The Washington times., 1918-03-19
DESIRE FOR FRESH
A|RREASON GIVEN
. FOR JAIL BREAKING

81 just went out to get some ali" !"
said Albert Thornton. twenty-year-
old colored prisoner, from his cell at
the District jail to a Times reporter
today. Ls
This explains the return OF one OF
the fifteen prisoners who escaped
from the Jail Sunday night in the
biggest Jail break in the history of
Washington. Fourteen others. twelve
colored men and two white men. are
still at large today.
The entire police force, the local
detective bureau and nearby county
officials are continuing search for
the fugitives.
Five thousand descriptive circulars.
giving full descriptions Of the men.
their photographs. and the crime each
IL charged with. and offering $25
for each man. have been sent. to ev-
cry section OF the country.
After nearly forty eight hours OF
continuous search by police, detec-
tives, and county officials OF nearby
States for the escaped men, Thornton
sauntered up to the Jail about S
o'clock last night, and rang the bell
at the front jail door.
The guard answering the ring
could hardly believe his eyes. There
was Thornton, who is charged with
numbering his common law wife
"Here l am" said Thornton.
81 had no intention OF staying
away. I Just wanted to get little
fresh air"
Denies Doing Saving.
From his cell this morning Thorn
ton told The Times reporter OF the
iaring jail break. He said he did not
know who had the saw or, who did tho
saving, responsible for the escape.
Neither did he have any knowledge OF
:he improvised rope, made OF bed
sheets, down which the men slid fifty
feet from the attic OF the Jail TO free
dom.
II was on the second tier being
shaved" said the negro.
II was going down to court in the
morning, so they gave me a shave. ]
was the last. l believe, to be shaved. |
I went to the fourth floor ahead of
Mr.. Erskine, the guard.
other fellows were climbing through |
the IRON attic door In the side OF the |
wall. l didn't know how IL had been |
opened. I didn't even see any saw.
Was Last Man Out.
Then I thought for about a half |
minute. I thought how nice 1t would |
feel TO my body 20 get some fresh air. |
So said 10 myself. will go out and
get some good fresh air.
80 climbed up. too. I was the
las; man through the attic door. The |
others were already sliding down the
sheets which they had tied to a 1
beam In the attic. 1t was dark up /
there.
II don't know where the sheets all /
came from. They were all tied up
tight in three strands. / thought { .
was strong enough to hold me. and 4
| just wanted to get some good fresh /
air.
Il Wis the last one down. When |
reached the ground took a couple Of
good big inhales OF air. Gee, II was
good. boss"
Got Car fer Baltimore.
when I got over the fence / didn't
see a one of them fellows. was the
asst one out. and they had just dis
all fourteen of 'em.
II walked down over all them little
Iuliies and reached Fifteenth and II
'trees where hoped car for Balti-
more. Gee the fresh air was good,
md the moon was shining.
81 got all nlled up with air in
Baltimore and came back last night
You see / didn't want to stay away;
wasn't any Jail breaker or nothing
Ike that: ] just wanted some good
rerh air. So when / got back In
| went over to the jail
md gave myself up"
Louis F. zinkhan, superintendent