The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-04
NAB ESCAPED CONVICT
AS HE LEAVES HOUSE
Allen Crecch. Under Life Sentence for
Murder, Admits lie ESCAPED
From Kentucky.
CURSES SELF FOR LACK OF WIT
Meets Former Guard of Prison, Does
Not Heed Warning, and Result In He
Falls Into Hands of Police.

Ills wits dulled by long confinement,
Allen Creech. an alleged escaped muir
derer from Kentucky. fingered hero for
three days after being recognized by n
former guard. and was captured late
yesterday afternoon by Pinkcrton op-
orRtivcs. aided by two local detectives,
as he was leaving tho house. GOA
East Leigh street, in which he had
been quietly living Tor more than 4
month with his wife. At police head
quarters he admitted his identity. and,
curs!ng his failure To heed the danger
signal. was taken 10 the First Station.
lie Will be held until the arrival OF a
kentucky officer, who will take him
back TO serve life term
Creech is known 10 the Virginia
police as the leader OF the mob, which
during a riot IN 1905. destroyed four
teen Creek restaurants IN Roanoke,
and caused other serious damage, par
t!cuiariy TO the Roanoke Fire Depart
nent. which was summoned 10 the aid
of tho police. After that row, he
eluded capture. and, going to Ken
lucky, became implicated in the ia
nous Breaihiti County feuds, killing
at least one man, and drawing a life
sentence in the Kentucky State Re-
fov.na;ory. from which he escaped on
April II last, in company with Rufus
Taylor. another prisoner.
The escape OF the two men. while
daring In the extreme, was made easier
because both were excellent workmcn
and for that reason wero afforded
special privileges Creech was prac-
ideally the foreman of the machine
shops, and IN that capacity managed
10 make keys with which he and his
companion liberated themselves.
RECOGNIZED IN RICHMOND
ny a FORMER GUARD
Immediately after the cscape Tho
men parted. and as Creech was known
10 have many friends In the East tho
Pinkerton agencies wcre notified 10
keep lookout for him. Fate, IN tho
way Of Captain H. L. Brawner. former
head of the night watch in the Ken
lucky penal Institution, furnished the
clue which led up to the arrest.
captain Brawner, who Is now con-
neoted with theatrical enterprise,
was In Richmond on business on Sun
day. Walking down Broad Street he
almost bumped into Crcech. for whom
ne knew country wide search was
being made Descending his knowl-
.uEe that Creech had escaped. Captain
Brawner led him 10 believe that no
thought he had been pardoned. While
unable 10 pump the escaped convict.
the former guard learned enough to
think mat he was most likely work
ing here. although Crcech Informed
him that he was leaving for Roanoke
on the next train
Captain Mcmahon. OF tho local dc-
tectiHe force. Wpr notified, and know
ing that the iiukcrions were on the
ease. he gave them The facts, and the
rest was merely Il matter OF climlna-
ton. The search finally narrowed down
10 the Leigh Street house. and a man
answering the description OF Crcech
was seen 10 enter shortly after G
o'clock yesterday morning. The place
was put under surveillance. and at 4
o'clock In tho afternoon, Crccch, lunch
basket OH arm, walked out of the yard
and started down the street. Bruwncr
signaied that ne was their man. and
TWO P!nkertons, aided by Detective
Scrgeants Wiley and Atkinson, nao
him powerlcss before he could pre-
pare to defend himself.
Al Police Headquarters. Crccch for
II few minutes refused TO talk until
he saw that the Identification, made
by numerous marks and scars. was
complete and then he quietly said:
I'm the man. You can't blame me
for trying TO make getaway. Who
wouldn't If they were I'm my fix"
CURSES HIMSEIT ron
not LEAVING CITY
He maintained his composure until
!"9' 'ci oIc ''''CHli6 INC sthtlo!. WHch
lie freely cursed his blindness and
lack OF wit In not leaving after see
ing Captain Brawner on Sunday.
Crcech Is huge man. He stands
nearly six feet In height. and weighs
more than 200 pounds. He has the
reputation OF having "A fcroCiouS dis
position. The Kentucky authorities
claim that he IS a killer. and warn
ings We're sont TO tho police to he cara
full In arvcsting him, as he was Il
crack shot and IL desperate character
So dangerous was no considered III
that State. that Governor PntteGson
The pardoning executive. would -uol
touch the case. and the pardonine
board also refused TO interfere In his
behalf.
The escaped convict Is thirty ei CHI
wears old. and besides being n skilled
mechanic. il also n locomotive fireman
Although considered bad man. he
WAS known TO TO steady worker. nnt
had secured employment here with tn,
Richmond Iron Works. lie WAS or tn,
night shift. and consequently had 1T
lie occasion TO be on the streets. IL,
was known here by the name OF Bar.
rett
Tho warden or the kentucky Stat,
Reformatory. branch OF the pcni
Tertiary, \. J. O. Wells. has notinc,
the local Pinkcrton agency that guards
VIII be sent here for Crccch AS 500,
as possible. There was reward O
$500 for his capture. and n reward o
$50 for information leading to his ar
rest. The former VIII go to Wiley an,
Atkinson. and tho latter 70 Captain
Brawner.