Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-28
Jail-Brcakers
Hy Frederic J. Haskin

Washington, d. c., Dec. 2s.-Prison
escapes seem 70 be unusually numerous of
late. One man mirac,ilo,irly departs from
Jail with three fellow-priBoncrr, and no
clue is found AZ rcfmpatory several
dcsertions lend 10 the suspicion that n
key in being circulated among the inmates.
And there nre similar stories in the papers
almost every day. They suggest that jail
breaking is n frequent occurrence.
We put the question up TO Earl Drndd-
ing, head of the Prisoners n Relief Society
and got this reaasuring answer
There s no great menace from escaped
conviots. There are -four million inmates in
penal institutions in this country. Half n
million men, women, boys and girls are
convicted of rome offense every year,
and ns many more are freed from prisons
Compare these big figures with The average
number Of escapes year, which is almost
five hundred
Five hundred convicts break awny,
but DIR. budding explains that where
even 80 years ago they might have stood
q fair chance Of permanent freedom,
today they are often retnkcn Immediate
ly. A comparatively few years ago
refugee had chance % cover his trackH
and lose his identity in the time IL took
to notify aheriffs and spread word of the
escape. Now cables, the telephone, rail
roads, even airplanes, If necessary. can
be called ON to speed in pursuit
II he is not taken et onoe, the convirt's
manner bctrays him. Publicity may have
gone ahead of him, he fears, and no he in
| wary Of every one he meets. The man Across
the lunch room table who inquiries he-
tween bites Of n sandwich where he workH
may be detective A policeman looks at
him and he IS thrown into a panic. Even-
tually he gives himself away in his efforts
IN be inconspicuolis
GrTrIrG BACK III.
NEARLY every day, sayu Doctor Dudd-
ing, "one or more men uf this type come
to me for help because The situntion is
too much for them There was a typica |
case just few days ago. The man came
In and naked to talk with me He kept
looking AZ mo. trying to decide whether
he could trust me with his secret.
Well. | said 20 him, when did YOU
e#oape2
The blow nearly Knocked him ov~r
He had no idea he showed his fear so
plainly Then he looked relieved We
talked The matter over, and showed him
that the only thing To- do was 20 20 back
and finish his term Then he could walk
now. told him You don't dare talk
to anyone
That's true he said But II 90
back III be put in irons. and | was .
trlmty
No, not il you give yourself mp,
] told him. Il will write 70 III. superin-
teudent and explain that you are corning z
back voluntarily, and ask him 20 give you
your old place
The man agreed, and here In The sur
priring part of tho story. n one who does
not understand prisons and prisoners "a
DT budding does The man was not put
under guard or handcuffed Dr budding
told him 10 come back n certain time
When no came he was gwen a ticket 70
the jail town and \ letter which had been
obtained from tho superintendent Of the
prison Haying that he was travelling by
permission of the PRISON authorities. The
convict waa % carry this letter with
him. for he was wanted by the police and
might have been arrested on his way
Ihls man did not make any attempt 20
use either the letter or the ticket 20 escape.
Tho ndve ture was over for HIM
Something ike this happens about
hundred times year Escaped prisoners