Escaped Convicts from Mississippi State Penitentiaries

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Escaped Convicts Reward Notices

PROCLAMATION $50.00 REWARD
Penitentiary Convict Frank Robinson has effected his escape and is still at large. Reward for the arrest and delivery of said convict to the Board of Control of the Penitentiary. Description: No. 29, Frank Robinson, age 31, height 5ft 8 1/4in.; complexion, hair and eyes: black Scar on nose between eyes, scar in hollow of right arm, scar on back of left hand; Occupation: Laborer Crime: Arson Sentenced from Yazoo County, June 18, 1879 for Life! Escaped from Biscoe & Speakes, in Bolivar County, Jan. 8, 1890 [The Clarion Ledger, Thursday, Feb. 6, 1890 - Submitted by Candi Horton]

PROCLAMATION $50.00 REWARD
Penitentiary Convict John McGee has effected his escape and is still at large. Reward for the arrest and delivery of said convict to the Board of Control of the Penitentiary. Description: No. 337, John McGee, Age 27 Height 5'6; complexion, hair and eyes: black Left check scarred and left eye out, from burn, left ear drooped from same cause, back of left hand badly scarred from burn Occupation: Laborer Crime: Manslaughter Sentenced July 31, 1888 for 5 years from Tunica county Escaped Jan. 5, 1890 from J. H. Brahan, Sergeant, in Sunflower county. [The Clarion Ledger, Thursday, Feb. 6, 1890 - Submitted by Candi Horton]

PROCLAMATION $50.00 REWARD
Penitentiary Convict John Hamilton has effected his escape and is still at large. Reward for the arrest and delivery of said convict to the Board of Control of the Penitentiary. Description: No. 302, John Hamilton, age 52 years, height 5ft 7in.; complexion, hair and eyes: black Small scar on left side of forehead, numerous scars on right arm, scar on back of right hand, numerous scars from shot on left arm, scar on left leg below knee, scar on right shin, scar on outside right leg Occupation: Laborer Crime: Manslaughter Sentenced October 16th, 1888 from Coahoma county; escaped from J. H. Brahan, sergeant, Jan. 5th 1890 in Sunflower county. [The Clarion Ledger, Thursday, Feb. 6, 1890 - Submitted by Candi Horton]

PROCLAMATION $50 REWARD
Penitentiary Convict has effected his escape and is still at large. No. 365 Steve Jackson, age 19 yrs, height 5ft 41/2in.; Complexion: Brown, hair and eyes Black 3 scars in head; scar on right cheek; 2 scars on right elbow; scar on back of right hand; scar on right ankle Occupation: Laborer Crime: Burglary and Larceny Sentenced: Dec. 8, 1887, for 3years from Jackson County Escaped: March 11, 1889 from N. N. Campbell, near Sharkey, Tallahatchie county Reward for the arrest and delivery of said convict to the Board of Control of the Penitentiary. [The Clarion Ledger, May 16, 1889 - Submitted by Candi Horton]

PROCLAMATION $50 REWARD
Penitentiary Convict has effected his escape and is still at large. No. 270, Tom Williams, age 26 years height 5ft 41/4in.; Complexion: Brown, hair and eyes Black mark on back right shoulder; scar on back right are above elbow; 3 scars below elbow right arm, scar on left collar bone; scar above left knee Occupation: Laborer Crime: Manslaughter Sentenced Jan. 6, 1887 for 20 years from Leflore county Escaped from Ben W. Sturdivant's near Graball, Tallahatchie county, March 8, 1889 Reward for the arrest and delivery of said convict to the Board of Control of the Penitentiary. [The Clarion Ledger, May 16, 1889 - Submitted by Candi Horton]

PROCLAMATION $300.00
Reward Information received by me that William Sumrall was assassinated at his resd. in Copiah county in December 1884, by some unknown person or persons, and still at large. I Robert Lowry, Governor of Mississippi, do offer the above reward for the arrest and delivery of said assassin or assassins to the sheriff of Copiah county; said reward paid upon conviction. Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State affixed at Jackson, this 4th of May , 1888. [The Clarion Ledger, May 16, 1889 - Submitted by Candi Horton]

PROCLAMATION $50 REWARD
Penitentiary Convict has effected his escape and is still at large. No. 434, Andrew Jackson, age 19 height 5ft 3in., complexion, hair and eyes: black 1st and 3rd fingers of left hand badly disfigured from bone felon; birth mark on right shoulder blade Occupation: Laborer Crime: Grand Larceny Sentenced May 31, 1887 for 2 years from Harrison. AND No. 499, Lawrence Hurlbert; age 20 height 5ft 9in., complexion, hair and eyes: black Occupation: Laborer Crime: manslaughter Sentenced Oct. 30, 1880 for 10 years, from Lowndes county. BOTH escaped from S. R. Swain, Washington county, on March 12, 1889 [The Clarion Ledger, May 16, 1889 - Submitted by Candi Horton]

PROCLAMATION $50 REWARD
Penitentiary Convict J. H. Conklin has effected his escape and is still at large. Reward for the arrest and delivery of said convict to the Board of Control of the Penitentiary Description J. H. Conklin, complexion white sentenced from Adams county Crime: Burglary Sentenced at April term 1889 for 5 years Escaped en transit at depot in Jackson, Miss, May 8th, 1889, from James Ruffin, Traveling Sergeant. [The Clarion Ledger, May 23, 1889 - Submitted by Candi Horton]

Penitentiary Convict has effected his escape and is still at large. No. 256, Albert Reeder or Albert Read, age 23years height 5ft 8in., complexion, hair and eyes: black scars on nose between eyes, on left breast, on point left shoulder, on left arm above elbow, on left wrist, on left shoulder blade, on back of left arm, numerous scars on back from whip lash, scar on left knee Occupation: Laborer Crime: Burglary and larceny Sentenced from Tunica county, May 24, 1887 for 10 years Escaped from Ben W. Sturdevant near Graball in Tallahatchie county March 8, 1889 Reward for the arrest and delivery of said convict to the Board of Control of the Penitentiary. [The Clarion Ledger, May 23, 1889 - Submitted by Candi Horton]

Penitentiary Convict has effected his escape and is still at large. No. 605, Wm. Wright, age 28 height 5ft, 8 7/8 in., complexion, hair and eyes: black small scar between eyebrows, scar on left side of forehead, mole on right arm near shoulder, scar on outside of right thigh, scar on back of right leg Occupation: Laborer Crime: False pretense Sentenced from Washington County, June 8th, 1888 for 1 year Escaped from L. N. O. & T R. R., (Bolivar Branch) Nov. 21, 1888 Reward for the arrest and delivery of said convict to the Board of Control of the Penitentiary.[The Clarion Ledger, May 23, 1889 - Submitted by Candi Horton]

Penitentiary Convict has effected his escape and is still at large. William Parker, age 18years 5ft 8 1/8in., complexion Brown, hair and eyes black scar on right thigh, small scar on breast, small scar in right eyebrow, small scar on left arm Occupation: Laborer Crime: Murder Sentenced Dec. 15, 1888 for life from Yazoo county Escaped from the Fall-Back Planting and Mercantile Co., April 15, 1889, in Washington county, near Greenville. [The Clarion Ledger, May 23, 1889 - Submitted by Candi Horton]

Penitentiary Convict has effected his escape and is still at large. No. 801, Scott Matthews, age 25 height 5ft 7in., complexion, hair and eyes: black scars on right wrist; right elbow; between shoulder blades and scar on right buttock. Occupation: Laborer Crime: Robbery Sentenced Oct. 28, 1884 for 6 years from Lowndes county. Admitted Oct. 31, 1884; escaped Jan. 28, 1889 from Woodyard, 5miles South of Jackson, Hinds County, Miss. Reward for the arrest and delivery of said convict to the Board of Control of the Penitentiary. [The Clarion Ledger, May 23, 1889 - Submitted by Candi Horton]

PROCLAMATION $50 REWARD
Penitentiary Convict Wash Lowry has effected his escape and is still at large. Reward for the arrest and delivery of said convict to the Board of Control of the Penitentiary Description Wash Lowry, No. 224 age 21years, height 5ft 8in., complexion, hair and eyes: black scar on left arm caused by burn, small scar on left shoulder, thumb slightly deformed; small scar on right knee; two small scars on right leg Occupation: Laborer Crime: Murder Sentenced Aug. term 1888, from Noxubee county, for Life Escaped from the Fall-Back Planting and Mercantile Co., April 15, 1889, in Washington county, near Greenville. Reward for the arrest and delivery of said convict to the Board of Control of the Penitentiary. [The Clarion Ledger, May 23, 1889 - Submitted by Candi Horton]

Goes to Rankin Farm Jackson, Miss., Jan. 10 - Paul DeMott is once on the Rankin convict farm and will be guarded more closely than heretofore. in December 1914, Governor Brewer granted Paul a conditional pardon. He had been sent up from his home county, Hinds, for forgery when less than 20 years of age - being scarcely 21 now. But Paul did not appreciate the governor kindness it seems and in November, 1915, he was sent back to the penitentiary from Leflore county for the same offense of forgery and under a three -year sentence. [Daily Herald, Jan. 10, 1917 - Submitted by Candi Horton]