointed as steve dore for the rest of the night. The steve dores were Cecil Mitchell and Earl Mitchell (not related) who are awaiting trial on charges of violating the prohibi- tion laws. One of them was recently re- arrested for forfeiting bond.
 A number of charges are said to be
 
 one upon which he was first arrested. Ills scheme, according to the charges, was to sell a piece of property for cash and rur- nish an abstract of the property. inviting the nurshaser to submit the abstract to any lawyer This was done In one ln- stance, the attorney examining It ana pronouncing it all right About ssoo was maid to Puclett by one purchaser, It IS claimed. who later, 1t Is said, found the abstract to be worthless. He swore out warrant for Puckett's arrest, but so far has been unable to find the money which he paid him.
 It is expected that other charges Of op- taining money under false pretenses VIII be brought against him. At the time or his arrest he had an abstract on piece of nronerty for a sale of $20O0. He was to close that deal in the afternoon, 1t Is said
 The sledge hammer he was using was left behind by men who have been work ,np on the jail building. The men report cd their loss of a hammer. small file and other things, but they could not be found, the prisoners having them hid in their cells.
 While the two men made quite an amount of noise, the stevedores stated that they knew nothing of the attempt | Harris stated that he discovered 1t when he happened to walk to the rear of the corridor. He immediately gave the alarm. Had he been a minute later the two pris- oners would have escaped, as one more blow would have cleared the window Of the screen.
 Efforts will be made this morning to | have Harris relieved of the balance of his sentence on account of his giving the warning. |, The need for salaried inside guards is absolute in the opinion of many police officers.
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