From newspaper, Greenville, Texas, dated August 29, 1886. "This morning the city was thrown into a state of consternation and wild excitement over the report that the prisoners of the County Jail had made their escape. Upon inquiry it was found that the sentenced prisoners, John Smith, eleven years for horse stealing; Louis Phillips, two years for horse stealing; Tom Cain, three years for stealing money; Charlie Adams, seven years for burglary and horse stealing; William Cabel, two years for burglary and Jim Crack, a negro, two years for burglary had escaped. They had all gone into one cell last night. Having a case knife and razor in their possession, they managed to cut through the floor under the cell wall and back up through the floor into the hallway where they found a sixteen inch brick and concrete outside wall obstructing their liberty. They were but a few minutes getting through into the jail yard where they climbed a twelve foot fence to find themselves liberated. When the last of the six escaped, it was daylight. Surprisingly enough, there were five prisoners left in the jail who did not prefer such a venture, among whom was L. T. Johnson, sentenced to five years in the penitentiary for murder. When we arrived at town and gathered the particulars, Johnson was at liberty in the yard. He said he did not want to go, as he was satisfied he would find legal liberty yet. As soon as Jailer Adair found what had occurred, he mounted a horse and followed them about three miles, where he came upon three of the convicts and succeeded in capturing them, but one made a break and was about to get away, when a passer-by was on the scene. At this time, Mr. Adair pulled out his pistol and gave it to the stranger to pursue the fleeing convict, while he guarded the other two, supposing them to be unarmed; but just as the stranger got out of sight with the pistol the two prisoners grabbed Adair, one holding him while the other, John Smith, cut a gash across his neck and cut his wrist half off and the second lick struck him about the right shoulder, cutting his body to his hip. And then, they took him from his horse and left him for dead; but in a few minutes he gained enough strength to walk; and, holding his lungs, liver and heart in with one hand, and his bowels with the other, he walked half a mile to a house, where a boy came to town for doctors who immediately rendered all the aid in their power. The doctors think there is no hope for Adair to recover. The thieves rode Adair's horse about one mile and turned him loose, taking to the brush. The officers have wired every point, and each one has large forces in search of the fugitives. Greenville sent about 200 horsemen at 11 p.m. Jim Crack, colored, was captured about six miles east of town on Mr. Moore's plantation. He is again behind the bars. Sheriff Hale left town at 7 p.m. with a posse of thirty or forty men well armed to guard the timber east of here eight to fifteen miles. At an early hour tomorrow morning a large re-inforcement will take the chase. Smith, who did the fatal cutting, is the man most sought, and they are on his trail. At 5 o'clock the city was filled with countrymen who were wildly excited and remained all evening until after dark in hopes of seeing Smith brought in, when it was anticipated that a neck-tie party would be in order, but a few are leaving. Smith would stand a bad show if brought here to face his last crime. Deputy Sheriff Adair was still living at 6 o'clock. The rain today about noon was greatly in favor of the posse as it made the tracks visible, which was a great help in the absence of bloodhounds. A continuing search was made, through the wood and over the prairies, all the while being close behind him on Sunday and night; and on Monday about 2 o'clock Smith was captured by a number of the citizens near Miller Grove in Hopkins Co. and was brought to Lone Oak about 6:30 p.m., where he was placed under a heavy guard and kept until about 11:30 p.m., at which time, under charge of Deputy Sheriff Chafin, with a number of others, he was marched off for Greenville. Early Tuesday morning he was again locked up in the Hunt County jail, where he is to await the result to come, which time is the only revealer. When arrested, he denied being the man until he was recognized by Deputy Sheriff Chafin, when he said,, "I'm the man", acknowledging to all except the cutting of Adair, the jailer.
From newspaper, Greenville, Texas, dated August 29, 1886. "This morning the city was thrown into a state of consternation and wild excitement over the report that the prisoners of the County Jail had made their escape. Upon inquiry it was found that the sentenced prisoners, John Smith, eleven years for horse stealing; Louis Phillips, two years for horse stealing; Tom Cain, three years for stealing money; Charlie Adams, seven years for burglary and horse stealing; William Cabel, two years for burglary and Jim Crack, a negro, two years for burglary had escaped. They had all gone into one cell last night. Having a case knife and razor in their possession, they managed to cut through the floor under the cell wall and back up through the floor into the hallway where they found a sixteen inch brick and concrete outside wall obstructing their liberty. They were but a few minutes getting through into the jail yard where they climbed a twelve foot fence to find themselves liberated. When the last of the six escaped, it was daylight. Surprisingly enough, there were five prisoners left in the jail who did not prefer such a venture, among whom was L. T. Johnson, sentenced to five years in the penitentiary for murder. When we arrived at town and gathered the particulars, Johnson was at liberty in the yard. He said he did not want to go, as he was satisfied he would find legal liberty yet. As soon as Jailer Adair found what had occurred, he mounted a horse and followed them about three miles, where he came upon three of the convicts and succeeded in capturing them, but one made a break and was about to get away, when a passer-by was on the scene. At this time, Mr. Adair pulled out his pistol and gave it to the stranger to pursue the fleeing convict, while he guarded the other two, supposing them to be unarmed; but just as the stranger got out of sight with the pistol the two prisoners grabbed Adair, one holding him while the other, John Smith, cut a gash across his neck and cut his wrist half off and the second lick struck him about the right shoulder, cutting his body to his hip. And then, they took him from his horse and left him for dead; but in a few minutes he gained enough strength to walk; and, holding his lungs, liver and heart in with one hand, and his bowels with the other, he walked half a mile to a house, where a boy came to town for doctors who immediately rendered all the aid in their power. The doctors think there is no hope for Adair to recover. The thieves rode Adair's horse about one mile and turned him loose, taking to the brush. The officers have wired every point, and each one has large forces in search of the fugitives. Greenville sent about 200 horsemen at 11 p.m. Jim Crack, colored, was captured about six miles east of town on Mr. Moore's plantation. He is again behind the bars. Sheriff Hale left town at 7 p.m. with a posse of thirty or forty men well armed to guard the timber east of here eight to fifteen miles. At an early hour tomorrow morning a large re-inforcement will take the chase. Smith, who did the fatal cutting, is the man most sought, and they are on his trail. At 5 o'clock the city was filled with countrymen who were wildly excited and remained all evening until after dark in hopes of seeing Smith brought in, when it was anticipated that a neck-tie party would be in order, but a few are leaving. Smith would stand a bad show if brought here to face his last crime. Deputy Sheriff Adair was still living at 6 o'clock. The rain today about noon was greatly in favor of the posse as it made the tracks visible, which was a great help in the absence of bloodhounds. A continuing search was made, through the wood and over the prairies, all the while being close behind him on Sunday and night; and on Monday about 2 o'clock Smith was captured by a number of the citizens near Miller Grove in Hopkins Co. and was brought to Lone Oak about 6:30 p.m., where he was placed under a heavy guard and kept until about 11:30 p.m., at which time, under charge of Deputy Sheriff Chafin, with a number of others, he was marched off for Greenville. Early Tuesday morning he was again locked up in the Hunt County jail, where he is to await the result to come, which time is the only revealer. When arrested, he denied being the man until he was recognized by Deputy Sheriff Chafin, when he said,, "I'm the man", acknowledging to all except the cutting of Adair, the jailer.
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