The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1917-06-13
CONDEMNED MURDERER
ESCAPES FROM JASPER
COUNTY JAIL YERTFRDAY
Aleas Cooler, Sentenced to Die for
Murder of w. ID. Thomas, Escapes
While Another Prisoners
Holds Jailer.
BLOODHOUNDS ON TRACK
Will Davis, Also Convicted of Killing
Thomas, Not in Plan to Break
Jail-Cooler Described.

Aleas Cooler, white, convicted of
murder and sentenced to be electrocut-
ed, but whose appeal is pending in the
Supreme Court, escaped from the Jas
per County pail at Ridgeland early
last night and at an early hour this
morning had not been recaptured, al
though Sheriff Langford reported that
he was using every effort TO appre-
hend Cooler and was expecting blood
hounds, which he had wired to Co.
'lumbia for, to reach Ridgeland this
morning.
Learning that Cooler had made his
escape, The News and Courier got in
communication over the long distance
telephone with Sheriff Langford, at
Ridgeland, who freely gave all infor-
nation in his possession regarding the
affair.
According to Sheric Langford Cool
er and another white prisoner, E. f.
Jacobs, the latter held on charges of
fraud, planned yesterday to make
their escape last night at supper time.
This statement was made TO the She
ric by Jacobs, who failed to get away.
The prisoners are turned out of their
cells into hall between the cells at
meal time.
The Attack and Escape.
There are now four prisoners in
the Ridgeland Jail and the sheric said
all of them were in the Jail yester
day afternoon and that he talked with
them. He stated that when Jailer w,
A. Munich carried supper to the pris-
oners he opened the outside door, sup
posing that the four men were in the
hall, but, it seems that only two were
there, the other two, one of when
was Will Davis, convicted of murder
along with Cooler, being locked in
their cells.
When the jailer put the supper
down Jacobs grabbed him by the arm
and told him not to move or make
a sound or he (Jacobs) would kill
him. Jailer Munich obeyed instruc-
tions. In the meantime, Cooler had
dashed through the door, down the
stairs and out into the Jail yard.
Jacobs locked the jailer in the hall
and attempted to follow Cooler, bat
got only as far as the door downstairs,
which by that time had been locked
by Mrs. Munich, wife Of the iailcr.
Jacobs then went back upstairs and
released the jaicr.
The sherc was Immediately notified
and search was begun for the escaped
condemned man, out without success
at last reports received early this
morning.
The killing and Trial.
The killing of w. d. Thomas. q
woods rider for the Okcetee Hunting
Club, occurred December 20, last, and
early in March Cooler and Davis
were placed on trial charged with
murder. The case was hard fought.
Cole l.. Bleasc, Esq, former Gov
ernor of this State, was of counsel
for Cooler. The evidence against the
two men was considered very damag-
ing. Each defendant was accused by
the other of firing the fatal shot. The
jury returned a verdict of guilty Of
murder in the first degree in three
and half hours. Judge Ernest Moore.
presiding, sentenced the two men to
be electrocutetd on April 6. An ap-
peal to the Supreme Court stayed the
execution of the sentence. An opin-
ion has not yet been handed down
in this case.
Sheric Langford described Cooler
as weighing about 225 pounds, grav
eyes, bald headed, and about thirty
five years of age.
Shcrig Martin was asked by She
rig Langford lasL night to keep a
sharp lookout for Cooler. Can't. Mar
tin assured him that the sheric's Of
flee and the rural policemen would
watch for Cooler and if he is found
here he will be promptly arrested.
1t is thought that Cooler will try to