Today in Johnson City History, Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Empty cells, a golf match and much more
Thursday, May 14, 1925: A century ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported news with a dateline from Elizabethton and a date from May 13. Readers learned that “The county jail in Elizabethton is empty for the first time in many years, the reason being that all the prisoners walked out last Sunday afternoon during the County Singing Convention when thousands of people were in town. Investigation shows that some one (sic for someone) with a duplicate key to the cells opened the doors and allowed all the prisoners to escape. Among the number escaping were Nat Morgan, held on the charge of carrying arms, Andy Sneed and a man named Markland, held on the charge of manufacturing liquor. Efforts are being made by the sheriff and his deputies to apprehend the prisoners.