The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1918-03-01
cONV|CTS ATTACKED
Guard AND BROKE
FOR LIBERTY
Eight Get Away But Six
Are Retaken Within a
a Few Hours.

Ahont II 80 Sunday night at Coun-
~ Convict Stockade one mile east of
the city, sensational escape was
effected by a number of negro pri-
soners who were in a conspiracy for
this purpose.
At night only one armed guard is
left on duty in the prisoners quar-
ters. but each prisoner is secured to
long chain which runs the length of
the building. This guard is station
ad at the end of the room next the
entrance, and is out of reach of any
of the prisoners.
A trusty is used when any of
the prisoners require attention, it be-
inp the orders of the guard at all
times to keep out of reach of the
prisoners.
On Sunday night just after II o.
clock as Mr.. Rufus McCutcheon, a
Young man employed as night guard,
was on duty, one of the prisoners
feigned illness, and asked for head
ache tablet.
All other prisoners were supposed
to be sleeping and the trusty, also
was asleep, so rather than awake the
trusty for this small service McCutch-
con disobeyed the rule and himself
undertook to carry the tablet to the
supposed sufferer.
No sooner had he held it out to
the prisoner, than he was seized by
the negro who was suddenly assisted
by the two others on each side. In
the struggle the followed he was
thrown to the floor and two long
gashes cut on the side of his neck,
and his pistol and keys taken from
him.
The prisoner with the keys unlock
ed the long chain releasing all the
others, % in number, while the one
with the pistol ordered them all out
of the building at the point of the
pistol.
Immediately outside some of them
broke open the blacksmith shop and
secured tools to cut off the leg chains
and disappeared quickly in the dark
ness. Two of the prisoners attempt
ed to assist the guard when he was
attacked but the one with the pistol
threatened them. AS the escape
leaders made off outside one of the
other prisoners ran to the house near
the stockade where the reserve guards
sleep and awakened them. The a
larm was Immediately sounded and
the pursuit began.
A check-up of the prisoners show
ed eight missing. The dogs were put
on trail and followed the escapes in
to Marietta, and later it was found
that some of them tried to steal a
Jltney that was standing in back
street, but were unable to start it.
Within 2 hours one was caught at
the railroad tank above town.
On Monday morning one was taken
on the road near Johnson's Ferry.
All the bridges and stations were
watched and on Monday night, after
store in Roswell had been broken
open and some shoes and clothing
stolen, the guard at the Roswell
Bridge halted some negroes who tried
to cross and in a gun duel wounded
one Of them slightly with bird shot
and he was captured near by short
ly afterward
This was Madison Williams one of
the leaders.
Early Tuesday morning another
one returned to the stockade and sur
rendered, and during the morning
two more were caught, so that with
So hours six had been returned to
the camp, leaving two at large who
are being trailed yet by the officers.
These two are Jim Bird with z
years served on a A year sentence
and Jesse Austin with months serv-
ed on IL months sentence, both young
negroes between 25 and 80 years OF
age.
The wounds of the guard Nc
Cutcheon proved to be not deep E.
nOugh to be fatal, but the long ugly
gashes across the side of his neck
will probably make him more careful
IN obeying orders, should he ever be
again be given charge of prisoners
of any. sort.
The work of the dogs and the per-