The Hattiesburg news., 1910-08-03
Will INVESTIGATE
Recent ESCAPES
Governor Noel Instructs Trustees Of
State PenitentIary to Inquire
Into the Causes.
Special to The Ne,os.

Special to The Netos.
Noel, in letter to the trustees of the
Mississippi penitentiary, has request
ed that an investigation of the recent
escape from Rankin farm be investi
gated. Five men have escaped in the
last week, and Governor Noel thinks
someone should be held responsible
The governor does not try to place
the responsibility, but thinks the re.
cent escape of Dyke Edwards, follow
ed by four other white prisoners, one
In for life and the other for ten years,
Is sufficient grounds for an investiga-
tfon. The letter was received by the
trustees Tuesday, and It is under.
stood an investigation will be had.
1t is said the trustees, before the
receipt Of the governors letter, had
practically decided upon such a
course, and the members of the board
seem to be in hearty accord with the
governor in the desire for an investf-
cation. II an investigation is ordered,
1t will be the first of this kind for
some time, and every effort will be
made to place the responsibility where
it belongs, If anyone is responsible.
Edwards escaped Monday of last
week, while Sergeant McLendon was
at Oakley, and was not known here
till Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday
Robert Webber and Leroy Keller, es-
capped and this was followed by the
escape of w. D. Boles, a lifer, and
Carl Anderson, a ten-year man, Sat
urday. The governor and trustees
think this is little too fast, or above
the speed limit, as it were, and fur.
ther think the matter should be in
quired into.
They are not criticising anyone,
and will not, till they have learned
the facts, and then 1t is probable
some one will hear from the trustees.
1t is believed Dyke Edwards, who
recently escaped from the Rankin
farm has been at or near his wife's
home at Louisville, Winston county,
for several days, awaiting his brother,
who was serving term in Oktibbeha
county jail, to take his departure
from the state.
Edwards was seen at Philadelphia
last Thursday night, going toward
Louisville, and Sunday his brother-in-
law visited James Edwards in the
Oktibbeha county jail, Edwards max
ing his escape Sunday night. It is
believed this brother-in-law, when he
visited James Edwards Sunday, made
arrangements for the brothers to
meet Monday and leave the state to-
gether.
1t has been known to the authori-
ties, it is said that Edwards was seen
in Philadelphia last Thursday night,
which means he spent Friday, Satur-
day and Sunday in the vicinity of
Louisville, where his wife lives, wait
ing for his brother This information
came to Governor Noel Monday, when
it was reported that James Edwards
had broke Jail, but it had been COM
mon talk around Philadelphia and
other places through that section that
Dyke Edwards was near his home
since Thursday night.
But so far as known here no effort
was made to capture the man, and
1t seems he will be allowed to es-
cape from the state without any stren-
uous attempt being made to capture
him. There is reward of $3.50. for
his capture, the regulation $50 by the
prison trustees and $1OO offered by
Governor Noel
Dyke Edwards is badly manned, and
1t would be easy to identify him. He
has the first two fingers of each hand
gone, but his brother has no marks,
SO far as known, by which he could be
1dent1hed. Governor Noel is doing all
he can to bring about the capture of
the man, but it is not known what
the superintendent of the penitentiary
has done. He is authorized, by law,
to use every means at his command
to capture an escape, and he is be-
lieved to be working along that line,
but the sheriffs of the counties
through which Edwards is known to
have passed, made no effort to get
him, so far as known.