The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1958-02-06
Two Escapes

West virginia ponce 10 answer
the charge of burglary, but that
eventually he would be returned
to this county for action.
Not Aware of Attempt
The sheriff said that at the time
of the jailbreak there we're other
inmates being held but they did
not try to escape. They claimed
they were not aware of the escape
attempt.
Sheriff James Frantz said the
break apparently occurred some
time after 9 p. m. Saturday and
was not discovered until he opened
the Jail Sunday morning at 1O:45.
The trio had bumped up their
bunk mattresses and bed clothing
to make it appear as if they we're
sleeping.
Removed Screen and Bars
The three men were able to re-
move a screen and two bars on a
window on the ground floor. Au-
thorities were unable to say how
the escapes cut the bars, both of
which were sawed through at the
top of the window. One was cut
nearly through at the bottom while
the other bar apparently was
broken off. The screen was bolted
to rotted wood and was easily re-
moved.
Sheriff Frantz said the escaped
prisoners took all their belongings.
However a bundle of Franklin's
clothes we're found lying in the
snow near the Court House about
200 feet from the Jail. Nearby was
a pocket Bible belonging to Sis
Ter, Frantz said. All three were
dressed lightly with no coats and
were wearing loW-cut shoes. The
temperature dropped to IS degrees
or lower during the night and
about four inches of additional
snow fell, covering up the tracks
which were made during the es-
cape.
Got Outside Help
1t was believed a saw was passed
through the window to the men by
an accomplice who also was wait
ing with an automobile to aid
their escape. A police check indi-
Gated that no vehicles were stolen
as means of transportation
Sheriff Frantz explained that
the three escapes were not placed
in their cells but were allowed to
sleep in the bull pen area with
three other prisoners. He said he
checked on the prisoners when he
locked up Saturday night about
9:45. He said the bull pen was dim
ly lighted and it appeared the
three who fled were asleep on
their hunks.
Franklin was arrested Novem-
Der 20 by Tennessee authorities.
He was accused of safecracking
and stealing some $37, $40 from Ar
mold Fox. ElWood Kissner and
Oliver Rocket were tried in the
Circuit Court on September and
were sentenced to 10 years each
in the State Penitentiary for grand
larceny and breaking and enter
ing. Franklin is six feet tall,
weighs 155 pounds and has brown
hair and hazel eyes.
Piggott was arrested December
81 in the theft Of gasoline from
summer cottages along Deep Greek
Lake. He is five feet seven inches
tall, weighs 100 pounds and has
brown hair and grey eyes.
Sisler was picked up November
81 on charges of forging the name
of Paul Sister believed to be a
relative, to eight or ten checks.
He is five feet nine inches tall
and weighs las pounds.
Frantz said that Franklin, be-
lieved to be the ringleader in the
escape, has had no visitors at the
Jail since his arrest. Pigott had
visitor for few minutes Saturday
afternoon but Deputy Bruce Close
said the prisoner received only a
couple packs of cigarets.
The jail break is the first one
in seven years. In 1851 two pris-
oners sawed their way out of the
Jail but both we're recaptured
later.
I Is3 n u L h Is