Clay County AlArchives News.....Five Escapes Jail  January 21, 1937
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Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 February 16, 2023, 12:03 am

Ashland Progress January 21, 1937
On last Saturday night five negroes held in the Ashland jail on various charges, 
and up to the present time they are still at large. Several "drunks," both white 
and black, had been placed in the jail during the early part of the night. At 
12:00 o'clock, midnight, a negro charged with violation of the prohibition law, 
was turned over to Jailor Reeves for safe keeping. At this time Jailor Reeves 
called on one of the prisoners to help empty a tub of water. While unlocking the 
cell door to put the negro back behind the bars the jailor was caught from the 
rear by the negro and in the fight that followed four other negroes participated 
and succeeded in overpowering the jailor and making their getaway. The jailor 
was left tied, gagged and badly bruised and would probably have smothered to 
death had it not been for the negro who had just been placed in the jail, who 
came to his rescue. One of the escaped negroes came back voluntarily Sunday 
morning. He said the other four, Malvin Sims, Ode Welch, Ode Carter and Robt. 
Lewis had forced him to accompany them when leaving the jail. Monday afternoon 
one of the prisoners was seen enter a cotton house near Barfield. Sheriff 
Merrill Mayo and his chief deputy, Walker Steed, rushed to the scene and found 
that the negro had vacated.

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