The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-12
Henrico Officials Scout the
Idea of Fay and Har-
ris Escaping
FAY NOT WEALTHY
BUT HE HAS FRIENDS
None of the Latter Have Been
Here SO Far As Known
Wendenburg Not to be III
the Case.

Chicago sports may MINK
what they please. Tney may
-weseF4efa- Fay afaa-AaFFis eserp--
ing from this jail, or they may
place bets that tine YrTeu witt corrf~---
nit suicide, or that an earthquake
will shake the foundation or THIS
structure before the ROBBERS are
given a hearing. / have nothing
TO do with what the people in
Chicago think. One thing 1 DO
know, that whereas this Jail has
been safe II is even SO safe now
Fay and Harris will be taken from
their separate cells in this jail
and will be escorted under heavy
guard TO the postoftice building
they are said to have robbed.
Whenever the postoItice authori-
ties want them they know where
we live, move and have our
being. Take this from me, ior
verify doth 1 know whereof
speak"
Jailor Sydnor was talking to a
crowd Of deputies. two justices of the
peace and a newspaper man in the
Office of the new brick prison at
and Main streets, yes
terday morning when he gave express
sion to the language quoted. A re-
port from Chicago had reached him
to the effect that men were gambling
upon the escape of Fay and Harris
before their preliminary trial; GER
tainly that Fay would get away. 1t
nettled the jailor and 1t didn't please
the constables, special officers, nor
Sheriff Kemp. While no one has
thought of casting any reflection upon
the Henrico county officers or insinuat-
ing that the Jail Is not model OF
a architecture and a place from when
escape Is well-nigh impossible. yer
many have been led 10 believe that
the two notorious prisoners are the
most wonderful men on earth. TheY
have etss.e to be considered as heroes
by a. few lowbrows Some would
want to make -thern martyrs.
One man said In the presence of
n reporter. They didn't rob any
citizen. They just took stamps frein
the government and the government
II able to stand the loss This SENT
mAnt has always prevailed wnen
postoffice thieves were arrested. II
was thus when Tennessee Dutch and
Parton were captured for stealing
more than $4,000 worth of cash and
stamps from postoffices.
II is Just this idea that the Fed
aral authorities want to disPei. They
are anxious to dis1llusionize those who
would accept Cunningham, alias Fay,
and Chester, alias Harris, as extraor-
binary characters. men who have done
nothing more than to steal from In
Gle sam.
Not q Wealthy Man.
Fay Is not the wealthy man he
was reputed TO be. He has no strfns
OF horses nor does he own real estate
in Chicago. That he has friends In
the profession" Ia conceded by al
of the detectives, but that any of these
have "lurked near" the Henrico jail
Is laughed at by the Henrico officials
and the special Federal guards whe
are near.
Escape from the cells in which
those two crooks are now confined Ia
a practical impossibility. Were they
not watched every minute Of the day
and night, the case might be different
But at no time In the morning, af-
ternoon or evening could either OF
the thieves attempt to file through a
bar or TO use dynamite, nitro-glyce-
rine or any explosive without being
seen by guard.
And no one IL allowed to talk TO
them without Il special permit from
United States Marshal Smithers, coun-
terdgned by District Attorney Lewis
Therefore they could have no oon-
federate 20 come to them and slip
In a Ale or weapon OF any kind.
They order their meals from the
Davis Hotel. and ara alloweds to use
the knife and fork. But none of the
dishes are left in the cells, Ever,
dish LIS numbered before 1t is passed
through the bars to the men. and ii
has to be returned after 1t Is emptied.
Fay and Harris are apparently re-
signed to their fate.
Wendenbnrg Not In II.
Attorney II. M. Smith was not def
niteiy employed before leaving the
city for Williamsburg. where he is en-
gagged nthe hearing OF case. He
thinks he will be retained before the
week 10 out. however The report
that he would have Mr.. l.. o. Wen
denburg associated with him In the
conduct Of the case is denied. Mr..
Wendenburg. himself. said Tuesday
that no had not been asked by any
one to represent the men and had no
idea that he would be employed.