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September 17, 2012

From the September 24, 1970 Archives - Five escapees captured, one still at large

Princeton Times

PRINCETON — In what was called a "movie-type" escape from the Mercer County jail, convicted criminal William "Rabbit" Martin escaped along with five others in the early morning hours of Friday, Sept. 18, 1970.

Martin had just been convicted to a life sentence for being an "habitual criminal, and being connected with a $300,000 robbery at the home of C. A. Clyborne in Bluefield."

Martin somehow obtained a pistol and escaped with Ronald Williams, Otis Vest, Eugene Cole, Clayton Caraway, and Michael Kade. The escapees locked the jailer, Emmett W. Hall; jail cook, James Mabe; and five trustees into the drunk tank after Hall had entered his cell to retrieve food trays.

Sheriff Wintfrey Shrewsbury, who had received major criticism from, "almost everyone" regarding the escape, said that, "It's an unfortunate situation and we are doing our best to mend it.

 

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