Evening journal., 1914-07-16
IN NEW PRISON
TO serve TIME
BEGUN IN OLD
Webster, Jail Breaker, Goes
Back to Remain Four Years
and Ten Months
COMMITTED ROBBERY
HERE IS YEARS AGO


from the New Castle Jail eighteen
years ago after serving two months
OF a five year sentence for rObbing
the residence of John Banning, was
brought from Missouri by State De-
tective Frank w. Mccoy last night.
and this morning he was committed
TO the New Castle county workhouse
TO finish his sentence. Eluding the
grasp of Delaware law for eighteen
years, Webster meanwhile served q
long sentence for a car barn robbery
in Rhode Island and was released by
the governors pardon two months
ago, only to be taken TO Missouri to
face charges there. He was acquitted
in Missouri, and was turned over to
the Delaware authorities. who lodged
, a detainer for him as a fugitive Jail
| breaker He was given to Detective
McCoy's custody on Monday after a
hearing on the regularity of the requi-
sition papers. He gave no trouble TO
the detective on the way East, and
! seemed more like a we'll dressed bust
ness man than an escaped burglar.
When Webster was taken before
Judge Joslyn in City Court this morn
/ ing by Detective Mccoy, the Judge di-
rected Webster's removal without
| legal formality to the county work
house to finish his sentence of four
years and ten months less the time
! he will get off for good behavior.
While Webster sat in the dock he
! conversed with Captain Kane and
later smiled and waved his hand at
/ former Detective Walter Witsil. who
with Detective Bernard J. McVey ar
rested him for the Banning robbery in
1895.
When Webster stepped to the bar
| following his name being called Judge
Joslyn said there was no charge
against him and he stated that Detec-
tive Mccoy should have turned Web
ster over directly to the workhouse
authorities without coming into court
Deputy City Solicitor Lynn informed
the court that under a ruling by Judge
Churchman every prisoner in the police
station at night must be on the docket
next morning.
Judge Joslvn said he had taken up
the matter with Deputy Attorney Gen
eral Chavtor this morning and he agreed
that Webster should be returned TO the
workhouse at once Detective Mccoy
followed Webster from the court room
and later took him TO the workhouse.
Webster arrived in Wilmington last
might with Detective Mccoy and he was
placed in a police station cell. Webster
and three others, Mitchell, Eldridgc and
Palm. were arrested in 1896, in Baltimore
by Detectives McNey and Witsil, on a
charge of robbing the home of Johr
Banning in South Broome street of Jew
elrv worth several thousands of dollars
The four men were given trials in the
Court of General Sessions and Palm wa.
acquitted. he not being identified. Web
ster was 10 years old The three Others
were sentenced to five years IN the New
Castle Jail and each received lashes.
The three men spent two month";
at the Jail. and one night Webster
Mite lcll, Eldridge and another convic
named Gibbons occupying cell caus
ed Deputy Sheriff Pierce to open thei
cell door, Webster feigning illness. A
the door was opened Gould was con
fronted with a revolver in Webster
hands The form supposed to hav
been Websters on the cot was a dun
my figure. Mitchell was recapture
and served out his time Eldridg
was convicted elsewhere for a robber
r to Providence. r. T.. and was arreste
for being implicated in a car bar
robbery. He was sentenced to .
years in prison
OF this sentence he served l5 year
and several months ago he was granite
a pardon. In the meantime. however
{ the police of st. Louis, Mo, had lodge
a detaner for Webster. claiming tha
N,I D.
robbery in that city and the killing q
? policeman. Webster was taken (
2 St Louis but the charges against hin
z there were dismissed. Delaware had ais
lodged a detainer so this was honore
I when the st. Louis authorities 60
= through with him.
After leaving here in 1896 Webste
$ went to New York and later he wa
o sentenced TO a term of % years in New
S port, Rhode Island, for a carharn Tot
e berry. While in the Newport ial h
managed to get away, but was after
I wards caught. After serving fiftee
h wears of this sentence he was parole,
r Webster says that during the fftee
e wears in the Jail eight of the years wer
Il spent in solitary confinement.
The prisoner in talking to former D,
tective Witsil. today said he never sa'
Palm or Mitchell after leaving th
l. State Eldridge committed suicide
!. New York while doing time. This wa
accomplished by some one giving hin
I. an orange containing chloroform. Fo
l. lowing his death woman who visite
e Eldridge was arrested on the charg
Of aiding him.