Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-13
FIFTEEN PRISONERS
BREAK HOPEWELL JAIL
Efforts OF Police to Rccaptnre Refu-
gees Are Frustrated by
Crowd.
BOLD NoLD-UP IN DAYLIGHT
Automobile Carrying Eleven Passen-
gers Stopped by Three White Men.
Who Rob Occupants of Their Valu-
ables-Ten Holds-Ups Past Week.
Especial to The Timcs-Dispatch. ]

Especial to The Times Dispatch.
HoPEWEL.L VA, September 12.--
Hopewell today experienced more
trouble than ever before in it's brief but
turbulent history. y Jail delivery which
resulted in the escape of fifteen prison.
ers, daylight automobile hold-up. in
which ten men and one woman were re-
lieved Of their valuablcs; the success
full escape of ten Of the fifteen Jail
breakers, after squad of police had
raidcd house in the negro settlement;
numerous robbcries and shooting ar
trays and series OF accidents have put
the people in a state OF turmoil and fur
Their trouble is uomentarily expected.
At times to-day 1t appeared that the
police force was almost helpless to deal
with the situation. Yesterday was pay
day. and the police force Of fifteen men
aided by twelve Du Pont officers. had
their hands fun last night. The tenn
porary Jail was Over-Crowied early In
the evening, and number Of prisoners
were removed TO the Du Pont lookup
FOR safe Keeping.
FIFTEEN NEGROES
BREAK OUT OF JAIL
Early this morning while only one
officer was on duty at the Jail, fifteen
negroes broke through the rear wall OF
the jail which IS a frame structure. All
made good their escape before more
officers could he called from patrol duty
on the streets. where they were kept
busy keeping down disorder among the
great throngs on the principal thor
oughfarcs and answering trouble calls
in other sections.
Between 8 and 10 o'clock this morn
ing an automobile truck carrying eleven
passengers from Petersburg TO Hope
Well. was held up by three white men
several miles out OF town. The occu-
pants of the machine were ordered to
hand over their valuahles at the points
OF pistols. The one woman passenger
was relieved OF Slli, she reported TO
the police.
The hold-up took place a, bend in
the road and the passengers had no
warning until the highwaymen sprang
from the bushes with guns In their
hands The chauffeur vas ordered 10
stop. which he did with promptness.
and the passengers lined up in the road.
where they were quickly stripped OF
their money and other va!uahlcS Two
automobiles We're held up last night
and the occupants robbed. making al
least ten similar occurrences in the last
week
MEN UNDER ARREST
MAKE: BREAk For LIBERTY
Chief OF Police Cotton this afternoon
negroes. who had escaped from jail.
wcr. hiding in the Norfolk House, a
resort In the negro section. With
three or four men. the chief went into
the district. which was crowded with
people Leaving several of his men
OF guard. the chief Went in and found
fifteen colored men. whom he believed
TO be the fugitives.
All were lined up outside the build
ing, and the officers were preparing
TO march them To the police station.
when ono made "a break for liberty.
The police were outnumbcrcd. and the
crowd of 500 people about rhe house
plainly in sympathy with the pris-
oncrs All started 10 run. The ot,i
GERS began firing. and all ihclr pistols
were emptied before they reCapturcd
i've. ~ tho first shot the crowd
no one was injured.
NJ PONT OFFICIALS SEND
POLICE INTO HOPEWELL
There are many intoxicated men on
the streets. and II is said that liquor
has been sold freely. Minor hrawls
have occurred with alarpling fire.
qIcncy. The Jail tonight = again full
and special guard of officers is on
duty. The du Pout officials have sent
mounted policemen into tic town to
aid the local force. and mounted Off :
GERS are also patroling the roads TO
Petersburg for several miles outside
OF Hopcwel
In attempting 10 keep serlblance
Of order, the officers have had little
time 10 devote to oth.- violations Of
the law. such as the sale ~ liquor and
breaking up disorderly houses.
J. j. Whalcn. railroad engineer.
was run down by a train near the du
Pont plant and instantly killed this
r2orninS. His home IS ir baltimore
y negro was reported killed by 4
policeman last night. but this could
not he confirmed. There were other
shooting ARRAYS. in which men were
more or less seriously injured, but no