Today in Chicago History: 6 inmates escape Cook County Jail

News Room

Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Feb. 11, according to the Tribune’s archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

  • High temperature: 70 degrees (1999)
  • Low temperature: Minus 14 degrees (1885)
  • Precipitation: 0.83 inches (2009)
  • Snowfall: 8.3 inches (1956)

Vintage Chicago Tribune: World’s Columbian Exposition, 1893 and Century of Progress, 1933-1934

1891: Ground was broken in Jackson Park for construction of buildings for the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893.

Donald Perkins, of Jewel Co., second from left, huddles with ministers of Operation Breadbasket in Chicago on April 28, 1967, “in an effort to build a stronger economic base for Negro people in Chicago community through the programs,” according to UPI. With Perkins are, left to right, the Rev. Stroy Freeman, the Rev. Martin Luther King and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. (UPI Telephoto)

1966: Martin Luther King Jr. threatened boycotts against local industries (starting with bread, milk, soup and soft drink companies) — an extension of his Operation Breadbasket campaign in Atlanta — who refused to hire Black workers.

Vintage Chicago Tribune: The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. leads ‘the first significant freedom movement in the North’

Jesse Jackson headed the initiative and became its national director in 1967.

Six inmates escaped from the most secure tier of Cook County Jail on Feb. 12, 2006 just one day after another inmate escaped from another jail division by hiding in a laundry truck. (Chicago Tribune)
Six inmates escaped from the most secure tier of Cook County Jail on Feb. 12, 2006 — just one day after another inmate escaped from another jail division by hiding in a laundry truck. (Chicago Tribune)

2006: Six inmates — two charged with murder — escaped from Cook County Jail. After plotting the scheme for months, six men — Tyrone Everhart of Markham; and Francisco Romero, Arnold Joyner, Michael McIntosh, Eric Bernard and David Earnest, all of Chicago — made their move. The men, who set a fire and overpowered at least two guards, allegedly had the assistance of at least one guard in the Special Incarceration Unit, where inmates with discipline problems spend 23 hours a day in their cells. All were recaptured in a little more than 24 hours.

The incident occurred only hours after the capture of another inmate, Warren C. Mathis, who escaped from the jail the previous day. Mathis rode out of jail aboard a truck, which contained inmates’ dirty laundry.

Vintage Chicago Tribune: Jailbreak!!!

Want more vintage Chicago?

Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past.

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com

Related posts