Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-01-31
CONVICTS SPRINT
IN AMERICUS
AUTOMOBILE
HiQhtOWeF and Britt Escape.
Second Time
BuFFOWed Out Of StOCkadG Monday
Morning, Stole an Automobile and
liked Away to FIOrida-,-Little FOb.
ability Of Their RaCdptuFG.

Rarely does it fall to the lot Of
,haingang conyicts to escape and ride
away in classier style than did j. L,
Britt and Martin Hightower, the two
Sumter county white zebras who lew
he coop at an early hour Monday
morning, aided by a pal on the out
side, and sailed far away.
Miles and miles had been reeled off
by their swift automobile ere the
guards at the stockade awoke to the
fact that the noted prisoners aad
jumped the game.
The prisoners got away about 1:30
O'Clock Monday morning.
A short time thereafter three men,
Britt, Hightower and their confederate,
were observed by residents of Lee
street, near the artesian corner, Who
the fact to police headquar-
tiers. The stockade, in turn, was noti-
fed of the escape.
The two prisoners and their good
friend, the convicts clad in citizens
clothing, proceeded very leisurely out
Lee street, south.
COnyicts Get an Automobile.
Britt and Hightower, desiring to in
dulge in the pleasure of d joy ride over
the fine roads of Sumter, which they
had helped to construct appropriated
the handsome automobile of City En-
gineer John B. Ansley, finding it at his
home out Lee street. But this ma
chine proved too much for them.
The zebras, not understanding the
mechanism of the car, abandoned It
near the residence of Judge A. ]. Hixon
and looked for another.
Mr. Fl. c. Turner, who lives near by,
owns a car that suited better the pur-
poses Of the fleeing conyicts and haul
ing this one into the road they headed
out towards Florida
With a start of four or five hours,
Britt and Hightower We're probably a
hundred miles from Americas ere the
posse started in their wake.
Supt r. NJ. Christian, Sheriff Feagin
and Deputy Fuller in two cars, left
early yesterday morning in pursuit of
tho errinti,,o znhrac
But Britt and Hightower may not be
easily caught this time
Second Escape of Zebras.
The flight of the precious pair of
criminals yesterday was their seconc
escape since sentenced to
the Sumter county changing on
March 28th last. Both Britt and High
tower were sentenced to terms of two
years for misdemeanor crimes, of
which they We're adjudged guilty.
Both escaped about June 1sc last
year, after a service of only two
months, but after two or three days
were recaptured.
Britt was gigged in Flint river
swamp, while Hightower was captur-
ed, almost naked, in Cordele.
Upon being returned here, Judge
Crisp added six months to the sentence
of each zebra. In all, their sentences
totaled two and half years each and
Of this time they have served about
ten months. Thus, Sumter is due near
ly one and a half years time yet from
each convict
But will Britt and Hi ever pay the
county this just debt in good, honest
road-building? Quite likely they viii
not.
We're Helped From Outside.
That the two escaping convicts were
rendered valuable help in getting
away Monday morning there is no
loubr; After escaping from the stock
sde, citizens clothes were given each
nan, and, it is said, their leg chains
tut off. The automobile steal was al
10 planned Well in advance,
The men got out of the stockade in
manner quite unexpected.
Being White men, they occupied al
Dom to themselves on the first floor
The pair cut, into the plastered wall
operating their room from the dining
Iall and dropped down between the
Mastered partition to the ground, On,
y a small hole was thus required for
hem.
Britt and Hightower are a tough
air, and if they ever should be cap
lred, which is doubtful, greater care
ill be exercised in combining them at.
light in the pen.