The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-03-24
PUT 4 DUMMY
IN HIS PLACE.
4 Clever Trick on The Part Of a
Virginia Convict
his TROUBLE FOR NOTHING
Frank Brown Had Remained Ont OF
His Cell, Leaving There an Aston
ishlsg Good ilnpersonation--Ruilt
body Of Straw and Face Of Prison
Bread.

Richmond. Va. March 23.--ln-
genuity failed to release Frank
Brown, colored mo. e7S7) from the
state peniientiary yesterday after
noon. The method employed BY
Brown was not. In Itself. entirely
new. but his application OF. the
method was somewhat original.
That he did not escape is due 20
the vigilance OF the guards. The
guards were very yigllant Brown
was proclaimed missing no less
than three times In as many minutes
from three different sources. and he
was captured and led back to CELL
. crestfallen. defeated and humil-
lated prisoner
II was O'Clock yesterday after
noon that the men In tho old part OF
the prison were ordered 10 obey
bygIsnic regulations. aud while
Frank descended from the third gall
lery end took bis place Ia the con-
Wet line he failed 10 occupy his place
In the return procession. A convict,
charged with making close count,
and the yard men. charged with ex-
aiming the men. at once reported
Prank Brown missing"
A minute afterwards the man had
been found. in coal bin. covered
With planks and coal. He was
brought out and placed in another
cell.
The guard on the third gallery Just
about this time opened the doors 70
see IL the men were all in place. He
was fhunderssruck on opening
Franks cell. Seated at table In the
cell was the figure OF man. bolt
upright. with cap on his head, In
tho "fuli reginientals" OF man DO
ing time.
MAN dead IN cell" sang out tie
guard. as be locked the door and cav
the head OF the yard force. Tho head
yard man said nothing. lie knew
Frank Brown was not dead. and that
he was not IN his former cell.
Hut there was hgufe In Browns
cell last 10 closely resenbled Frank
Brown that the gallery man mlstook
u for the convict
Clever Piece q Work.
Frank Brown IL a negro OF some
six feet. lie Is a sort OF ginger cake
color. lie IL stout. lie has served
term OF seven years NJ Columbus. D.
and Is not stranger to prison regu
fzlions. lie was sent here to serve
eight years. coming from Coyington
he Is an intelligent negro. and ha'
served bit more tsan three years II
the white house on tho hill.
The conxlcls are great lovers o.
DUNGEON. Dungeon be st known
IA the name which the convicts give
10 a sort OF bread pudding which the
are allowed 10 have. Il IL the aeeu
mutation Of scraps OF bread which
they save during the week. II Is col
lccsed, placed In q pan. and blacl
nsolassss Is poured over Il aud Il 4
sent 10 the Kitchen and baked fos
Sunday dinner. In color n Ia q darl
gingerbread. rho same color 4
Frank Brown. Frank had flrc col
lection OF bread for biz Sunday dell
cacy, and II was sent 70 his room
sunday morning. But Frank did no
cat--not a bit.
Taking the dungeon. he fashion
cd head aud face. with complies
ears and nose and eyes. The kinkl
hair was there. too--the burned mo
lnsses on the top Of the dungeon be
ing reserved for that feature. Thu
head completed. the man got a soilc'
convict cap aud placed u on top 0
the head.
Saturday afternoon when Franz
went 20 tho large bathroom and wa
furnished with clean clothing. he 80
GREETED the soiled clothing under th
clean, putting on both suits. Bscl
In bis cell. he made quick chang
and rined bis bed for straw viii
which 10 'hil out" the old suit o
clothes. This done. he placed III
stuffed figure close up At smal
table and tnen put on the head
which he had spent sunday In fash
loning. The arms we're laid on "a
table. piece OF loaf bread and ba
con between them. To hide IA
"nuba." where the hands should has
boon. the man had placed a large Gu
aud small can. 50 that casual loo
from the cell door on the part OF ~
lnspcstor would deceive him. tn
...a,t.. ,sf a.. asure wnN natural.