Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-18
.DESERTER E.LUDES
CAMP. LEE GUARDS
Eppa Lee Williams, Richmond
Soldier, Under Sentence of
Fifteen Years.
ESCAPES NEAR NEW BOHEMIA
Military Authorities Unable to
Find Trace of Young
Man in Woods.

Coincident with the official Announce
nent nt that he had been sentenced to
scrtion. Eppa Lee Williams. twcntS-
three years old. Richmond soldier. cs-
caped from Camp Lee shortly before
III o'clock yesterday morning
Military and civil authorities COM
bined in the search for the fugitive all
day. but late last night the convio;
was still missing.
>Wiiiiams. famiiiarly known as
Mummy" managed his escape through
Il ruse. He. with another prisoner anC
one guard armed with a rifle. were rid
ing IN wagon about Il quarter of a
mile from New Bohemia. Williams was
uri'lng the mules and suddenly stop
ped the animals, stating that "a part 81.
tho harness was disarIangcd. He stop
ped down beside the mules and sudden
ly dashed into the thick woods alon.
the side of the road.
THREE SHOTS FIRED
At FLEEING SOLDIER
The guard called to the fleeing man
20 mart. ana getting no response, fired
at him, Three bullets were sent after
me fugitive. but none reached their
mark. The guard forced the second
prisoner down from the wagon and.
driving him ahead chased Williams
quite Il distance through the woods
The deserter succeeded in eluding the
guard. who returned to the wagon and
sailopcd the team back TO the Camp
Lee stockade.
Immediately every available member
OF the camp and stockade guard. with
military police, WAS sent on the senrca
Tor Williams, while authorities in sur
rounding towns We're notified OF the
escape and given the fugitive's descrip-
tion. Tie armed posse secured tn.
WOODS ana country Tor miles about the
point where Williams made his escape.
FATHER RERORTIsD TO
LIVE IN RICHMOND
According to the authorities. vii.
lamss father lives In Richmond be-
ing einPloFcd as machinist at the
locomotive Works. Efforts were be :.
father. '"e
According 20 the authorities. VIII
iiams hrst rebelled against military au-
tnoritE when he broke quarantine on
the night OF August IL, 1918 He had
been placed in quarantine, preparatory
10 10 gong I,s overseas During the evening
ne auI, ieit SSamp and was missing until
august ii. when he was taken into
custody and charged with being ali.
sent without leave.
ARRESTED WHILE:
WORKING ON FARM
ne was held until September II. when
n3 3 aesefted from camp. On October 2
serscanlE Theobald Si,ci Joseph Bauser1
man arrested hinf while he was worIl-
lnG on farm about twenty miles from
amp Lee. He had told his employer
ne had been discharged from service.
Iourt martial proceedings were con-
Quoted some time ago, Dut the nndinc.
and sentence were no; published uni Il
yesterday.
-, Inc Inc sentence had not been read to
,Miiiianis before he csc. ped. but i, IS
~ oe'Ts ca ihat he had received word OF
the Tong imprisonment in store for. hin;
mus inspiring his daring dash Tor
iioeriy. The military authorities had
intended sending him to the discipiin-
~ tIicks at Fort jay, y. " within
the next few DAYS
Wnen Williams WAS last seen h., the
s. suaru ne WAS wearing blue overall
Snit with olive drab trousers bencaIh
re wore no lc9gins and had on . brown
Nh'ttch hcinet. rolled up. lie. is abol,I
nns feet iive inches tall, has light hair
had several days growth Of heard "n
his face. '''