The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-11-05
NOTED EX.CONv|CT
TRIES JAIL BREAK
LLOYD II. WOODRESS, ARRESTED
ON HONEYMOON, ALMOST ES-.
CAPPED FROM JAIL

/
Lloyd H. Woodress, alias John
Black, alias Edward Jones, alias Tom
Douglas, a four-term convict from
Montana, came very close to gaining
his liberty Tuesday night when he
dug a hole through the wall OF the
Latah county Jail and was caught as
he was preparing to crawl through,
after having thrown his coat, trousers
and hat through the hole he had dug
in the wall. Half an hour more time
was all he needed to gain his lib
erty.
Woodress had been supplied with a
file, a razor, knife, and 81 in money
Who gave these to him is only sur
mise but the officers have mighty
strong suspicious. Mrs. Woodress
visited her husband in the sheriff's Of
lfice Monday. Woodress was brought
from his cell and his wife greeted
him affectionately. She hugged and
kissed him and they sat for long,
long time, holding hands while she
Icaressed him and told him of her
udying love for him and her deter1n-,
Iination to help him and to stay with
him. When Woodress was returned
to his cell Deputy Sheriff l.. w. Peter
son gave him light search, feeling
over him for any concealed weapons,
but did not search his pockets.
Woodress has not been locked in his
cell, but each night was locked in
the big steel cage in which there are
several cells. He had access to the
corridor as did the other prisoners.
He picked the lock to the locker that
holds the big lever that fastens tne'
corridor door shut. The lever enters
this locker and is fastened with pad
lock. The paddock was not locked,
but the door to the locker was secure
ly locked and this is the lock that
Woodress picked with a wire.
This gave him access to the main
room of the Jail. He wrenched an
iron pipe used as stay or brace for
the railing to the stairs leading to the
top of the cage, from its fasten1ngs
and with this and butcher knife TAX
en- from the Jail kitchen he dug hole
through the wall beside the window
over the cook stove.
Deputy Sheriff Peterson heard the
noise and unlocked the outer door
leading into the sheriff's office and
the Jail in darkness The
lights are left burning in the jail at
night. He heard some one working |
on the wall and called to him asking,
what are you doing there" No an
swer came from the darkness. Peter
son began unlocking the inner door
and heard Woodress ascend to the top
of the steel cage. When the lights
were switched on WOodress was dis
covered standing on top OF the steel
cage with the iron pipe clutched IN
his hand ready to crack the deputy
over the head, when his escape would
have been easy. But the sight of the
gun that Peterson held in his hand
at full cock, caused Woodress to hes /
itate and there is an old and true
saying that 'he who hesitates is lost"
WOOdresS lost his chance for freedom
by that hesitation.
He was cowed and climbed down
rom the cage and entered his cell.
The door was locked and Deputy
Sheriff Charles Summerfield was
summoned. Summerfield searched the
all and the prisoners, examining the
lands Of each for marks of brick dust
)r mortar, but there were no marks
IN the hands of any but Woodress,
Who insists that no one was implicat
ed with him in the effort to escape.
The file, money, razor and knife, the
after small knife such as is used
~ women for pearing potatoes and
ruit, were found. Woodress refused
o tell how he got these things. He
vas locked in solitary confinement
md will be kept in a cell until he has
lis trial.
Has Served Four Terms
Woodress has served four terms in
he Montanta state penitentiary, ac-
,ording to the report made to John
Nisbet, prosecuting attorney, and
Sheriff Woody, who have been work
ng on his case and have secured
showing him in prison
Uniform under the names of L. H.
Woodress, believed to be his own
lame; "John Black" Edward Jones"
Ind 1sTom Douglas" He was first ad-
nitted to the penitentiary as Wood :
'ess in 1897, for one year for grand y
arceny He was next admitted in {
1903, under the name of John ;