The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-09-30
One Of Them Regarded Worst
in the State Prison is
Still at Large.
OTHER ONE CAUGHT
After a Battle and a Chase
and Enjoys Only An
Hours Liberty.

84'AO0ANA AA@A]As' N1%PA' W. -
Howard, life prisoner sent up for
attempting to burn the town of Smith
field few years ago, made dar-
ing escape from the penitentiary here
at noon. Howard took refuge in an
old church near the prison and when
he defed the guards, they opened fire
on him. The force of armed men at
the prison had been reduced by the
withdrawal of number. who are still
securing the countryside in search of
Alex Childs. Howard, who had con-
cealed piece OF gas pipe, attached
1t to a rope, broke from the line Of
prisoners and whirling the rope with
the pipe at the end around his head
until It had gained sufficient momen-
tum, cast 1t over the prison wall. 1t
caught on a railing and Howard
pulled 1t tight In the presence of the
prisoners, he rapidly went hand over
hand on the rope to the top of the
wall. From there he dropped the
loose end of the rope over the outside
and slid down to safety
Barricades Himself.
An alarm was quickly given and in
a few minutes guards were in puru-
suit. Howard ran to the old church
not far away. This building was used
as a storage house for broom material
used in the prison workshop. The
structure was quickly surrounded by
guards but Howard had barrcaded
the doors and refused to surrender.
The guards withdrew to short dis
lance and opened fire on the church,
believing that Howard would sacri-
fee his life rather than surrender.
Howard is Captured.
When the guards were preparing to
rush the building, Howard, who is an
exceptionally agile fellow, made his
way from the church to the residence
section OF the town His escape was
quickly discovered and the guards
chased him under house, were he
was recaptured after half an hour of
liberty.
Alex Childs, of Fayette county, serv-
ing twenty-year sentence in the
penitentiary here, escaped this morn
ing after leading 100 guards a merry
chase about the prison for almost
twenty-four hours. His final dash for
liberty was down rope from the
prison roof. eighty feet to the ground.
Childs Worst Convict.
Childs, who was known as one Of
the most desperate OF the 1000 pris-
oners in the prison, eluded the guards
on Saturday night and was not locked
in his cell. The keeper missed him
before Sunday morning A search
showed that he had not left the pris-
on and the guards were directed to go
through all the buildings in the en-
closure. He was seen number of
times yesterday as he darted from
place to place but none of the guards
was able to catch him Every known
avenue Of escape was shut off and the
search was continued until every nook
and corner of the prison had been
searched.
Scales the Roof.
Soon after $3.50 O'Clock this morn
ing, guards were attracted to the roof
by sounds which indicated the pres
ence of the man they sought. He had
attached rope to the ventilator, and
when the rope touched the lawn sua
rounding the prison, Childs went off
the roof and let himself down to free
dom. Men were quickly spread out
in fan like formation around the pris-
on but by the time the guards had
taken their positions, Childs had a
start Of half an hour He evidently
made the most of it for soon after
daybreak, he was seen fully ten miles
from Moundsvilla. He still wore his
prison stripes and carried revolver
with which he drove away party OF
farmers who sought his capture. II
is believed at the prison that Childs's
plans were known to friends on the
outside and they We're waiting at o
safe distance with clothing and Other
means to aid in his escape
FLEMING FUNERAL.