The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-03
ORR TELLS OF ESCAPE

locked in a cell when OvertOn and the prisoners escaped. told the story of the escape and gave general information leading up to the time of the escape, He denied that any person had given him any instructions about not per- hitting prisoners to handle the keys or to leave the corridors without being relieved by another deputy.
 The defense sought to show that Warden Warren. whom he succeeded, had told him of his duties and had mentioned especially that prisoners was not to leave his corridor office without being relieved by another deputy. Orr could not remember that he had been given such instructions by Warren or any other person.
 He admitted that he had been in the habit of eating breakfast with prisor CTS in a cell for about two months know this was improper, he replied; T can't say it was improper under cer tain circumstances"
 Orr admitted that he heard the cell brake snap when one of the Italians locked him In the cell the morning of the escape, but he paid little attention to it and the first real warning of the escape came from a prisoner-guard, Cole. Orr said that so far as he knew the sheriff did not know he was taking his breakfast in a cell with the prisoners, but he did know that he had to have breakfast. The defense attempted to show that the jail had been searched several times while Orr was employed but the witness could not remember it. R. M. Warren, whom Orr succeeded was called to the stand as a witness for the defense in order that he might be released to be present at the bedside of his brother. and declared that he did instruct Orr about his dlties and em- phasized that the sheriff desired that no keys be allowed in the hands of prisoners and that all prisoners be kept in their proper places.
 He said the sheriff often instructed him to see that all locks were locked that all packages were searched and that he had in his possession at all times the keys to the condemned cells. He said no prisoners were allowed keys during his term except to doors inside the prison.
 Sheriff Batson warned him about never leaving the corridor unless relieved and he renewed the instructions to his sue cessor, according to his statement. Orr had testified that no such instructions had been given to him.
 Warren mentioned that Sheriff Batson summarily discharged a warden named Gillespie as result of the escape of two prisoners during the time he was employed at the iail. This was intended to show the vigilance of the sheriff.
 WADE ALLEN TESTIFIES
 Wade Allen, prisoner, was the next wit ness for the state. He admitted that at times he slept in room which was not part of the cell section and said the prisoner named Cole. who was used as a guard, also slept in the room. Allen declared that he handled keys during the terms of Orr and Warren. but on cross examination he changed his story by saying that he may not have handled the keys while Warren was in office. Allen declared that he saw Sam Ma cena, condemned man, down in the hali- way drinking at the soft drink stand one time. This brought sharp questioning from Attorney Burr, who asked him if he did not tell the grand jury an entirely different story. Allen couldn't remember
 Attorney Burr read from the transcript of the grand jury investigation DOT ton of Aliens testimony which said that he was locked in the cell with Warden Orr and that he heard the brake lock as the escaping convicts moved it but that Warden Orr made no outcry. He said this statement was correct.
 Wiggins followed with his story of the warning, which he gave to Sheriff Batson. After this narrative, he said that on the morning of the escape Day Warden Lavender came into the jail SO minutes ahead of his usual time and remarked that he awoke early and de- cided to come down to the jail. The