The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-06-20
CRIMINALS Use EVERY
method TO ESCAPE
RIG MOND, VA, Special

r 1 c II NJ o n ID, V A, Special
Jail deliveries are becoming more
and more common in Virginia every
year" remarked the Rev. DR.. j. II.
MaStin, secretary of the State Board
Of Charities and Corrections, when
conversation swung around TO the re-
cent escape of three prisoners from
the local prison.
And have long since come to the
conclusion that every Improvement
designed to prevent such escapes is
met by an equal display of ingenuity
on the part of criminals. The situa-
ton is one that deserves careful con-
sideratiOn, for against the machinery
of the law is ever matched the wits of
those who have transgressed. In fact,
prisoners have little else to think
about and their one aim in life is to
discover some way whereby they may
regain their liberty"
DR.. Mastin, in his official capacity,
has had occasion to learn a great deal
about 1ailS and prisons. 1t is his duty
to study conditions in these institu-
tons and to point out their defects.
experts who escape do not satisfy
themselves with merely regaining
their own freedom. They almost in
variably take other prisoners with
them. And what is more, they dis
seminate their own jail-breakine wis
the knowledge passes from man to
man.
Two Good Suggestions.
1T is difficult to say how escapes
DR.. Mastin. Indeed. I doubt if they
will ever be rendered absolutely i'm
possible. for, as have explained
criminal ingenuity in this respect
keeps apace with the best thought
But one or two recommendations at
least of
1T would be the part of wisdom, in
contracting for new prisons, to see
that the SO-called tool-proof steel is
thoroughly tested by local men who
can be trusted. More than once al
legged tool-proof steel has proved to
be mere iron.
Il recall rather laughable case in
this connection. 1 was attending a
meeting at which plans for n new
prison were being considered. A GER
tain contractor, who wanted the job,
remarked to me that his work abso-
Iutely defied escape. He even went
so far as to offer me a 500 bill if /
could show single case where any of
his work had proved a failure. And
at that very time / had data showing
that several prisoners had escaped
from jails he had built.
"One of the prisons was that of Car
roll county, through which a man had
sawed a fine large hole. After the
ing L did not hesitate to reveal my
information to those who had the
awarding of the contract.
"Apropos of holes and openings in
prisons, let me say that men can
squeeze through some astonishingly
small places. 1t is said that they can
get through any aperture through
which they can poke their heads
Hence it is always the part OF wisdom
to have the bars as close together as
possible. / understand that the men
who recently got out of the Richmond
jail in some parts of the prison had to
saw only one bar.
Should Examine Every Bar
1T is said that the best tool-proof
bars have a coating of iron which
covers the steel. The iron coating
generally about an eighth of an inch
thick, can be cut through, but the
steel stops the saw. But let me re-
peat-it doesn't do to take anything
for granted. All work ought to be
tested in advance. 1t may not have
but one weak spot, but that is the spot
the expert criminal finds.
There was n notable instance of
this in the case of Williamson, the al
legged wife murderer who escaped
from the Petersburg Jail. A woman
relative slipped in a saw to him. The
mans cell was a thoroughly up-to-date
piece of work, with steel calculated
to defy any implement. But ii had
one weak spot-a piece of iron that
went over the staple on the door. Will
Hanson noted this. And the result
was his escape.
"SOunA wars 400 xubfia Tho I2rfo4o,