Jailbirds Escape
|
 |
Jailbirds Escape
|
|
In May 1932, three men were arrested for the robbery of the Tillery Wholesale grocery in Carthage. They were placed in this first cell, at the top of the stairs. From their vantage point inside the cell, they had an excellent view of the stairs and the going back and forth of the sheriff and/or his deputies. While keeping a careful watch of the stairway, they used razor blades to patiently cut a triangle from the steel plate on the back of the mechanism box. Once the piece had been removed, they were able to reach through the opening, operate the levers for the cell doors, and escape to the bullpen area. In the bullpen, they were able to cut an opening in the attic and crawl to the real of the jail. They knocked out several bricks from the outer wall and using the old sycamore trees, they lowered themselves to the ground and freedom.
Two of the men went to Longview and were recaptured almost immediately. The third man went to his brother's home in Littlefield, Texas and was arrested there. However, as soon as the Littlefield jailer turned his back, the prisoner escaped (he had a talent for this, didn't he?). The Sheriff soon caught him again and returned him to Panola County, where he was tried and convicted and later sent to Huntsville.
Hats Off to Robbie Sutlive for this story!
Contact Webmaster
03/21/05