The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-09-20
Notorious Criminal Made His
Escape From State Asylum
at Columbia
WIDE SEARCH INSTITUTED
By STATE AUTHORITIES
Believed to Have, Gained Free
dom by Use Of Hospital Pass
Key


"a 90 - ~ ----------- ----
Columbia, Sept. 1T. U. Vaughn,
former superintendent of the Odd
Ee.fows' Home at Greenville, an in
mate Of the State Hospital for the In
sane under an order Of the court for
observation as to his sanity, escaped
some time during last night and has
not been apprehended. Vaughn was
convicted before the circuit court of
Greenville county on October 26, 1872,
OF criminal assault upon a young
girl, an inmate of the orphanage,
while he. was superintendent, and was
sentenced to die by electrocution on
December 90. 1912.
Appeals to the Supreme Courts of
the United States ana Of South Caro-
lima held up his sentence for eighteen
months, after which time he was re-
Enanded to the State Hospital for the
Insane for observation as to his men
taIseondition.
Vaughn has been confined in a ward
an the fourth floor Of the main build
ing. Of: the hospital. In the opinion OF
the asylum authorities. he had Sc
cured 81 pass key and unlocked the
door leading to.the fire escape, down
which he escaped.
The escape Of Vaughn was made
some time between 3 o'clock last
Aight and O'Clock this morning.
Vaughn complained of headache
about o'clock last night, according
to the statement of the night attend
ant; and said he would retire. This
attendant saw no more of him. AT
6sso'clock this morning he went into
Yaughn,s room with a newspaper and
saw hat he. believed to be Vaushn's
body lying recumbent beneath the
sheets on his bed. At O'Clock the
night attendant went off duty and
the day attendant came on. About
an hour later the day attendant went
to ssYaughn's room, to call him, as he
Had not appeared and found a dunn
my made of clothing in the bed and
Vaughn gone.
The hospital authorities immediate
E gave the alarm and a thorough
seaxchSwas made Of the building and
grounds They were forced to the
opinion that Vaughn in some way Sc
cured a key. and unlocked the door.
to his ward during the night. None
OF the window bars were broken and
the night attendant, who said he was
IN and out of the. ward during the
night saw nothing Of Vaughn. DR.. c.
Erred Williams, superintendent Of the
hospital, says he has absolute conf
dence: in this attendant ano is salts
fed that there was no collusion on
his: part
h vas discovered on searching the
grounds that bench which had been
Ia the yard had been placed next to
the brick wall which surrounds the
grounds aud that footprints resembl-
ing. Vaughn,s were around the bench.
a brick pavement runs outside this
vail and in the street at this point
were. prints where an automobile
had turned around in the street. How
ever. as automobile traffic is very
heavy along this street, these prints
may bear no significance in connec-
tion, with the escape.
X II hen he left the hospital Vaughn
carried with him a gray suit, an ex-
ira. pair of blue trousers, a brown
hat and black top shoes and was
wearing a light cream shirt. The
hospital authorities describe him as
being about thirty-eight years Of age,
about, 1--WE feet tall, weighing 12o
pounds and rather effeminare in ap-
psarance. He has light brown hair.
which is very thin. almost to bald
ness on the top; has penetrating blue
eyes, rather protruding, is of light
candy complexion and wears a. No.
5 shoe.
At their last annual convention
held some time ago, the Odd Fellows
of the State adopted a resolution call
ing ON Governor Cooper to see that
the sentence of the court IN vaughu's
case was carried out. The governor
referred the matter to Solicitor Mar
tin of Greenville, who short time
ago fled papers on Vaughn and his
attorneys stating that he would re-
quest the court to remand Vaughn
to Greenville for test Of his sanity.
Governor Cooper this afternoon Of
fered a, reward Of $500 for the appre-
hension of Vaughn.
Shortly after Vaughn was placed in
the State penitentiary he went into
an apparent state of coma. from
which nothing could arouse him. His
movements were mechanical. He
would groyel on the floor and appear
ed dumb. The prevailing theory was
that he was feigning insanity and
many eminent alienists examind him.
They pronounced him insane.
Since being placed in the State
hospital he has been under close OBJ
servation. He has been able to talk
nationally for months and is a con-
slant reader of the newspapers. Ac-
cordiDg to DR.. Williams, the superin-
tendent, Vaughn has shown no de-
cided change in his mental condition
for more than a year. He has COM
planned of hearing voices, and at
times ne was vague and incoherent
In conversation. although able to talk
on most topics. The au-
thorities at the asylum are convinced
st,at Vaughn is insane, said DR.. Will