Deming graphic., 1920-01-20
UNUSUAL JAIL DELIVERY
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING
Four "Birds' Wanted on Both Sides
OF the Line Solve Riddle Of Strong
Locks and Make Escape.
THROUGH THREE SETS OF BARS
Before Escape Was Noted -Four Mexi-
cans Got Across Line and
Nobody Was Injured.

An unusual jail delivery occurred
shortly after midnight last Sunday
morning when four Mexicans succeeded
In getting out OF Luna county's new
and perfectly god jail-unusual because
there was no chase and no one killed,
as was usual following other jail de-
liveries from the old adobe establish
mcnt. Heretofore such escapes have
afforded the male portion of the local
population with intense excitement for
a few days and usually bunch Of fun
erals, one or two burials In the pot
ter's field, and mourning among fami-
lies of leading citizens killed.
The MeXicans were Francisco Mi
rales, Jose ArvizO Urbano Ponce, Vim
cente Marquee all of most any old
place In Mexico. The first two were
federal prisoners (booteggers), await
ing action Of the federal grand jury,
and the last two were Hidalgo county
prisoners. held for safekeep.ng here,
awaitlng action by the district court
grand Jury. All Of them were "muy
malo h0mbres" and wanted on both
sides of the border. Just now they are
on the other side, having made clean
getaway In car which confederate
had waiting for them. IL Is supposed
they must have crossed In the vicinity
of Columbus. There Is little hope of
Inpprehending them at this time.
The escape was due to defects In the
construction and equipment Of Dem
img's modern jsil, though " II sup
posed 10 he the best that money can
buy. II took considerable headwork
on the part Of the prisoners to break
out. They must have made thorough
study of the locking device and install
lation before they attempted the trick
This mastered, il took n fine mowl-
edge of the lever and considerable
strength. as Is apparent when 1t Is un-
derstood that they not only succeeded
In unlocking their cells but also of get
ting through two sets of about as
strong bars as medieval despot would
have chosen to restrain his choicest po
litical prisoners.
The first step I'm solving the riddle
of the lock was taken when, during the
day time. they removed the nut from
the bolt that connected the locking bal
with the horizontal bar that connected
II with the locking lever just outside th'
"run-around" (barred enclosure just
outside the cells). After being locked
In their cells by Jack Smyer, all they
had to do was tO reach outside and
over their cell doors and take out the
bolt. enabling them to shove up the
locking bar and open the cell door lead
ing into the barred enclosure. Another
defect In construction enabled them tt
bend M the ends Of the two bars whcr'
they were supposed to be imbedded In
solid concrete. A drain In the corner
Of tho run-around barred these bars aud
they were easily wrenched free of the
cement. To bend them, however, re
ouired almost superhumar strength
hut with the assistance of steel bar
and short length of chain taken from
the locking system they We're pried up
Another set os bars now confronted
them over the windows. Luck was
still with them, because the lower ends
of the bars were not riveted To the
frame and they were enabled to pry
them up and out sufficiently TO get
through. though the hole doesn't loob
large enough TO admit six-year-old
child. much less full grown men.
They had drop from the second
story OF the Jail, but evidently accom-
l;lished this with the assistance OF con
federates In waiting They took theiI
bedding with them. evidently expectnl
TO be away for some time. Having al
the technique OF professional saf'
creners they must have deadened tb'
sound of their work by covering th'
iron parts with clothing, for not
sound was heard I'm the jail office.