Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-19
Boykir1 Suspects
Atlanta Com Man
Bought Freedom

A Sitting investigation of the es-
cape of Abe Powers, the confidence
man, from the state prison farm at
Milledgeville, where he was serving
an indeterminate sentence of two to
five years for larceny after trust,
will be made by the state prison
commission, it was understood Sat-
urday night.
Members of the prison commission,
which is responsible for the conduct
Of all penal institutions, both state
and county, were not in the city
Saturday, but the general expectation
was that they would lose no time in
probing the escape of Powers
Solicitor General John A. Boykin,
although making no comment on
Powers escape, other than to de-
plore the incident, expressed the be.
lief that searching investigation
should be instituted at once to de-
termine the facts in the case.
Il know nothing of Powers es-
cape except what 1 have seen in the
newspapers and the bare report Of
CH6 IldLISE IudI TSdCllSQ A0 ILLS
morning from Milledgeville," said
Mr.. Boykin
NO Criticism
81 am making no criticism of any
body until | know the facts in the
case, but l do think that the mat.
ter demands a most searching 1n-
vestigation by the prison commls-
sion, which is charged with the duty
of administering the states penal
institutions"
J. r. Echols, deputy warden OF
the penitentiary, made the report to
the state prison commission Satur-
day that the trail of Powers was
followed by blood hounds to a point
on public highway about mile
from the penitentiary, that the trail
abruptly ended at that point, that
the shoes and some of the clothing
worn by Powers in the penitentiary
were found at that point land that
evidently an outside confederate
was waiting for him there with an
automobile and a full outfit OF
clothing.
j. E. Smith, warden of the peni-
| Tertiary, discussing the case with
The journal over long distance tele-
phone, denied that the shoes and
clothing of Powers were found at
the point where the blood hounds
lost the trail, but admitted that the
trail abruptly ended at a point on
a public highway less than a mile
from the penitentiary.
/ Powers Water Carrier
Powers was not trusty," de-
clared Warden Smith. "He was all
lowed to carry water back and forth
to the convicts working in the field,
and was given other light work
\ around the place on account of his
physical condition. This, of course,
necessitated his moving to and fro
| without guard, but he was not a
trusty in the sense that he was al
lowed to leave the prison farm and
go outside errands, like regular truss
ties. Powers was visited here by
his wife about a month ago, but no.
body else has visited him. He res
ceived mail frequently from his wife,
all of which was inspected. as we'll
as his outgoing letters. He receive
ed parcel post package on Satur.
day from his wife, but he was gone
before it got here. am sure he
neither received nor sent forbidden
messages through the mail"
Mrs. Powers is employed as cash
Ter at 'MaX's cafe on Luclkie street.
When interviewed Saturday after
noon regarding the escape of her
did not conceal her qualification.
Abe got away" she said "T saw
him last Sunday on a visit to the
state farm, and he didn't, tell me
word about his plans to escape, il
! he had any plans at that time We
agreed that I would visit him every
two weeks. I would have made it
oftener, but I couldn't spare the
money. We talked over the prospect
of his being pardoned when I was
with him; Ny lawyers have been
working hard and told me to tell
Abe that he would probably get a
pardon. sent him a pair of shoes
few days ago because the prison
shoes hurt his feet. On Friday
sent him box of food. but reckon
it got there too late for him"
i IL developed Saturday night that
4 Judge J. X. Hines, counsel for Chief
| of Detectives A. Lamar Poole in the
councilmanic investigation of the
"bunco- syndicate" had planned to
call Powers as a witness The escape
of the convicted bunco man Of
course prevents his being heard be-
fore the council committee, unless he
1 is apprehended before the hearings
are concluded.
eve had intended to let Powers
| tell what he knew of the bunco ring"
said Judge Hines. 1T was our plan
to ask the state authorities to allow
Powers to come to Atlanta under
guard, of course, and testify before
the councilmanic committee. I re-
greet very much that he has escaped
just Nat this time"