The Democratic advocate., 1909-12-17
A SYKESVILLE SLEUTH'S
CLEVER CAPTURE
". ". RITTER ARRESTS CHAS. HURD,
COLORED, WHO BROKE JAIL
Flags Freight Train, Rides to Gathers
on Pilot Of Engine Finds Hufd
in MCCardell'S Store
Hurd's Interesting Story
of Escape
Enjoys Officers Mitten and Je-
rome's Conversation from a
Lime Bucket While on
Their Search

Charles Hurd, colored, who es-
capped from Jail with two other pris-
oners on October Bird last, was cap
tured on the night OF the l4th OF De-
cember and brought to Westminster
by w. w. Ritter and William Forth
man the following day.
When the prisoners escaped Sheriff
Townshend telephoned at once TO Mr.,
Ritter, whose Sherlock Holmes abil-
tiles are we'll known, to look out for
Hurd who was expected to visit Sy-
kesytlle, as he had lived In that
neighborhood and proved rather at
tractive to the feminine part of the
colored population. Search has since
frequently been made in the neigh
borhood, especially at the house Of
Alice Brooks, and on one occasion
Hurd stated that when sleuths John
Mitten and Chauneey Jerome, OF West
minister. searched this house. he sat
on a lime bucket oh the outside and
enjoyed their conversation.
II was on Tuesday evening. that Mr..
Ritter received information from one
of his decoys, that the darkey had
been seen at Gathers, which Is about
a mile from Sykesville. Immediately
llAN CEtGUlhNFu utltGitNGs HtANluE Nilt
assistance Of Mr.. Forthman, tagged
a freight train, and seated upon the
pilot proceeded up the road. When
he arrived at Gathers, filled with the
Joy of the quest. he was so anxious
TO get to his quarry that he did not
wait for the train to stop, but jump
ed of, landing on his head in a pile
OF cinders. He narrowly escaped
death, and bore next day evidence of
the violence with which he hit the
earth. He was not daunted. how
ever. and proceeded brayely on.
Entering the store OF William X.
McCardell, he walked fearlessly up to
Hurd, who was trying TO hide be-
hind red hot stove. but at the stern
front OF Mr.. Ritter. backed up by Mr..
Forthman, a revolver and pair of
handouts, he subsidized, and with the
bracelets on his wrists, tremblingly
accompanied Mr.. Ritter TO his home
at Sykesyllle, where ne was watched
by his unrelenting captor until the
next day, when they started TO West
minister.
The story related by Hurd, is rath-
er interesting and II told at large
would do for dime novel. He states
how the Sheriff conyersed with Hood,
with whom he sympathized. How
they obtained spikes, with which TO
mount the wall, and when asked by
Mr. Ritter how he got them. replied
"dar was no blacksmith shop in the
jail yard" He says that on the fatal
Sabbath evening Of October 3, hav-
ing been previously informed by Mr..
Townshend, that he would be In bed
sick, and hearing Mrs. Townshend tell
Hood. when he wanted tobacco, that
Mr.. Townshend was sick In bed with
lumbago, they Immediately began on
their preparation for departure. Hood
desired, however, TO make sure OF
Mr.. Townshends disability. and was
taken into his room, and on his return
said that the coast was clear for to-
night" They then tore strip from
each OF their blankets, putting them
together and driving the spikes into
the wall, easily mounting to the top.
Their first apprehension arose when
they struck the tin on the top OF the
Jail wall, which he said cracked like
a pistol" They sat there for awhile
viewing the scenery and hearing the
town clock strike seven, dropped to
the other side and proceeded on their
way. About three miles from West
minister Hood, became tired and they
separated, and he kept on his way to
Sykesville, arriving there between
two and three o'clock in the morning.
During his absence he has been
quite a traveller, paying visits to
burg, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and
other adjacent towns. He also
made frequent trips to Baltimore, re-
turning from time to time to his
friends at Sykesville, making II a
point to attend all the colored balls,
and especially those at Woodstock.
Mr. Ritter in leaving was not as
cheerful as upon his arrival, having
been informed before he began his
detective work that reward would be
paid, and being told when he arrived
at Westminster that this was all a
mistake. We presume, however, that
he will be duly compensated by the
proper authorities for the expense
and trouble to which he has been sub
jected in performing their duties.
Rfckroda poxwore