The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-04-14
VAUGHN ESCAPES
ELECTRIC CHAIR
COMMITS SUICIDE BY SLASH1NG
THROAT BEFORE PRISONERS.
Brings Body to Columbia.
Former superintendent of Odd Eel
low Orphanage Got Weapon Sup
plied Prisoners in Tampa Jail.

TAMPA. Fla, April 8.-Thurston U.
Vaughn, arrested here while teacn-
ing school as T. A. Earl, and held 1or
South Carolina authorities for dea1n
sentence for assaulting four girls at
the Odd Fellows orphanage at Green
Vile. slashed his throat with razor
in his cell in murder row in the
county jail here tonight. He died al
most instantly, having almost sever
ed his head from his body with tne
stroke. It was his fourth major at
tempt at suicide and he had once
tried to open previous wound IN MS
throat
Vaughn had been kept in stralgn1
iacket in the hospital ward after MS
attempts to kill himself the night OF
his arrest, but today he was moved
to murderers' row and placed in
cell with three men charged Win
murder. Sheriff Spencer states he
has no knowledge of who authorized
the removal of the straight jacket.
All Taking Shave.
The presence of the razor IS eh-
plafned by the jailer. Jaller Huo-
bard saws that Friday is shaving day
at the Jail and the razor goes the
rounds of the cells. When it reached
the murderers' row, Vaughn appar-
entlv bided his time After the other
Drisoners in the 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-
denly halted, according to one of the
prisoners. Like fash he raised his
right hand, the blade flashed in the
dim stream of light from a nearby
corridor and with a vigor that told
of an intent purpose the man broght
it's keen edge blade against his neck,
over the leader just back 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 a steadfast nerve and a de-
termination of purpose seldom seen
made possible such a 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 trusty carried the word to Jaller
Hubbard and hurry call was sent
for County Physician H. O. Snow,
who hastened to the Jail. Meanwhile
the iailer and attendants at the his
pital ward reached the cell and at
tempted to give some aid, but it was
HELPLESS, for life had flown with the
rush of blood from the jugular vein
and other severed blood vessels feed
ing the brain.
When DR.. Snow arrived he pro-
nounced the man dead and said nc
relief under the sun could have
brought back life which he said must
have been snuffed out almost as the
body struck the floor.
Anxiety for Wife.
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
a kiss as she left the county jail
after 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
s;ble suicide pact. Police scouts
secured both Tampa and Port Tampa
suburb nine miles from here where
the 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.
Jailer Hubbard refuses to discuss
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