The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-05-17
JOHN CROUCH CAPTURED.
Sheriff Buford Finds Him in Virginia.
Crouch, it is Said, Was Going
to Marry.

Crouch, white, who escaped jail sex
eral months since, a full account of
which has already been given in The
Herald and News, along with a story
of the robbery which Crouch and two
others are charged with. Some time
ago Simp Sanders, the other white
man who escaped with Crouch, was
caught while visiting his wife in I'm
ion. When Sanders was recommitted
he told Sheriff Buford that he had
separated from Crouch near Lynch
burg and had not seen him since.
Sheriff Buford, who has a we'll earned
and well deserved reputation as a re-:
markedly successful officer in the line
Of running down and recapturing
escaped prisoners, as well as ferret
ing out new cases, went Immediately
to work to recapture Crouch after be-
ing told Of his separation from San
ders. He laid his plans and kept
quiet, as he always does when look
ing for big game. He quietly follows
one clue after another until the time
for action comes and then when
everything is ready be swoops down
upon his unsuspecting victim. By
keeping still and exercising that great
patience for which he, among other
qualifications of a good officer, is not
ed, Sheriff Buford knew that some
day in the course of human events
Crouch would be in Lynchburg. He
blded his time and went about in the
performance of his many other duties
as though Crouch had been forgotten,
successfully throwing Crouch off
guard. In the meantime the secret
work was going on. One day last week
the reporter was in the sherif's Of
fee looking around. He overheard the
sherif: talking to- the governors pri-
vate secretary, telling him to get the
governor to have the chief Of police
of Lynchburg rung up. The reporter
heard the name Crouch and some
thing about requisition papers, etc.,
and thought he was about to get a
good piece Of news for last Tuesdays
paper, but the sheriff in that quiet
and determined name Of his says,
Hold on a while, something might
slip; don't say anything yet" After
completing arrangements as far as pos
sible by phone through the governors
office Sheriff Buford got busy, but did
not get of to Iynchburg as: early as
he expected on account Of other press.
ing business matters that unexpected
ly came into his hands just then. Fin
ally he went to Lynchburg and re-
turned with his prisoner as above
stated. But a more detailed account of
the trip will be interesting to the
readers Of The Herald and News.
The sheriff left Newberry on Tues
day Of last week on his mission, stop.
ping in Columbia to get his commits
sion, etc., from the governor. The e
QUESTION papers were to be forward
ed to the governor of Virginia. at
Richmond. The sheriff proceeded to
Lynchburg, expecting Crouch to &C
company him back to Newberry with
out delay. Crouch refused to do so
without the papers. The sheriff wait
ed two days and still the papers had
not arrived. Becoming tired Of such
a state of affairs Sheriff Buford te1e-
graphed Governor Mann's office, and
was answered that TIL requisition pa
pers would not be sent until the fee
of four dollars had been received.
Sheriff Buford promptly wired the
amount and in due time got the pa
ners. That was all the trouble he
had with Crouch. They returned Sat
urday. g..
One reason why Sheriff Buford had
no more trouble in the matter was
that he had, in the first stages Of the
game, found out that Crouch had for
merly worked in Lynchburg three or
four years. He had written the chief
of police there to that effect and Civ
ell him other information, asking the
chief to be on the lookout for the
escaped prisoner; to set his traps and
'lay low" for the man would be sure
to get caught. Sheriff Buford's
prophetic forecast was right again, az
the sequel shows.
While in ~Lynchburg Sheriff Buford
was treated with the utmost courtesy
and kindness by the officials of that
and by other citizens with whom
he came in contact, and he appre-
the same. In connection with |
his visit the Lynchburg News of the
18th has a complimentary allusion to
Sheriff Buford in its write-up Of the
arrest of the prisoner. The News