The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-26
PREVENTS ESCAPE;
PARDON SOUGHT
Major Wood Asks Governor to
Free Richmond Convict Who
Thwarted Delivery.
BRAvED DEsPERADO's IRE
Superintendent of Road Force
Camp Commends Charles Lee
ost for Tip.

Because Charles LeCost, Il convict
sent to the penitentiary from the Hust-
ings Court Of Richmond upon convic-
ton on larceny charge, prevented the
escape of Lee Moseley, and probably
others. from the road force now work
lug near Forest Hill, Governor Mann
mas been asked to pardon him
LeCost has about two months TO
serve. The governor has not taken up
his c2se yet, but in view of the fact
that the pardon Is recommended by
MI Wood superintendent of the peni-
tertiary, and David b. Winfred. super
intendent of the road force, ii Is be-
lieved the chief executive will liberate
the convict.
The attempted escape on the part
of Moseiey, a desperate negro criminal
from Norfolk county, who was convict
Ell of vicious assault and given two
years, occurred several nights ago and
vas thwarted only by the tip from
ICGpst, which came a few moments
before the negro desperate tried TO
shake the sha ckles from his ankle.
The road force has been working
near Forest Hin several months, and
has completed two miles OF improved
highway. At night the seventy iive
conyicts, each with an individual
chain around his left ankle, is fastened
To Il large chain held fast by two large
stakes.
Filed His Shsckies OF.
IN some unaccountabie manner Nose
lev got possession of q small file,
hich he secreted in his clothing until
niRhtfall After the prisoners had LAID
down to go 10 sleep, LeCost, VINO has
proven Ii model prisoner and therefore
chained on an end, saw Moseley sit
up and heard him filing. For some
tine he heard the grating noise, ana
looking closer satisfied himself that
Moseley was filing one of the links of
the chain around his leg and was evil
IDENTIFY bent on decamptng.
Brt4ving the anger OF the desperate
convict. LeCost called out to Super
intendent Winfred and the latter
quickly responded, bringing with him
the half dozen guards. ran armed In
an instant the guards charged upon
Moseley, after hearing LeCosts story
The desperate hid the file in his shoe
and threw himself on the ground and
feigned sleep. HE was raised up, now
ever, and found to be perspiring pro
fusely. The file was found in his shoe
IL was hot and filed with steel hlings
When a light was thrown on the chain
around MS leg, II StEoNC0 htsAt VIC A'-AA'
holding the individual fettle to the main
chain was more than three quarters
apart because Of the energetic Work
done on ii by the Ale
Report Facts to Governor
The negro was chained with another
fettle, and questioned. He refused 10
say where he got the file. Asked II
he intended passing the file along ia
/ other convicts, he replied that it was
nobody's business. The negro glow
/ cred at LeCost and threatened to get
even"
The case was reported to Superin-
! tendent Wood when the latter visited
| the convict camp Monday night I'M
! mediately after his return to the city.
/ he wrote out history of the case and
| sent 1t, together with a request for q
| pardon, to the Governor The chief
! executive will probably act on the case
within the next week or ten days.