Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-02-16
CONVICT WAS
HELD IN JAIL. HERE

but who was reCaptured near
Lexington, spent several weeks
in the Madison county jail last
summer. He was held here for
safekeeping, having been brought
here from Knox county, where he
was afterwards convicted.
The three men, Hcber Hicks.
Ray Blackburn and Chester
Phelps. were captured by deputy
sheriffs in house on Swigert av-
cnue. three and half miles from
Lexington, near the Country
Club. The men had gone to the
house about day light and had ia
ken possession of it. according to
the officers. No resistance was
offered by the Convicts and they
voiced hope they would "havc
better luck next time"
The house in which they were
found belonged to man named
Brown, who was not at home.
Receiving information that the
trio had been seen in that vicinity
Deputy Sheriffs Waller Marshall
Frank Hall, Thos. Mclaughlin
and Forest Stivcrs went in
search of them. Going to the rear
door Of the Brown home. which
was unlocked. the officers enter
ed and went upstairs. When they
attempted to open a door on the
second floor, there was resistance
as If some one was standing
against it. Deputy Sheriff Mar
shall hurled himself against it
and the officers. with drawn re
volvcrs. entered. The three men
were III the room and the conIi-
ton OF the bed indicated they had
taken some rest. Blackburn had
been against the door. it was
said.
All surrendered without resist
ance and were brought to Lex
ington and taken to the county
Jail. 1t was expected they will be
taken to Frankfort late this al
tcrnoon. There Is a reward Of
500 for each OF. them.
I'VE pulled clever stunt in es-
Gaping. but we certainly did 4
bonehead trick in getting caught
declared Chester Phelps when
seen at the county jail shortly at
ter the three had been placed i'll a
cell to await transfer back to
Frankfort.
The trio refused to say what
the "Clever stunt" was which
gave them their liberty except
chat they sawed out of their cell.
scaled the prison walls with the
guards only 4 short distance
away and made their getaway
under cover of darkness. They
declared, however. that the
guards had nothing to do with
letting them get away.
"Ihcy are wholly innocent of
any knowledge OF the stunt that
we pulled and started after us
almost as soon as we had cmcrg-
ed from prison walls, but we gave
them the slip by rusc and got
away" added Phelps. All three
men mad discarded their prison
garb and were dressed III new
styllsilly fitting clothes. They re-
fused to say when or where they
laid aside their prison clothes.
but lett the impression that the
new outfits were obtained i'll
Lexington.
I'VE travelled at night" said
Ray Blackburn. but made big
mistake in coming to Lexington,
where | was known. Then Black |
burn. with sigh, expressed the
belief that their capture was due
to the TACT that he was recognize
ed by someone here who knew
nm, referring to the fact that |
while he was secretary of the |
State Board of Charities he had
frequently been in this city and |
was tried and convicted in the
lexington court house. Then as
t execrating his bad luck in being
Blackburn said:
he number Is is my hoodoo,
believe. | landed at the Frank
ort prison on the 18th day of
month and our escape took place
III Sunday, the 18th. And when
think of that | wonder we were
lble to get as far as we did,
Phelps said they were hungry
nd went to the house this morn
ne to get something to cat.
nobody there he CON
inued, we decided to enter and
pend the day until night, when
We intended toy travel again I'M
Ter cover Of darkness and seek d
more secluded part of the cotln
~. After entering the house
We got something to eat and
vent upstairs to rest and reCuD- II