One of the most unusual escapes in the history of American prisons took place near Marion on July 21, 1971. At about 1:45 that afternoon, Warren George Briggs, bank robber turned scientist, leapt over two barbed wire-topped 15 foot high fences and ran unscathed through a hail of bullets into the woods surrounding the U.S. Penitentiary. Up until that time, the prison built in 1964, was thought to be escape proof.
Briggs claimed that he and four other fellow inmates risked what seemed to be certain death to prove that Briggs had invented and developed a water de-salting process that would enable mankind to purify sea water at a reasonable cost. And then, in what was the most amazing turn of events, Briggs turned himself in to the FBI four days later in Kansas City, Missouri.
Briggs, a slender 6’1” tall man originally from Baltimore, 34 years of age at that time, told his story to the press. “To escape from a maximum security unescapable prison and then surrender” would be a dramatic act to prove his sincerity, and gain public attention for his invention, he said. Four other inmates agreed to help him with his escape attempt, but were recaptured minutes after the event started. Their efforts were probably intended to be a diversion to help Briggs scale the fences. Continue reading
