The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-01
F||NBs AIR SHAFT
N DESPERATE TRY
FOR FREEDOM
Jesse Edmondson Reaches Tower in
Police Headquarters, Where He's
Rscaptured After Hand To Hand
Battle With officers.
Youth Admits That Jewelry Found
On Him Was Stolen From Store
In Chillicothe, Ohio.

Riyalling Jean Vatican in his escap'
thror-a the sewers of Paris. JESSE
Edmondson. alleged jewelry thiel
Tuesday morning made a daring climl
Cor liberty through an air-shaft tina
leads from the cell block OF the cen
trail police station to a tower above
the roof Edmondson was captured II
the dizzy nights of the tower ant
ynnked out upon the rainsoaked roo
of the building after hand to hant
conflict with the police.
Discovery OF the young mans
eecape came coincident with informa
ton from Columbus, O., which prac
Ideally Fastened guilt upon him as the
man who robbed jeweler In Chilli
cothe, o.
A early as o'clock. the prisoner
ebcape was discovered. When the
prisoners were brought out to ''wasf
up" II was found there was one miss
ing Lieut.. Lally sent for Edmond
son q few minutes later. He had van
i1hed, completely and mysteriousiy
Two table knives. one hacked into the
pemblance OF saw, were left as sou
fepirp In his cell. But there was nc
evidence or his having sawed his way
- freedom.
An alarm was raised and practically
the entire police force then In the
station hurried to the search.
For long time, the mystery was
complete. Dorrman Alvah c. Smith,
who was on duty in the cell block all
night, WAS called and declared 1t was
Impossible for any prisoner to escape.
Then some one thought Of the air
shaft Away In an obscure corner oil
the cell block Is a small opening to
this shaft Into this opening. Ed
1nondson had managed to squeeze
himself Wires run down the entire
length of the shaft and hand over
hand the youth had made the perilous
club.
Youth and agility were on his side
and an hours labor brought him into
the tower above the roof Here. he
probably proposed to hide all day and
then climb down the outside Of the
building under cover of darkness.
Both Doormnn Smith and Doormar
Thomas Joy went into the roof tower
Edmonson in his inky concealmen'
heard them and knew the game was
Up He decided to fight for 1t.
In the darkness, Smith became
confused during the struggle AND
struck Joy a terrific blow on the heaa
cutting cash over his left eye.
Finally, the three men rolled In al
indescrtminate mass out on the roof
where detectives and motorcycle mel
stood waiting. They formed an escor
kor the prisoner back to his cell.
Edmonson was sight when b,
rolled out on the roof. His clothes
were torn and tattered, his face wa
cut and bleeding from blows received
~ HIS battle on the roof, his features
we're grimy with dirt and SCOT. anC
MIS- hands were lacerated from cute
made in his hand over hand climb q
Ihe roof.
Lieut.. L.ally received a letter from
untective CASTOR, of Columbus, ..
Tuesday morning, in which the jew
elry Ia Edmonson's possession was
identifled as that stolen from the
store OF III. r. Wethey. of No. Is East
Main-st., Chillicothe. o. There were
Is pieces Of jewelry stolen. Edmon
son was arrested last Saturday by
Uetectives Glare and Wilson. when
he was attempting to dispose OF some
jewelry In a Monroe-ave. pawnshop
He put up battle when he was beins
taken to police headquarters and
struck Detective Wilson In the head
The robbery from Wethey's store IL
ChIllicothe was committed May "a
There was a street parade In the
town and Wethey had the jewelry OF
display In q window. A hole was
forced In the side OF the window ant
the window opened by releasing {
latch. The robbery was committed
while the proprietor OF the store wa!
Matching the parade.
Edmonson frat gave the name o
Harry Wilson. when he was arrested
Later, he admitted to Capt. McDon
nell that he was Roy Crowsind.
was learned definitely, Monday, tina
Re is Jesse Edmonson. deserte
from the army.
In conversation with Capt. McDon
nell. Monday afternoon, Edmonsol
eeId he would tell the captain Tues
day morning all that he knew abou
hi8 possession OF the jewelry. Hi
temporary absence from the mail
scene OF activity In police headquar
Iers delayed the conference between
the prisoner and the chief Of detect
/rB
When taken before Capt McDon
nell, Edmondson admitted that HI
robbed the. store In Chillicothe. HI
1aid that he did the job all alone.
Edmondson nonchalantly confideC
10 the captain that while the entir,
police force was in panic over hli
iIBappearance early in the morning
he was enjoying quiet little laugh
nt their expense.
n was up In that shaft anC
through an opening could see all you
Fellows. while you were in detectiv,
h6odQuarters, he said. II heard the
ron called and heard all OF you talk
'0f about my escape and how | coulC
manage 10 get out. I thought nobod,
would ever guess where l was"
Word has been sent to the police o
1IIiicofhe that Edmondson has con
|11tod to robblng Wethey's store. Tn,
police IN Detroit are In possession o
Ittfy piece OF iswelry stolen.
HAILED ON CRUELTY CHARGE.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. May 31.--wil
'10l Brown, Copper township farm
hind, was brought to jail yesterda,
-. 4 charge Of brufallv treating