The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-04-30
Convict Is Now at Large
After Fleeing From
McAlester
SAWED WINDOW SILL
In First Escape He Was
Assisted by Friend Who
Had Been Released

since his escape from the Okla
boma state penitentiary April 10 he
has not been heard of and people
over the state wonder IL another |
hank will be robbed or IL the fugi- |
live will seek other fields--seek |
safety in obscurity.
Weems seems to have had won |
derful penchant for daring holdups |
and thrilling escapes. 1t is almost |
unbelievable that with the safe |
guards thrown about the prison here |
mat a prisoner could have escaped |
in the way that Weems has done |
twice In the last four months he
Sas made his escape in a manner
nat would seem impossible and
only by sheer luck has he been able
10 carry out his plans and gain his
liberty.
Made Getaway During Chapel
on the night of April 10 services
were held for the prisoners by
Father Morris OF this city in the lit
tle chapel on the second floor OF
tho administration building of the
nrison a number of the convicts
were brought from their cells in
charge OF the guards to attend the
service. Among them were Weems
and Ace Yarber. who for some
reason Weems selected to accompany
him In his escape. No especial pre-
cautions were taken since 1t was all
inside Of the prison and behind the
prlson walls. In the towers over
looking the penitentiary grounds
were guards armed with high-pow-
cred long-range guns. The thought
OF a prisoner attempting to get away
And run the gauntlet of the bars and
Walls and the guards doubtless did
not enter The minds of the prison at
aches.
But It seems that with weems 1.
is always the impossible that hap
pens. The steel door to the record
rom was locked but the prisoners
must have made a key and when
the line in which they were march
ing passed the door they dropped
out of the line and through the door
unobserved by the guards. other
convicts must have known of their
action but none of them Switched"
The prisoners had been checked into
their cells for the night before the
service began and it was regarded
as an unnecessary precautlon to
check them again since they had
only marched in line from one part
Of the building to another. When
the long line of cell doors closed 1t
was presumed that Weems and Yar-
YER had gone back in their cells as
did the others.
Sawed out window Sill.
In the record office with the steel
door locked behind them the men
saved out window sill in the front
II the building and escaped down
he front wall. Prison attaches state
hat with the well-lighted grounds
he guard in the front tower could
have seen a cat on the front part
Of the building. Just a slight turn
Of the wheel of fate at that instant
would have meant recapture or
probably death from rifle bullets to
Weems and his companion.
AT this point in the escape the
wonder increases as to how the two
men got away from the building un-
detected. 1t has been conjectured
that once upon the ground they
walked boldly out past the guard
unchallenged. Had they run or tried
10 hide the guard would probably
have perforated them with bullets
but IT is thought possible that they
dropped in with others who were
coming out OF the prison and walked
away leisurely. But after the time
they left the line of convicts at the
chapel their movements can only be
opined. Only the wrecked window
Of the record room was left to indi-
cate how the escape had been car
RED out.
His Other Escape.
The escape of Weems on Decem-
Der 21. 1921. was no less daring.
Cecil II. Dill, a taxi driver of this
city. who was forced to aid in the
escape. gives a graphic description
OF the circumstances. The trouble
and sorrow caused Dill and his fam
lily Is an illustration of the trail
Of trouble" such men as Weems
leave in their wake.
Dill is 25 years old and is minus
one arm which was lost when the
sleeve of his coat caught In the saw
at a sawmill when he was but IL
years Of age. He has lived In Nc
Alester for 30 years and Is the be-
loved son of widowed mother.
Nonly few months previous he had
married Miss Dolly Dutton, charm
Ing young woman and a musician.
AZ his taxi stand near the union
station Just before noon on Decem-
ber ~ nirelv appearing stranger
apnroached Din and engaged his car,
which was the newest and hest nj
me stand. arranging for Dill 70
drive him TO the penitentlary. Dill
o'ten drives nsople 10 tho pen. and
lhought nothing Of the incident,
Not until several hours later did he
Aarn that the stranger was Tom
Mock. who only n counle OF hours
hrevio'is had heen discharged from
The prison. Brock is now serving n
wear and n day for confessed aiding
In the eacane ~ Weems.
Flight We'll Planned.
The escape was we'll planned. The
Nvi driven by Dill reached the
hrlson Just ms the prisoners work.
rs outside the walls were falling In
'ne for their march TO the dining
~ofn Weems used the same tac-
,Ns-falling out Of line and dods-
me behind the passing auto unob-
%rved. The curtains were closed
al around on the car and Weems
,Nenned IN az coollv, said Dill. as II
We had been the warden. Had the
kuards seen Weems the car and It's
oceupants would probably have
zen riddled with bullets. The road
was rough Mt that point and Dill
vas busy with his car and gave 1T
eauention e TO Weems. II will ride
"Nh you a little ways II you don't
are Weems said. Dill drove on
70 Where the road turns and started
turn toward McAlester. It was