The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1912-07-03
T.U. VAUGHN SAWS
WAY TO LIBERTY.
Man Charged With Helm
Gus Crimes a Fugitive
Escapes From Green
Vile Jail.

Escapes FrOm UiSSA-
Vile Jail.
Greenville, June 26.-T. o. Vaughn,
former superintendent of the Odd Eel!
lows Orphan Home, located near
GreenYille, and prisoner in the coun-
ty Jail since May 81, charged with the
triple crime of "rape, living in adul-
terry and procuring an abortion" the
alleged victim being an orphan girl
under his care, sawed his way to iber-
ty early today and tonight fees before
the pursuing arm of the law, with the
odds greatly in his favor.
At 2 O'Clock this morning Jailor
Phillips was aroused by negro wo-
man prisoner, who was confined in
cell on the second floor, above
vaughn's cell, telling him that some
one was escaping from below.
Before the jailor could reach
vaughn's cell, the bird had flown.
Tie alarm was quickly spread and a
determine but unsuccessful search
has been made throughout the day for
the fleeing prisoner.
It is practically certain that Vaughn
was aided by one or more persons from
the outside, and it is said that Jailor
Phillips rushed out into the yard IN
time to see two men 60 over the Jail
yard fence.
The prisoner made his escape by
seyering section of one of the win
dow bars with hack saw. A short
distance from the point where he tum-
bled over the jail yard fence, he STUN
bled and on the spot was found the
saw frame, pieces of the blade, the
prisoners hat and letter addressed
to him. The hole through which the
man went measured twelve by seven
inches and only one bar was sawed in
twain.
In the vacant cell today was seen
the section of the bar the man had
sawed out. It had been wrapped IN
cloths to deaden the rasping sound of
the hack saw. On the floor of the cell
lay the prisoners thumbed Bible, a
copy of Whittier's poems and copy
of ssPilgrim's Progress
Some rather ugly looking evidence
of carelessness on the part Of some
body, and which throws suspicion on
the mau's brother, in assisting Vaughn
to escape, has been brought to light to-
day. 1t is reliably stated that the
mans brother purchased the hack
saw and three blades from a local
hardware concern a week ago today,
and Chief of Police Holeombe, who
learned of this purchase at that time,
stated today that he aty-enee notified
the deputy sheriff and the jailor to be
on the alert, as Vaughn's brother had
that day purchased a hack saw and
blades.
The fugitive is evidently well sup
plied with money, as the records in
the Office Of the register of mesne con-
yeyance show that since he was placed
in'jail he mortgaged his home for the
sum of $4,000. He is a man of rather
keen intellect, is we'll informed, and
the county authorities realize that
they have difficult task to perform
if they capture him. As to whether
he is armed they do not know.
The Vaughn case created something
of sensation in Greenville when the
warrant for his arrest was sworn out.
The press, ont OF consideration for
the Odd Fellows Order and the or
phan children at the home, and out Ct
respect for the sensibilities Of the pub
lie, has suppressed volume Of details
of the Nervousness Of the life of Vaughn
is charged with having led at the time
he was in charge Of the Orphan Home.
While the warrant against him
charges him with wronging only one
girl, a statement in writing has been
seen By The News and Courier CORE
spondent wherein this girl states that
of her own knowledge Vaughn wrong
ed six of the orphans in addition to
herself.