The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-05-02
LARGE NUMBER OF TOOLS
FOUND in PRISONERS CELL
Saws, chises, Hammer And Various
Other Things Had Been Struggled
Into Tucker by Friends-one Cell
Ear Sawed Nearly Through.

One of the most daring and ingen-
ious plots that has ever come under
the observation of the Court House
and jail officials in this city, was un-
covered yesterday evening, when
Sheriff Bennett and Jailor Pool found
in the cell of Sam Tucker, the no.
torious burglar, a various ASSORTMENT
of jail-breaking paraphernalia. There
were 13 small saws, cold chisels, 1
hammer, twine and two long pieces
of heavy wire that had been welded
together for the purpose of drawing
up from the outside of the Jail the
materials on which Tucker had in
tended gaining his way to liberty.
The interior of the Jail is made up
of a number of individual cells. Be
tween these cells and the walls of the
Jail there is corridor. Jailor Pool had
been allowing the prisoners free ac-
cess to this corridor during the day
for the reason that the cells are SO
small that they hardly allow more
than enough room for the beds upon
which the prisoners sleep. About a
week ago Mr.. Pool was given an ink
ling that jail delivery was to be
attempted. He informed Sheriff Ben
nett of his suspicious and the two then
went about a plan to apprehend the
outsiders who were giving aid to
Tucker They still allowed the pris-
oners the privilege of the corridors
in order to allay suspicion that the
plans of Tucker were known. For
the last five nights the outside of the
jail had been closely guarded by Mr..
Bennett and Mr.. Pool, who were con-
fident that all Tucker and his pals
were waiting for was a favorable
night for making the attempt. Tuck
er's pals must have secured an ink
ling that their plans were known for
they, have never shown UP. One of
the bars on Tucker'c cell was already
sawed almost through and with a few
minutes work he could have gained
access to the corridors. Once in the
corridor it would take but a few min
utes to saw out of the un-tempered
window bars. The bars of the cells
are made of absolutely perfect tenn
pered steel and the only way that they
can be sawed is to heat them enough
TO draw out the temper This was
done by means of firing a lot Of chips
and rubbish and using tin can as a
firing box. The bar that had already
been sawed was so carefully covered
by soaping and coloring that it took
a very close inspection to tell where
1t had been worked on.
IL is thought the first things that
had been given to the prisoner were
the two long pieces of heavy wire and
that he secured these by tearing I'M an
old cot and getting string enough to
attach to a broom handle which he 1et
down from the window to the outside
parties. BY this means he had drawn
up the chisel and saws.
1t has been learned that CARTRIDGES
had been purchased from a local hard
ware store and that these with pistols
We're to be smuggled to him on the
night that he intended to escape.
When Mr.. Bennett and Mr.. Pool
went up to fuckers cell yesterday
and calmly pulled out of its hiding
place the various pieces of hardware
Tucker was struck speechless with
surprise and CONSERVATION and voucb.
safed no information to the searchers
as tney carried away the tools that he
mad perhaps been spending weeks to
gather together.