Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-10-23
JESS GREEN TOOK TO HIS HEELS
Negro Prisoner in Oconee Jail Made
Daring Dash for Liberty.


uty Sheriff Boon r. Moss went to
open the outer door to the cell de-
partment he noticed that the door
did not swing with it's usual free
dom, but he thought nothing strange
about it, and gave an extra push that
sent it swinging open, and as the
door swung back he received lick
in the face from a black fist and a
smash over his right hand with an
instrument Of some kind. The force
Of the unexpected blows, and the
weight of the bulk of a negro man
falling on top Of him got him off his
feet, but he rose in time to see one
of his negro prisoners making his
way at top speed through the jail
yard and out Of the gate.
Grabbing his pistol from his pocket
Mr.. Moss took a shot at tho fleeing
coon, who happened to be one Jesse
Green, who is in jail on the charge
of having violated the liquor laws in
that he was travelling on the South
ern Railway with three gallons of
brandy in his possession. He was ar
rested at Seneca some few days ago
and lodged in the Oconee Jail.
Green made his escape from the
jail yard, across the Court House
square and Main street, heading for
the tall timber back Of that section
Of town known as "The Hub" He
was followed, however, by a num-
ber Of citizens who happened to be
about the Court House square, and
they managed to keep at least in
sight Of the black speck as it out
lined itself against the unlit hori-
zon. Automobiles we're soon on the
road at altogether unlawful speed
under ordinary conditions, and Green
was overhauled before he had gotten
past the town limits.
And if there was ever one tho
roughly scared coon, Jesse Green
was it He was speechless and
pale-that is. he had that ashy ap-
pearance that a darkey has when he
would be pale If it we're possible for
him to be. But Jess was scared all
right. and he had right to be with
five bullets chasing him out Of the
jail premises and a good many more
than that number Of mcn-some COL
ored ones among the number-hot
after him after he gained the open of
the streets.
The whole thing happened so
quickly that Green was back in his
cell, limp as a rag from fright and
eXertion, before it was realized fully
what was taking place.
Deputy Sheriff Moss was hampered
in his efforts to get his prisoner by
reason Of the fact that he had to stop
to lock the Jail door in order to Sc
cure his other prisoners, some four
or five, who were at the time clean
ing up about the cells, and were
outside the steel cages.
Just how the darkey concealed
himself to get the drop on Deputy
Moss is not definitely known. He
was either just back of the door or
over 1t, in such position that when
he struck the deputy as he entered,
the darkey could drop out Of the
opening and over the body Of Mr..
Moss. Fortunately the lcks struck
were broken and did not have the
evidently desired effect of putting
Mr.. Moss entirely out of commission.
and he was on his feet almost before
the negro had time to clear tho Office
room through which he had to pass
before gaining the outside world. A
shot was fired at the darkey by Mr..
Moss before the latter had been able
to entirely regain his feet
Green when he was taken from the
train at Seneca had in his posses
sion. besides the three gallons Of
brandy, ticket to Spartanburg, and
It. Is supposed that he was heading for
the military camp at that place to
dispose Of his liquor. From his Pc
culiar manner Of talking it is evil
dent that he is a low"country dar-
key, as he does not talk like the
negroes of this section Of the State.
Having taken the desperate chance
| he did to gain his liberty, it Is
thought entirely probable that the
darkey is really guilty Of some Of
Tense Of a much more grave nature
than that with which he is charged
by the Oconee officers He Is OF a
rather slight build. about feet 8
or 9 inches in height, we Judge,