Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-01-04
JAIL BREAKERS
Not a Great Many COnVictS Escape
Confinement.
The WORK OF The DOCTOR DUDDING
There Are Four Million Convicts in
tho United States-Stores of Prison
ers Who Gave up Through Fear.
BY Frederick j. uaSkin.

| Prison escapes seem to be unusually
numerous Of late. One man miracul-
ously departs from Jail with three
fellow prisoners and no clue is found
AT reformatory several desertions
lead to the suspicion that key is be-
ing circulated among the inmates. And
there are similar stories in the papers
Il most every day. They suggest that
Jail breaking is L frequent occurrence
We put the question up TO Earl Dud-
ding head of the Prisoners Relief So
ciety, and got this rcassuring answer:
"There is no great menace from cs-
capped convicts. There are four milliSs
inmates in penal institutions in this
country. Half 4 million men, women
and girls are convicted of some Of
fensc every year, and as many more
arc freed from prisons Compare these
big figures with the average number
Of escapes 4 year, which is almost five
hundrcd."
Five hundred convicts break away,
but Dr.. budding explains that where
even fifty years ago they might have
stood IL fair chance of permanent
freedom, today they are often retakcn
Immediately. A comparatively few
years ago refugee had Il chance to
cover his tracks and lose his identity in
he time it took to notify sheriffs and
spread word cf the escape Now cables.
he telephone, railroads. even airplanes.
[ necessary, can he called on TO speed
n pursuit.
If he is not taken at once, the con-
yict's manner hetrays him. Publicity
may have gone ahead Of him, he fears.
md so he is wary Of everyone he
meets. The man across the lunchroom
able who inquiries between bites Of u
sandwich where he works may be
detective. 4 policeman looks at him
md he is thrown into 4 panic Even
.ually he gives himself away in his ef-
'orts to be inconspicuuus.
Getting Back In.
Nearly every day." says DR.. Dudd-
ng, zone or more men nG this type
:ome to me Tor hclp because the Sltu-
ttion is too much for him. There was
| typical case just few days ago.
rhe: man came in and asked To talk
Nth: me. lie kept looking 1T me, try
ng 10 decide whether he could trust
ne with his secret.
"Wcll.' | said to him, when ala you
.scape?
THE blow nearly knocked hlA oVer'
ic had no idea he showed his lear s."
:alkcd the Imatter over, ana showed
!m that the only thing to 10 was 10
70 back and finish his term. Then ne
,Ould walk the streets Il free man. You
trent free now l told him. You d"nt
iare talk to anyone.
That's true, he said. 1jut IL Eo
nck I'll DE put IN IRONS ana WIS It
rusty
No, not If you give yourscit up
old him. 4 will write to the superin-
endcnt and explain that you are COM
ng back voluntarily, and ask him TO
rive you your old place"
The man agreed, and here IS the sur
nising part of the story. To one WI"
loes not understand prisons anu
prisoners us DR.. budding docs. inc
nan was not put under guard or hand
:uiTrd. DR.. budding told him TO come
,ack at Il certain time. When nc
+lmr lie WAS given ticket TO the JAN
own and Il letter which had been OBJ
aimed from the superintendent or Ill"
| IriSon saying tiiat he WIS 'i'' 'c'''e ~
permission of the prison authorities.
rhe convict was To carry this letter
With him, for he was wantca ps '"c
IOlicc and might have been arrested on
lis way. This man did not make any
lttcmpt to use either the letter "r lh''
| icket TO escape. The adventure WAS
,vcr for him..
Something like this happens about Il
! hundred times Il year. Escaped prison.
rs from :lll parts uf the country come
| II tu an office Of the Prisoners Rcil"l
uciety on write to DR.. budding To
iuow what to do. He tells them, as he
Old The man Just mentioned, that they
] l.. sN