The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-09-19
Patient Under Sentence of Death
Disappears From The
State Hospital.
GOVERNOR OFERS REWARD
Former Superintendent of Odd
Fellows Orphanage Was to
Be Removed to Greenville
Jail for Re-Sentence.

Columbia, S. c., Sept. 1S.-T. U.
Vaughn, former superintendent of the
Odd Fellows Home in Greenville,
who has been under death sentence
since 1912 for criminally assaulting
some OF the little girls Of the orphan
age and who has been in the State
Hospital for the Insane several years
for observations as to his sanity, es-
capped Monday night. Vaughn was to
have been taken to Greenville this
week for tests as to his sanity, an
order to this effect having been is
sued by Judge Peurifoy last Saturday.
Vaughn's disappearance was not
discovered until Tuesday morning He
placed a dummy figure in his bed,
and one theory is that he had pro-
cured pass key which opened his
own cell door and that he walked
down three flights of stairs and left
through one of the main doors of the
institution. A park bench was found
leaning against the fence on which
Vaughn mounted to vault over the
high fence about the grounds. I'M
mediately after Governor Cooper had
been apprsed of Vaughn's escape, he
"nered reward of $500 for his cap
ture. Officials have been instructed
throughout the State to keep a sharp
lookout for Vaughn.
Re escaped between $50 o'clock
Monday night and O'Clock Tuesday
morning. his disappearance being no,
ted by the day attendant who visited
Vaughn's room at o'clock The
night attendant had made the usual
rounds of the ward and had noticed
my to be Vaughn.
Fooled All Attendants.
The patient stuffed a pair of ordi-
nary jumpers" or overalls with cloth
ing he had made during his conffne
ment together with soiled underwear
until he had figure of man. This
he placed on his bed on the fourth
floor of the 10th ward and covered it
with the bed clothing. With the
dummy" completely covered with
the sheets and the back facing the
door all attendants were deceived in
to thinking the patient was in bed
and asleep. One night attendant is
required to inspect the room every
hour and this was done Monday night
and nothing was thought to be wrong.
Vaughn complained of slight
headache early Monday night and re.
tired about 1880 O'Clock. He was seen
In his room the last time about an
hour later. Tuesday morning at 6 o..
clock the night attendant turned
over the work to the day man and
the latter visited Vaughn's room
about $3.50 O'Clock to deliver the
morning paper. He noticed nothing
out of the ordinary and left the room
under the impression that the patient
was asleep. About z O'Clock another
attendant went to the room to wake
Vaughn for breakfast and when he
attempted to shake what he supposed
to be the former Odd Fellows sun
erintendent he discovered the ruse
and quickly spread the alarm. All au-
thorities OF the hospital were notified
and general search began. but to no
avail. Police officers were then called
to the scene and the department was
notified to be on the watch for the es-
caped man. DR.. C.. Fred williams.
super4tendent OF the hospital. i'm.
mediately sent out kilograms to North
Carolina. Tennessee, South Carolina
and Georgia cities asking the police
to keep close watch for Vaughn.
Two Theories of Escape.
Just how the prisoner made bis
getaway is battling hospital officials.
but two theories are advanced. The
theory believed to be the logical solu.
fion OF the mystery is that Vaughn
had keys to the ward doors and dur.
ing the night unlocked the two doors
he would have to pass through and
made his way into the yard. After
being in the yard the prisoner mere
iy walked to the wall along Lumber
street, which is about nine feet high
placed bench or settee against the