Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-03-21
Slayer Of Judge Lawler
Dies, Rifle in Hand,
After Jail Break.
LAWS VERDICT OBEYED
Juries Had Melted Two
Slain Men Death; Five
Prisoners Escape.

BlRM NGHAM. Ala, March 20
The final chapter in what is believed
| to nave been Alabama g most sensa-
uonal murder case was written early
| tonight when David y. Dvertoh, for
mer official OF Huntsville. under, a
sentence of death for the killing of
Judge w. r. Lawler, his political
rival, last summer was shot and
killed by sherifrs posse near here
In fight in which Overton and six
companions engaged after they had
escaped from the jefferson county
jail here early today. Tony Malino,
another fugitive, also met death and
| j. l.. l.athem, also n member Of tho
escaped band, was mortally wounded.
Four of Overton's companions fled
when the fight with tine deputies be-
gan and are beng plrsued by the
posse None of the deputies were
wounded.
Malino was under Death sentence
for the murder OF u peddlcr here sew.
eral months ago aud I.athcm had
been Indicted on Il charge of forgery.
Ovcrpowcrcd All Guards.
The seven prisoners fled from Fir
mingham about o'ctocS this MORN
ing, after overpowe,lng two wardens
| ana turnkey. They were heavily
armed. Thorofares in every dnec-
ton out of birmingham were
searched and late this evening the
police were informed by n negro that
the prisoners were In hiding back of
| Owcnton college. This college Is
within one hundred yards of the
home of Solicitor Joseph II. Tate, who
last fall represented the state In the
prosecution of Overton.
Fifty shots were fired in the battle.
| The fighting occurred in wooded
field back of the college in the semi
| dusk. Ten deputies, under Sheriff
Batson of Birmingham, guided by
| their negro informer. surrounded the
escaped men. and soon were joined
by students from Owenton college.
| These youths led in chase after
| OVerton's four companions when the
firing began.
Falls. Gun in Hand.
Overton. armed with a rifle. met
the fire OF the officers alone at first,
firing the first shot, 1t was said. He
was joined by Malino and Lathem
and the trio apparently fought to
finish. The slayer of Judge Lawler
| fell with rifle I'm hand and must
have died instantly. Malino and
Lathcm both were armed with pistols.
The other four men who escaped
| this morning are Sam Messina, under
"A death sentence. and ]. Anderson.
! Frank Smith and +. G. Winters, the
latter three charged with forgery.
Malno the Leader.
Malino Is believed TO have been the
| leader in the plan to escape. About
S o'clock while eating breakfast In
his cell with a warden and a turnkey
he Suddenly leapcd to his feet and
dashed out of .he cell, locking tine two
officers in lie then liberated Over
ton and the other prisoners ard, after
oVcrpov ering a guard In the corridor.
| escaped to the Jail yard where they
confronted Warden Lem Lavender.
Overton, armed with revolver and
Malino. fortified with a razor forced
Lavender iGto the Jail kitchen and
took his keys. The fugit'ves then pro-
ceeded TO the street and several blocks
away got in II small automobile " nich
drove rapidly away.
Trial Sensational
David d. Overton was arrested
September %, last. at Smlthville.
Tenn. charged with the killing Of
Judge w. 4. lawler In Huntsville.
June I. 1916. after search had beer
maic for him In every state In the
south and PARTS of Canada. lie was
conN icted last November and sem
fenced TO death An appeal was made
10 the supreme court and this appeal
was pending when he made his
escape The finding Of the body of
awler in the Tennessee river near
" hitcsburS ferry, on the morning OF
June L. 1916. was followed ny the
suicide in the next week of Shelby
Peasants. n Huntsville attorney. and
Robert Phillips. sheriff of Madison
county. who, it Is alleged, killed item
selves because they believed they were
suspected In connection with the Law
Ter killing. Because of treats OF lynch
ing 'wo companies of the state militia
were sent to huntsville at the time of
the killing and remained on duty