The Washington times., 1918-03-09
ONE
PRISONER Who
BROKE FROM VAN

Henry Robbins, colored, thirty-three
years old, one of the four house
breakers who escaped from the van
in which they were being taken yes
terday afternoon to the District jail,
was arrested at 11:40 o'clock this
morning at his home, $50 Cullinane
court, by Patrolmen Freye and ogle,
and locked up at the Fourth precinct
police station.
At noon he was delivered to United
States Marshal Maurice Splain, and
Jail to serve the ten-year sentence
melted out to him yesterday in the
District Court for HOUSEKEEPING.
Blaming the break" from the van
on Raymond Clancy. one Of the other
fugitives, Robbins declared that he
willingly consented to smash the door
Of the van and gain his freedom from
the long sentence staring him in the
face. Not having any funds, he re-
turned to his home this morning to
get money enough, he said, to get out
OF the city. He had been in the house
but a short time when he was ar
rested by the Fourth precinct dstec-
tive.
Police Inspector Grant today has
thrown out a dragnet for the capture
OF the other three criminals who
escaped.
The fugitIves, all of whom the po-
lice say have prison records. are Ray
mond Clancy, twenty-five years old.
44s K street northwest; Walter John
son, colored, thirty years old, Of Pitts-
burgh. Pa: Henry Robbins. colored,
thirty-three years old, $50 CuIlinane
court northwest. all of whom were
sentenced in the District Supreme
Court to serve terms OF ten years. and
Charles H. Thomas, colored, seven.
teen years old. zoos L street north
west sentenced to a maximum of I'VE
years.
Other Prisoners Stay.
Nine other prisoners VINO had been
sentenced to the jail and who were
in the van refused to be = party to
the escape.
Police this morning were open in
their criticism OF the guard who
failed to prevent the escape. It was
pointed out that the prisoners were
captured after committing several
daring Jobs OF HOUSEKEEPING. and
their freedom makes police efforts |
vain.
In escaping from the van the four
thieves smashed the door. which was |
secured with a heavy paddock and /
brace. 1t is said they braced them j
selves against the door with such 1
force that II yielded to the pressure /
The men then leaped from the van
and escaped in different directions. \
They were unmanAcled and wore ordi-
nary street clothes. making their
movements u suspicious.
Believed Out of City.
It is believed the fugitives have
left the city. and Inspector Grant has
sent out a "hyer" to all nearby cities,
asking that the police authorities be
on the lookout for them.
The escape was made as the van
was in Massachusetts, avenue, be-
tween Sixth and Seventh streets
northeast. The van was driven by
Jesse Briggs, and on the front seat
with him was Ernest Weaver, a
deputy United States marshal It was
stated this morning at Marshal
Splain's office that IT was not Gus
back step OF the van. II is likely
that in the future Marshal Splain
will order this done.
E. ]. Weaver, deputy United States
telling of the escape Of the
four prisoners, made the following
statement:
Deputy Tells Story.
81 was on the drivers seat with
woman prisoner between myself and
Briggs, the regular prison van
driver. We were on our way to the
jail and were going along at a pretty
fast pace. About $3.50 o'clock my at
tontiOn was attracted by a noise from
the rear. We stopped at once, and
jumped OF. leaving the woman pris-
Oner in charge OF the driver.
Il found that the rear door OF the
van he'd been forced open from the
inside and the men made their escape /
that way. There were no tools or I
OF that sort and even though
ran up the street looking for the |
fuEitives I could find no tIace OF {
Them"
E. ]. Weaver Is not to blame for the IL
,scape Of these men. according to
United States Marshal Maurice SplaIn.
Who said:
He attended to his duties as best he
,ould under the circumstances. No &C Z