The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-05-31
CLIMBS Air SHAFT
IN DESPERATE TRY
FOR FREEDOM
Jesse Edmondson Reaches Tower d
Police Headquarters, whsrs Hss
Recaptured After Hand To Hand
Battle With Officers.
Practically Established That Jswelry
Found on Prisoner Was Stolen From
Store in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Rivalling Jean Vatican In his escape
through the sewers OF Paris. Jeses
Edmondson, alleged jewelry thIsRs
Tuesday morning made daring climb
Tor liberty through an air-ahaft that
leads from the cell block OF the, cen~
tral police station to a tower aboYa
the roof. Edmondson was captured A
the dizzy nights of the tower and
yanked out upon the rainsoaked ROOT
OF the building after hand TO hand
conflict with the police.
Discovery OF the young mansR
escape came coincident with Informs
ton from Columbus. o., which pfnoa
tically fastened guilt upon him 90 tho
man who robbed jeweler In Chilli.
| cothe, o.
As early as Z o'clock. the prisoner'i
escape was discovered. When Tho
prisoners were brought out TO -waslT
UP" 1t was found there was one mfns
Ing. Lieut.. Lally sent for Edmonds
son few minutes later. He had van
ished, completely and mysterioualy.
Two table knives. one hacked into the
semblance Of saw. were left as sou.
yenirs in his cell. But there was T1d
evidence OF his having sawed his way.
to freedom
An alarm was raised and practically
the entire police force then In tia
station hurried to the search.
For long time, the mystery waa
complete. Dorrman Alvah G. Smith.
who was on duty In the cell block all
| night, was called and declared II wan
impossible for any prisoner to escape.
| Then some one thought of the air
shaft. Away in an obscure corner or
the cell block Is a small opening to
this shaft. Into this opening, Ed
mondson had managed to squeeze
himself. Wires run down the entire
length of the shaft and hand over.
hand the youth had made the perilouB
climb
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 Doorman Smith and Doormnn
Thomas JOY went into the roof tower.
Edmonson in his inky concealfnent
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 terrific blow on the head,
cutting a cash over his left eye.
Finally, the three men rolled In am
indescriminate mass out on the roof.
where detectives and motorcycle men
stood waiting. They formed an escort
for the prisoner back to his cell.
Edmonson was a sight when he
rolled out on the roof His clothes
were torn and tattered, his face was
cut and bleeding from blows received
In his battle on the roof, his features
were grimy with dirt and SCOT. and
his hands were lacerated from cuts
made In his hand over hand climb 20
the roof.
Lieut.. Lally received a letter from
Detective CASTOR, OF Columbus, o.,
Tuesday morning, In which the jew
elry in Edmonson's possession was
identified as that stolen from the
store OF II. E. Wethey, of No. Is East
Main-st., Chillicothe, o. There were
rs pieces OF jewelry stolen. Ednlon-
son was arrested last Saturday By
Detectives Clare and Wilson. when
he was attempting to dispose Of some
jewelry in a Monroe-ave. pawnshop.
He put up battle when he was being
! taken to police headquarters and
struck Detective Wilson in the head.
The robbery from Wethey's store In
Chillicothe was committed May "a.
There was street parade in the
town and Wethey had the jewelry on
display in a window. A hole weg
forced in the side OF the window and
the window opened by releasing .
latch. The robbery was committed
while the proprietor OF the store was
watching the parade.
-EdmeRson- AEst -gave-the name Of
Harry Wilson, when he was arrested.
Later, he admitted to Capt MELON
nell that he was Roy Crowsind. IL
was learned definitely. Monday, thai
he is Jesse Edmonson. deserter
from the army.
In conversation with Capt. McDon-
nell. Monday afternoon, Edmonscn
said he would tell the captain Tues
day morning all that he knew about
his possession OF the jewelry.. His
temporary absence from the main
scene OF activity in police headQuar-
tiers delayed the conference between
the prisoner and the chief OF detect
Tvs.