The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-25
AN ESCAPE
WINKED AT
By JOHN D. JAMESON


wrong trail when was about to nab
criminal through sympathy. l never
did that, but l once lost a woman
whom had under arrest because l had
become convinced that she was inno-
cent. did not tell her that she might
escape, but pretended to trust her.
was sorry afterward that / didn't let
her know that was willing she should
go, for saw her do something to gain
her freedom that made my blood cur
die.
A cashier of bank had been con-
victed of defalcation, had been sent to
the penitentiary and by means of steel
saws sent hifs by his wife had cut the
bars of a window of his cell. She had
also provided him with a rope, on
which he had lowered himself to the
ground and had then thrown it over
the prison wall, she being outside to
catch it and secure the end. He then
climbed ON to the wall, and his wife
and three of his friends had held
blanket, into which he had jumped.
Then. getting into a carriage, he had
been driven away.
The warden was quite sure that the
escaped mans wife had secured his
freedom, but had no evidence to sup
port the charge. Some time after the
escape was ordered by my chief to go
to Albany, where the woman was liv-
ing, arrest her on trumped up charge
and bring her to Philadelphia, where
the crime Of which her husband had
been convicted was committed. The
object was to force her to betray his
whereabouts, or, rather, to force him to
give himself up to secure his wife's
freedom.
/ found the lady-she was lady.
and refined lady, too-living in seclu-
sion. She doubtless surmised what
kind Of a game was to be played on
her, for I saw her face set with reso-
luton. / did not believe anything
could be forced out Of her. She went
with me without making any ado, and
/ refrained from the indignity of plac-
ing handouts on her. l took seat be-
side her In the train, resolving to make
the journey as easy for her as possible.
| During the ride to New York she told
me one of the most interesting stories
of how a mans ruin may be planned
! to save another that ever listened to-.
| IL the person who laid the scheme had
devoted his genius to writing detective
stories he might have made a large
fortune. The most ingenious part Of 1t
was that he fixed on an innocent man
SO that there was no way that he could
prove his innocence without casting an
aspersion on his own wife.
Not only did the lady make the diff
ferent steps in the plot plain to me.
but by the artless way she told her
story convinced me that she had not
| invented 1t and was telling the truth.
And when she told me that she and
her husband had intended to start for
Brazil with her children In few days
to begin life anew under different
/ name completely soured on my job.
On reaching New York we took sup
per together in restaurant, crossed
the river and boarded train for Phil
adelphia. Having told me her story
the lady sat silently weeping. Her ar
rest had spoiled a plan that she and
her husband had been working and
waiting for for several months. II hel
story and my faith in its truth had not
conquered me her tears would have
done so-that is, being convinced Of
her innocence. After leaving Trenton
told her that l was going into the
smoking car.
"Aren't you afraid I'll escapeT sh'
= asked.
ST don't see how you can" replied
"This train doesn't stop till we reacl
Philadelphia. and before that I'll b
4 back" =,
/ did not intend to return to her eli
we were in the station at Philadelphia
hoping that she would find a way 0
giving me the slip there, and thought !
possible that the train might pun up O
the way and go slow enough for her .
jump on.
smoked several cigars. At one Q
the towns through which we passe
9 where there were many tracks l NJ
Q ticed that we were running beside
IL train moving In the same direction O
{ ourselves and on the next track. In
e two trains were so near together that
4 could put my hand in at the window
O the one beside us. Both trains wer
e going at pretty good speed.
L Presently the other train began
e nun ahead of mine. was sitting
re the front seat Of the smoking car 9
II the side next the other train. SUDDEN
4 as the platform of the rear car OF u
Ie other trains caught and passed I'll
It platform of my car saw my prisont
d bend forward, grasp the ran OF q
n platform beside her and step on 70 u
n other train. She missed the rail- 81
tried for. and l thought 1t was all
lie with her, but she caught the rear "a
a and succeeded in clambering on to q
"a nlatform. That's all l saw, for q
V train she was on passed out OF sight
10 I thanked heaven that l had BET
10 spared sending the poor woman 70 d
n death and that she had escaped N
a Inst before reaching Philadelphia
went into the car where ! had left n
q prisoner and, not finding her, on reae
"A inc the hotel at which put up notln
"a INV chief of the woman's escape, tellll
"a him exactly how she had effected IT.