Americana: Record Breakers

The Young County jail in Graham, Texas, is remarkably unconfining. In the past two years 16 inmates have escaped. The record—at least for two-man escapes —is held by Jeffrey Lamb, 18, and David Bowman, 20, who were arrested last August on charges of burglary, attempted murder and car theft.

In October they escaped by scuttling under a fence in the exercise yard. Recaptured, they squirmed to freedom in December through air-conditioning vents. They were caught again but broke out this month through a supposedly shatterproof glass window.

They were captured a third time and sent to the more secure Dallas County jail. Says...

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