Where Is Forrest? Tales of an Escape Artist

Forrest Turner was a law breaker and a "jailbreaker." Many said he was the most famous prison escape artist of the twentieth century and that only Houdini got more publicity than him. During the 1930s and 1940s he escaped eleven times, only to be recaptured each time. Four of his escapes were from the newly constructed maximum-security facility in Reidsville. With each escape additional prison time was added to his sentence. It was not just his many escapes from prisons but the remarkable breaks into work camps and prisons to free other convicts which made him famous.

It was at the peak of his depression, confined to solitary with no hope of ever gaining his freedom, when the realization that contrition was his only means of survival. He found religion, became a model prisoner and eventually earned parole in 1949.

After his release he aggressively promoted penal reform and better care for the state's mentally ill. To juvenile delinquents he preached the consequences of breaking the law. To promote his many causes, he made thousands of speeches to youth groups, churches and civic organizations. He counseled hundreds of parolees thus keeping them from re-entering prison. He gave back more to society than he took as a thief.

Excerpt from Book

Unable to obtain a pardon to enter military service, Forrest Turner's probability of an early release from Reidsville appeared hopeless. He once again was looking for an opportunity to escape, but escaping from the fourth floor was believed impossible. Forrest Turner knew it would take a masterful plan to succeed. To get out of his cell block and out of the front gate, he would have to take over the prison. To carry out such an impossible task, he needed the help of the other convicts on the cell block. Their best chance for escape would be after midnight when the fewest number of guards were on duty.

Forrest Turner kicked loose the cut-weakened bars and slipped through the hole. He immediately went to the elevator to wait for the night guard. He knew the guard arrived at 12:00 p.m. to conduct the night inspection. As the guard stepped off the elevator and the door closed, Forrest Turner pointed a pistol at the unsuspected and astonished guard.

"Good evening, Mr. Morrison. The convicts and I are going to take over the prison. And you are going to help us!" Forrest ordered as he pointed the pistol at him."

Morrison froze and was speechless. "How did Turner get out of his cell and where did get a gun?" he wondered.

"We want your keys," Forrest added.

With the keys Forrest Turner freed Leland Harvey who proceeded to release the other prisoners on the cell block. He locked the puzzled Morrison in one of the cells and tied him to the bolted down leg of the cell bunk. Many of the prisoners had no prior knowledge of an escape attempt. So understandably there was pandemonium and jubilation on the fourth floor as each cell door was unlocked, and the inmate released.

With all the prisoners standing in the hallway Forrest and Leland told the prisoners of their plan.

He added, "We don't want any violence. You hear!"