The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1911-07-27
George Swain, Violently In
sane, Fells the Jailer by a
Blow on His Head With a
Very Heavy File.
ESCAPE OFROBERTS
WAS MARVELLOUS ONE
Dodged in Time to Avoid
Getting Full Effects of the
Blow, then Seized and Sub
dued Violent Man.

Armed with a heavy 18-inch file,
George Swain, a maniac confined in
the county jail, crept up behind Turn
key Sam Roberts yesterday and be-
fore Roberts could defend himself hit
him a slashing blow on the head, and
then struck him two paralyzing blows
on the right shoulder. Roberts recov-
cred himself in a second and after
graphing with Swain floored him. In
a minute the insane painter was in a
straight jacket and ankle cuffs, con-
fined in the dog house" cell, one
built especially for maniacs, Roberts
was warned of Swain's approach and
fortunately lodged from the descend
ing file, thus not receiving the entire
force of the head blow. AS Swain
struck with all the force he possessed
the blow would have been fatal had
the turnkey not ducked opportunely.
Roberts has sore head and stiff
shoulder this morning, but is not Sc
verely hurt.
Nothing more clearly than this at
tack demonstrates the absolute need
of an insane ward in connection with
the county Jail. Swain is usually kept
in the dog house." but yesterday. in
cleaning the Jail. it was necessary to
remove him for time.
How He Got the File.
Will Schneider, one OF the prison
ers was scraping the floor OF SWANS 9
cell with the files, which are flatten-
ed at the ends. He laid it beside him
Tor a minute. and Swain, who has
made other attempts on Roberts life
seized his opportunity and grabbed
the file. then concealing it under his
coat. When Roberts returned to the
Jail the attack occurred.
Swain is probably one of the most
dangerous prisoners ever quartered In
the jail He fights the prisoners.
when released from his cell, threat
ems and even puts into practice his
threats of killing his attendant, breaks
up the dishes on which his meals are
served, and tears off his clothes. Yes.
spoon handle, which he had sharpened
to butcher knife edge on the bars OF
his cell. Roberts says that the prison
ers are given long spoons with which
to eat. Several times Swain has twist
ed the handles from spoons and by
rubbing them on the bars and floor
of his cell made the mdangerous wea-
pons. He has slashed at Roberts a
number of times with the weapons
thus manufactured.
About a week ago, early in the morn
ing, Roberts, who sleeps in a position
where he can see over the entire Jail
was awakened by volley of screams
and oaths issuing from Swain's cell.
"Just come down." yelled Swain to the
turnkey, land I'll kill you right here
A Previous Attack
Dressing, Roberts went to his cNll
and opened the door. The maniac was
on him like a vicious mountain lion,
tearing at his throat, kicking and
striking. He tore Roberts deputy
sheriff badge loose and buried the
pin in the turkeys bare arm. The
pin broke off embedded in the flesh
but it was removed leaving an ugly
cash. Roberts subdued him, and
Swain was put in a straight-jacket
Roberts arm was dressed and no ser
ious injury resulted.
One peculiar thing about Swain
is that he is sort of a ''handcuft
king When in the straight jacket
and anklets yesterday, by some means
he removed his shoes with his teeth
and not only did he take off the shoes
but he removed the strings from them
He has the cunning of the cat, never
making an attack when he is watch
ed.
Besides twenty-six prisoners, there
is another lunatic besides Swain, Viii
bud Dean, of Greensboro, quartered
with the prisoners. He Is not violent
but it is considered dangerous for
insane patients and prisoners to be
kept together. Turnkey Roberts says
there is no other place to keep man,
iacS.