On Friday afternoon last a telegram was received by Depy. Sheriff L.I. FAGAN, from Roper, saying arrest and confine one Fletcher GAYLORD, a young white man of that place, the telegram was signed by a magistrate who testified that said GAYLORD was fleeing from bond.  Sheriff FAGAN at once put out spies and went himself out upon the highways to catch his man, he had only been gone long enough to get to the country when he came back with the man wanted, and placed him in jail to await the action of the magistrate.  On going to the jail on Monday this jailor found that GAYLORD had escaped, freeing at the same time, one Dennis ARNOLD, a negro who was charged with the shooting which took place at Roper a short time ago. Escape was through the upper floor, thense through the wall, getting to the ground by the assistance of blankets tied together as a rope.  The negro had been shackled to the floor and must have been set free by GAYLORD, as the <…> in the shackles were filled out, no dout outsiders furnished them with tools to make their escape.  It seems that young GAYLORD had been arrested and given a hearing at Roper for some crime, but had given bond.  The charge against him was, perhaps, of minor importance, but if he is recaptured the charge of jail breaking will have to be answered.  This affords us another opportunity to remind our County commissioners of the fact that the Plymouth jail is no good. It seems impossible to keep them in it unless there be a guard kept near it all the time.

Source: Roanoke Beacon, 13 June 1890, pg 3. Available online at digitalnc.org.