The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-31
NEGRO ESCAPES
FROM PEN|TENT|ARY
FROM CELL TO LIBERTY IN SIX
MINUTES IS RECORD HE
MADE

Slipping through the door Of his
cell by surprised guard, who did not
, take in the situation until he had
lodged behind several rows of cells,
Joe Arthur, IL negro, carried through
successful dash for liberty at the
State Penitentiary about . O'CLOCK
last evening, scaling the twenty-foot
will before aid could be summoned.
The negro dashed from the building
and then began circling about the
yard keeping building between him
self and the frantic guard that fol-
lowed in pursuit. Making quick use
of n piece OF two Inch water piping
about twenty feet long. he successfully
scaled the walls jumping down the
outside az hastily summoned guards
appeared at windows and doors lead
ing into the yard from which he es-
capped. The getaway was probably
made in quicker time than any breaks
on record at the State penal fnstitu-
ton as the authorities there last
night stated that only six minutes had
elapsed between the time that Arthur
broke from the cell aud the time that
guards reported that the man had
scaled the walls and was at liberty.
Police Notified.
The city police were Immediately
notified Of the affair and were asked
to assist in recapturing the negro. 1t
is said that Arthur would probably
try to reach his home in Roanoke
and the authorities there were wired
about the escape
Arthur. along with two other pris-
oners was In charge of guard J. j.
Glazier when he escaped. The three
for some time had been acting sus-
piciously and had been under sur
veilance of late II was thought best
to lock the three men In what is
termed detention cell. Mr. Glaxier
was accompanied TO the cell by "A
trusty who carried the key to the
lock on the door The three men
were placed on the inside. and In
stead of stepping back so that the
trusty might lock the door, IL Is said
that MIR Glazier followed the three
men into the cell Arthur quick to
sieze long awaited opportunity
dashed past him running down be-
tween two rows Of cells thus keeping
the guard from shooting him
GlaZier used house telephone and
Immediately notified the office o the
break. Men were at once dispatched
TO that part Of the building and
grounds
A prisoner occupying an outside cell
told the prison authorities that he
saw Arthur place the lead piping
against the wall and then climb up
His second Dash.
II to liberty
Arthur was known TO he Il desperate
man. He escaped from the State
Farm last September. He was later
captured. however. and was returned
to the penitentiary In December. He
was sent up from Roanoke, Va, for
five years for felonious shooting.
He is described as being a light
mulatto, weighs about ta6 pounds and
Is about five feet eleven Inches tall
His left eye Is out
Arthur escaped over the walls at
the Western wing of the large square
very close TO the place used by two
of the four white men, who made
sensational escape from the pen
itentiary several weeks ago. The four
white men tied the hands Of guard
nightwatchmRn, and foreman. climbed
down the third story window and then
scaled the walls They were all cap
tuered in a short time They will
lie tried in the City Circuit Court In
the near future for breaking from the
State penal institution and may get
from one to five years or more In
addition to tine terms which they were
serving.