The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-04-07
$500 Per Year in Advance

a white prisoner, said to be from Au-
gusta. also escaped at the same time,
and at the time of going to press nel-
ther party had been apprehended.
Evans was arrested and placed in
iail about three weeks ago on the
charge OF the murder and robbery OF
Tobe Williams, another negro, with
whom he came to Bamberg, and
whom he lured into Lemon Swamp
admittedly for the purpose Of ROBBERY
and murder. He was apprehenoeo
the same afternoon as he was pre-
pairing to take a train at BrancnVl1le.
He at first denied all connection with
the crime, but when confronted with
discriminating facts, Evans made
clean breast of the whole affair ana
admitted his guilt, though he after
ward somewhat changed his story. he
was being held for trial for this
crime when he escaped jail.
Tuesday night Magistrate Dlckln-
son made his usual round of the cells
in the iail and admitted the prison.
ers into the hall for the purpose OF
getting water, and so on. He lett
them in the hall and went back to MS
apartment downstairs. 1t is the GUS
tom to ALLOW the prisoners to remain
in the hall for an hour or so IN the
evening, but on this particular oc-
casion Mr.. Dickinson was impressed
with the silence of the prisoners. he
went back upstairs and prepared to
lock the prisoners in the cells Tor
the night.
On calling Walton, the white man.
who was in jail awaiting trial for al
legged car breaking at Denmark about
two weeks ago, he failed to receive
an answer. Inquiry among the prls-
oners brought the information that
a few minutes before he and Evans
were in the hall. All of the prison.
ers professed to know nothing Of the
Jail delivery. Mr.. Dickinson then
found out that Evans was likewise
not to be located. Calling his SON.
in-law, Dave Kinard, the two men
thoroughly inspected the hall and
cells.
One of the cells, usually not used
except when insane prisoners are
committed to Jail, has had for some
years a partly sawed iron bar in the
window. Some days previous, find
ing that the cell had probably been
tampered with, Mr.. Dickinson had the
cell fastened with two locks, in or
der to keep any of the prisoners out
of it.
When this cell was inspected it
was found that the two locks had
been broken off with portion of iron
bed, and that the cell had been en-
tered. Further inspection showed
that the partly broken bar had been
torn loose, and through the aperture
thus made the two men had escaped,
by using two blankets knotted to-
gether, dropping to the ground on the
outside. They had then made their
way to the board wall, from which a
plank had been torn away, thus gain
ing their freedom.
During the brief period which clap
sed after Mr. Dickinson turned the
prisoners into the hall and he return
ed to lock them in for the night, Ev-
ans had succeeded in removing one
the shackles on his legs, he having
been previously shackled to prevent
his possible escape. This shackle had
evidently been filed away. The Off
GERS have no knowledge of how he
came into possession of a saw for
this purpose. Both Evans and Wal
ton are entire strangers in this coun-
ty without friends or relatives here.
It is thought likely Evans may still
have one shackle attached to his leg,
unless he succeeded in removing it
after leaving jail.
Charlie Tyler, a colored man of
Bamberg, reported meeting with a
negro near the colored Baptist
church early Tuesday night. This
negro had hailed Tyler, told him his
name was Nelson, and inquired Ty-
ler's name. No violence was offered,
however. From the description :yiy-
en- by Tyler, it is believed that this
man was Evans. Further on toward
the river, Jim and Ben Thomas, while
returning from Columbia, met a ne
gro whose description answered Ev-
ans's, and it is presumed that he
went in the direction of Orangeburg
after leaving the Jail.
All of the nearby towns haze been