The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-04-11
VAUGHAN USES
RAZOR T0CHEAT
ELECTRIC CHAIR
Former Superintendent of Odd Fol.
low Orphanage Commits Suicide
BY Slashing Throat With
Razor Before Other
Prisoners.

tampa, fla., April VI HurSton. -
Vaughn, arrested here while teaching
school as T. A. Earl, and held for
South Carolina authorities for deaell
sentence for assault;ng four girls at
the Odd Fellows orphanagc at Green
vile, slashed his throat with a razor
in his cell in murder row III the
county Jail here last night. He died al
most instantly, having almost sever
ed his head from his body with the
stroke. It was his fourth major at
tempt at suicide and he had once
tried to open a previous wound in his
throat.
Vaughn had been kept in a straight
jacket ~ the hospital ward after his
attempts to kill himself the night of
his arrest, but today he was moved
to murderers' row and placed in a
cell with three men charged with
murder Sheriff Spencer states he
has no knowledge of who authorized
the removal Of the straight jacket.
The presence of the razor is ex-
planned by the jailer. Jailer Hub
bard says that Friday is shaving day
at the jail and the razor goes the
.ounds of the cells. When it reached
the murderers' row, Vaughn appar-
emily bided his time, After the other
prisoners in his cell had finished,
Vaughn, it is said, was given the
razor by one of his mates. Walking
down the corridor of the cage, ap-
parently to the lavatory and with
not a show of bravado, the man sud-
lenly halted, according to one Of the
prisoners. Like a flash he raised his
right hand, the blade flashed in the
dim stream of light from nearby
corridor and with a vigor that told
of an intent purpose the man brought
it's keen edged blade against his neck
over the leader just hack of the
right ear. His arm came on around
with the initial swing all the way
around to beneath the left ear. Moth
ing but steadfast nerve and de-
termination of purpose seldom seen
made possible such powerful stroke
self inflicted, say physicians The
head swung over to one side as the
body fell to the steel floor. Prison
ers shouted and there was scurry
throughout the corridors of the Jail.
A truly carried the word to Jailer
Hubbard and hurry call was sent
for County Physician. H. o. Snow,
who fastened to the Jail. Meanwhile
the jailer and attendants at the hos
pital ward reached the cell and at
tempted to give some a;d, but it was
hopeless, for life had flown with the
rush of blood from the juglar vein
and other severed blood vessels feed
ing the brain. .
When DR.. Snow arrived he pro
nounced the man dead and said NO
relief under the sun could have
brought back life which he said must
have been snuffed out almost as the
body struck the floor.
Chief of Detectives E. W. Bios
som, mindful of the wife's 'good
bye dear, I'll meet you in Heaven"
of two days ago when she tossed him
kiss as she left the county jail
after q visit, turned his mind to the
woman, ,as soon as he had started
the machinery for an investigation
Of the releasing of the prisoner from
the straight jacket, fearful of a pos
sible suicide pact. Police scouts
:coured both Tampa and Port Tampa
suburb nine miles from here where
.he couple had lived, seeking the wo-
man. She was finally located and
placed in the detention ward of the
city Jail in the city hall for safe
keeping.