Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-09-01
ESCAPE OF PRISONERS
IS ORDERED INVESTIGATED
Department of Justice Reused
Over Departure of Fay
and Companion

According to an Associated Press dis
patch from Washington, officials of the
department of justice ordered Wednes-
day an investigation of the escape
Tuesday afternoon from the Federal
prison in Atlanta of two prisoners,
Robert Fay, German conspirator who
was serving an eight-year sentence fol-
lowing his conviction in New York on
charges of conspiracy to destroy yes
sells and their cargoes, and William
Knoblock, of Baltimore, who was serv-
ing an eighteen months sentence for
fraudulent use of the mails.
Warden f. G. Zerbst, on being asked
when the investigation would be held,
said that it could not take place until
all the guards engaged in the search
had returned to the prison. He had
nothing to say as to whether any sue
cess had been attained in the search, but
intimated that he might have something
to report Thursday morning.
The Associated Press dispatch fol-
lows;
WASHINGTON. August 3O.-Ohicials
of the department of justice today or
dered an investigation of the escape of
Fay and Knoblock.
1t was thought likely that Fay would
head toward the Mexican border and
agenas of the government have been
sent out to apprehend the fugitives.
A full report is expected by the de-
partment from the warden.
Warden Zerbst is inclined tc be-
lieve that the two men, after
making their escape Tuesday afternoon,
reached the railroad tracks and there
managed to hop" a train and are pos
sibly hiding in some small town. He
e. hax 70 a -
shals and police of a great number of
towns Immediately following the escape
which was effected about $3.50 o'clock!
The warden was besieged all morning
with telephone calls from all parts of
the city stating that the two men We're
seen in that particular neighborhoou at
certain time, but he says the telephone
calls have had the two men in several
places at once and at extreme parts of
the city. No definite clue as to their
whereabouts has been found by lie
guards who searched all Tuesday after
noon nor by the second relief sent out
early "Wednesday morning. Warden
Zerbst thinks the best chance of find
ing the men is through the police Of
some of the small towns.
MADE CLEVER ESCAPE.
The escape was effected in a clever
manner. Both Fay and Knoblack were
detailed to the electrical department
The former was a mechanical engineer,
and the latter was an electrical en-
gineer 1t was part of their prison duty
to attend to the big arc lights around
the prison and at the warden's home
They had also been employed in wiring
the new cell wing which connects with
the main building by corridor and in
which about a hundred prisoners are at
work daily.
Dressed in the blue overalls of the
prison and with their electrical appa-
ratus in their hands, they passed the
guard at the new cell wing by showing
him a forged pass. Hundreds of men
pass the guard daily and the pass which
the prisoenrs are given was a very
clever forgery, and the guard did not
detect il. The men having got by the
guard, proceeded to the end of the new
building and from there to the gate
way in the concrete wall about the
prison.
Fay and Knoblock approached j. w.
Pouncey, newly employed Guard at the
gate. and told him they had been sent to
make some repairs on light near the
warden's home just outside the wall
The guard allowed them to pass. Out
side, the two prisoners climbed a light
pole as a ruse and began tinkering with
the arc light wires. They climbed down
casually and called back to the guard
that they were going to do some work
on a light nearer the warden's home
and walked away. Once out OF sight
OF the sentry, the two cut across the
grounds in front of the warden's home
and made for the railroad tracks be-
low, think the officials.
MILKMAN SAW THEM.
A miIkman driving down the road was
the first to observe the escape. He
reported at the prison having seen two
prisoners Immediately the whistle was
blown and the prisoners checked up.
When Fay and Knoblock were found
missing guards were sent out to search.
The guard, ]. w. Pouncey, was dis
charged.
Fay, the more notorious of the two,
was committed to the prison June %.
He, with his brother-in-law, Walter
Scholtz. and Paul Deache, is alleged to
have been in a conspiracy in conIec-
ton with an attempt to destroy some
steamships carrying ammunitions to the
allies Fay had been in America but
six months before he was arrested He
came from Germany at the outbreak of
the war and later claimed to President
Wilson that he was a deserter from the
kaisers army, and asked TO be deported
to his country.
He is a man of culture and refine
ruent state the prison officials, and he
had made many friends among the
prisoners.
The usual $50 reward offered for the
apprehension of an escaped prisoner has
Teen, in the case Of Fay, raised to 500.
Fay's age is 50. though it is stated
he looks about 40. He is feet, 10 ga
inches in height, 165 pounds in weight.
He is bald on top and back of his head,
with fringe of light brown hair. His
eyes are pale blue and his complexion
fair. He has two small vaccination
scars on his left shoulder, freckle mole
below and to the front of his left lobe,
an indistinct pit scar on his right brow
and small scar on the point of his
chin.
Robbers Blow Safes of