The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-05-07
CONVICT ESCAPES
FROM GANG
Heavily Shackeled and Guarded
But Manages to Escape
Daily Item, May 3.


John Henry Williams. a convict
committed to the chain gang and serv-
| ing a 90-day sentence for hoboing and
vagrancy Monday morning at about
$3.50 o'clock in the morning picked
| his chance and slipped into the swamp
| making good his escape. From very
short while after hi sescape until late
hour yesterday a posse secured the
swampS and tracked him for long
distances at a time but We're unable
TO get within landing distance Of him.
This division OF the chain gang,
which is known IS the yard force.
~ -.-o ,.J.-.c,, LII {, - 49,.
f,Lng Guard T. l.. Jones. TINS force
was at work on the Graham church
road which is about 10 miles South
Of Sumter, cutting trees and bushes
by the side Of the road, which entirely
:rosses this part Of the PocotallSo
swamp b! a series of twelve bridges.
The swamp at this location IS thick
with trees and underbrush and is al
most like jungle. John Henry
Williams had tried a number of times
before to make his escape and as
precautionary measures Engineer JEFF
lords had him double shackeled with
extra heavy chains and the chains
adjusted so that he could only take
a short step. The guard was also
warned to be especially careful in the
watching of this desparado who was
to have been tried at the next court
term for assault and battery with in
tent to kill This was the negro who
drew a pistol on Special A. C. l.. Of
iicer Hargrove attempting to shoot
him. Hargrove turned Williams over
to the police and he was tried and
sentenced to the gang by Recorder
Hardy.
According to the statement made
Monday by chain gang guard Jones
he saw the bushes shaking as Will
liams rapidly sank deep into the
swamp. Jones called, but did not
shoot at the convict. he word OF the
escape was given out as soon as pos
sible and jthe Rural Officers, Engi-
neer Jeffords and several other in
terested parties were quickly on his
trail. They successfully tracked the
escaped convict for long distances at
a time. Williams had taken his axe
with him and at his first opportunity
he had cut the chains with it which
coupled his legs together. The axe was
found by the hunting party at the
place where he had abandoned IT,
The blade was hacked and Scared
showing the difficulty which he had
in chopping the chains. The distance
between his tracks showed, however
that he had been successful in cut
ting this connecting chain. Inc
shackles still remained on his legs.
Williams made several doubles which
would throw his pursuers off time
and again. He would go straight
through pond after pond Of water and
then probably hide in the thick
bushes until the officers had passed
and then quickly doubling back again
in the direction in which he had come.
Late yesterday afternoon Williams
had successfully hidden himself some
where deep in the swamp and had
effaced all traces OF nlnlSeu. ne ID
still being hunted and the reward OF
SIS is placed on his recapture. he
is % years old. s feet, inches tall,
weighs about 15U pounds, is Of a GIN
ger bread color and of slim oulid.
Has a scar on right side of face and
one on his left arm.
Simeon Witherspoon. another negro
convict. Monday morning at an early
hour got his hip dislocated when he
was caught by falling tree and
pinned under it. Witherspoon became
entangled in some of the vines around
the tree and was therefore unable to
get out of it's falling distance after
the tree had been cut down. He was
brought to Sumter yesterday morning
and received all necessary attention.
TD1< y fcI wy.