Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-29
ESCAPED COVV|CTS
ARE CAUGHT AFTER
A PITCHED BATTLE
Captured Near Athens After
Robber Is Shot Three
Times = Companion Sur
renders When Pistol Jams

renders When Pistol Jams
After a spectacular gun battle with
Madison county officers, in which
Gerald Chapman, the convict serv.
ing twenty-five-year term for mail
robbery, was shot three times, the es.
capped convicts from the local federal
penitentiary were captured Wednes-
day morning between Hull and Col
bert, two stations on the Seaboard
Air Line railroad, a few miles above
Athens. Ga.
Co-incident with the news of the
capture came the announcement
from the United States marshal's Of.
flee that the convicts had been car
ried to within six miles of Athens
Tuesday morning by a Yellow Cab
driver who was a passenger on the
street car on which the convicts rode
into Atlanta after their escape. The
prisoners were traced to Athens
through information furnished by
taxicab company officials after the
drivers return to Atlanta
Frank Grey, serving a five-year
term TO rforgery, was taken to Ath-
ems and lodged in the Clarke county
Jail, twas stated, while his compan-
ion gas taken to the Athens hospital
for medical attention.
Information received by Warden
]. K. Dyche was that the convicts
had been captured between Hull
and Colbert, after a gun fight with
posse of citizens and county
policemen headed by the Sheriff of
Madison county. No one in the
posse was injured, he stated, but
Chapman was wounded in the arm
and hip, and was on the operating
table in the Athens hospital at noon
Wednesday.
Battle With Officers
Both men were armed with As au'
tomato pistols and put up stiff
fight before they were captured.
After being put off a freight train
between Hall and Colbert. the men
took to the woods upon the ap
proach of County Policeman w. -,
Butler, who exchanged fire with the
frugitives; going back for aid when
he gave out of cartridges.
Returning with Sheriff w. H
Hall and County Policeman P, L.
McCannon, of Madison county, the
search for the men was resumed.
Chapman was found hiding in a cot
ton patch and was shot three times
when he raised up to fire at the OF
ficers. Gray was later found hid.
ing in a clump of bushes, his gun
having jammed.
The men were put off the freight
train between Hull and Colbert
about z O'Clock Wednesday morning
by conductor who notified County
Policeman Butler, who was at Coll
bert. The highway between These
two towns parallels the railroad and
when Officer Butler had ridden a
few miles from Colbert, he saw the
men walking along the track He
called to them to halt. and the con-
victs opened fire as they ran toward
the woods.
Wearing Stolen Coat
Practically the entire population
OP bo+I, Hull nj Co1hap+ x1,or ~ = N
scene before the convicts were cap.
tured it was stated. When captured,
Chapman was wearing a pair OF
ovoralls over his regulation prison
garb, while Grey was wearing a
black coat-the one taken FROM w.
Fl. Edwards, in Lakewood Heights,
Tuesday morning, it is believed
and q pair Of overalls over his pris.
OF suit.
The prisoners escaped from the
hospital ward of the federal peniten. e
tiary shortly before o'clock Tues
day morning, after binding and gag
ging and threatening the life of q
fellow prisoner ON duty as nurse,
later kidnapping w. II. Edwards from
the porch of his home in Lakewood
Heights after he had refused their
offer Of 1000 to aid them in their
flight.
Mr.. Edwards, a railroad shopman
living at 20 Richmond avenue, was
forced at the point of a revolver to
board a street car and ride part OF
the way into town with the prison.
ers, who were described by prison
officials as desperate characters.
After riding for some distance, Mr..
Edwards jumped from the trolley car
and sought aid at the home of Coun-
ty Policeman w. A. Wells, on Nc
Donough road, while the crew of the
street car said the conYicts left the
car at Washington and Crumley
streets, in the heart of the south
side.
One Of the prisoners, Gerald
Chapman, was serving Il twenty
five year term for participation in
a 100000 mail robbery in New
York City, in which he had threat
ened the life Of a government en-
ploye; while the other prisoner,
Frank Grey, a tubercular patient
serving a five-year term for forg-
cry, already had made two attempts
to escape from the penitentiary.
Both men have long prison records,
according to Warden J. e. Dyche.
Nurse Bound and Gagged
They escaped from the hospital
ward on the second floor of the
prison by climbing down two lad.
ders made of sheets tied togethe,
after saving the bars with hack
saws; slipping along the wall 10
an unoccupied guard tower white
some one, believed to be a confed-
crate, extinguished the lights -
reaching the tower by means of i
another improvised ladder. Before
leaving the hospital ward, they
bound and gagged John e. Scott,
4 prisoner-nurse who was asleep
in an adjoining room. threatening
to cut his throat with a dagger,
according to prison Officials