Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-06-03
THREE WOMEN AID
IN THE CAPTURE Of
ESCAPED PRISONER
Eight Convicts Saw Out of
Federal Prison Here
Three Are Caught Shortly
Afterwards

Wednesday morning, of the eight who
sawed their way to liberty at 3:45
o'clock Tuesday afternoon. All night
thirty prison guards searched the
territory within a radius of ten miles
of the prison. Wednesday morning
they were replaced by fresh men,
and the search was continued.
Every peace officer we could reach
within a reasonable radius has been
notified" said Fred G. Zerbst, ward
en-. Descriptions of the five men
have been sent to the papers"
The convicts at liberty are:
Rector Sheriff., No. s402. rs years
old; feet Ia inches tall; weight,
1855; medium build; eyes. chestnut,
complexion, medium fair; occupation,
sailor.
Richard F. Dodge, No. s456; white;
- years old; feet II inches tall;
weight, 1874; blond hair; blue eyes,
former soldier.
Orville Harry Cook, No. 1854;
white; 2s years old; feet IL
inches tall; weight, 145; hair, light
chestnut; eyes, blue; formerly drafts
man.
John Duffy, No. 906s; right name,
William Brusco; 20 years old; ap-
pears older; feet IL inches tall
weight. 1876; complexion and eyes,
dark; formerly stonecutter.
Thurman A. Browns No. 1856, ne
gro. twenty-six years DID, appea-s
oIder. ava feat seva1 .r5 +braa o.,,,r
ter inches tall. weight 143 pounds,
color light brown. formerly laborer.
Three women Capture One
The terms Of these men range
from four to twenty years. Cook and
Brown were ringleaders in an escape
Of fifteen prisoners some years ago
at Washington, D. C. Duffy and
Sheriff. escaped from the Atlanta
prison not long ago, were at liberty
several months and were captured at
Louisville
The liberty of three Of the eight
escaping convicts was OF short du-
ration. They were apprehended Tues
day afternoon, and by all odds the
most spectacular capture was that
of Thomas Bilhauski by three
women.
The story is the kind you read
about and shake your head over
only this time 1t actually occurred
and the prison authorities are will
ing to be recorded as saying that
these three women showed more
nerve and resourcefulness than they
believed was lodged in the sex, even
if Bilhauski did get away from them
temporarily, in mad break for lib
erty.
This is the way it was:
Spot One
Mrs. W. A. Duke was at her home
on Bryant's Mill road, perhaps three
fourths of mile beyond the prison,
when the long-drawn wall Of the ST.
rem announced to all the countryside
that convict or several convicts had
got away from the prison.
Mrs. Duke was not particularly ex-
cited. In about an hour, there came
driving in her motor car Mrs. Dukes
daughter, Mrs. J. M. Phelps, of 233
Highland avenue, and Mrs. Phelps
was excited enough for both.
"A guard got me to carry him
along the road, right up this way"
she announced. Eight prisoners are
out. They think one or two came
this way"
This furry had eubsided when an
aunt of Mrs. Duke, Mrs. Samuel Mar
tin, of Lakewood terrace, came to
~ al a
other things than jail deliveries and
presently walked out into Mrs. Dukes
garden.
And there, sitting inconspicuously
in the midst Of honeysuckle vine,
under a peach tree, was a man clad
in a gray sweater, blue overalls, and
a checked cap. '..
Mrs. Duke walked up to him.
Who are you?" she asked.
Bring Up ARTILLERY"
well, If you must know, I'm
tramp" rejoined the man, with
great appearance of frankness. II
came here from Birmingham, and Pm
tired, and I just came over into this
garden to sit down and rest in the
shade"
And he assumed a more recumbenr
posture, looking decidedly at home.
The trio of ladies continued their
stroll about the garden, but as soon
as they were out of earshot Mrs.
Duke said:
IT don't like his looks. L think hes
one of the escaped prisoners. I'll go
back and talk to him and you go and
get the revolvers."
Two revolvers, it seems. hung by
.:rs. Dukes bed in their holsters
She walked back to the man, who ex-
hibited no uneasiness, and seemed to
be under the impression that it was
spend-the-day party.
Quite promptly Mrs. Phelps and
Mrs. Martin rejoined her, the revolv-
ers carefully held back Of their
skirts.
Now" Mrs. Duke addressed the
man. Il think you did not come from
Birmingham. think you came from
the prison"
The man put on an air Of surprise
mixed with injury.
rs there a prison around here"
he said.
warns Prisoner to BE Good
ooh, yes--a big one; right over
Thanking you for telling me-"
was the cool reply. 81 might have
stumbled over it," }
II think you're going to, anyway"
Mrs. Duke told him. "lf you want
to know what I think about it, l
think you're one of the escaped pris-
oners, and you're going to stop here
until you are investigated"
And at the same time Mrs. Phelps
and Mrs. Martin produced the re-
volvers and presented them in the
general direction Of the tramp
The tramp" demonstrated bitterly.
was this the famed hospitality of
the. southland? Was this any way
<no.... No. g r.,u ~