New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-03-06
ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE FROM TIE TONES
4 PRISONER SHOT

About % ococb Saturdly morning notorious c.imi.
nols named John Donney convicted of The Derby robbery
in Br, adway, and john Miller indicted for burglary
fined in ii City Prison made most desperate attempt to
regain their liberty but fortunately they dcOvere
end taken and again comInitte to duranc vile At the
tine above renamed as Sergeant McClusky of the Sixth
Ward passing through Center st he heard noise in
the obby Of the City Prison which from the sound appeared
TO ,msnae from the room lately occupied b. the Court Of
Sessions Thinking that some PRISONERS were trying 10
ape tie sergest up the door and asked Woo 5
there but receiving 10 answer he SAID Come out o.:
there whoever you when he heard steps retreat
through the Court Room. The officer imnedi.7ly in
formed Capt Brennan # the matter who aroused the
second raoon and stationed the around the outside
Of the building The dOoman was dispatched 70 call the
night watch Of tie prison anu a. soon as he received an
four policemen were sent in to aid the Keepers
ic.essarv While the d0Ormnn waltn. for an answer
from TIC Prison keeper pistol shot heard, shortly
after which the door opened. l. appears that Don
roy and Miller in retieang through the Sessions Room
and again into the prison yard disturbed tAe watchdog
The animal bsTkel louCly aud aroused Deputy Keeper
Fiulev who, IN coming from the main prison to the
You'd 10 see what the matter, dsrernel DOlney On
lie roof of the female prison just in the act Of scaling the
wall Finley Immediately discharged his reyoyerat Don
Lev shooting him through the heshy pOrlsl Oithe arm,
ard COMPLETELY disabn, him Douney was then secured
arA Iloced In a close cell The four policemen, together
with tie deputy keepers then male search through the
prison and while found Miller sesretei IN the pryy
In he ward -Ie also secured and locked up in
separate cell from the other prisoners. As Miller was
found wiihou' weapons Il E supposed that he threw ms
arms into tie sink.
iron examining the cell recently occupied by DOnneS
End 81 le- and from which they had made their escape,
on aperture sufficiently lerge 10 admi! of the passage OF
email barrel was found through the prison wall.
Through this aperture the prisoners had escaped from
their cell and jumped upon the roof of the shed where the
five dav prisoners Kept oeaIed between the wall OF
the main prison ard tie Elmsi wall Having gained the
ward they succeeded in climbing to the gallery lealng
from the rrso the Court OF Sessions. From thence they
made theI way throu Oh the Session Room to the outer door
when they were discovered as above stated. DR. Sim
mons was called in To dress D0nneys wound but he was
unable TO extract the ball Neither Of the men said aay
thing about the matter this morning except DORnely who
remarked if Il had not been FOR the az the Sessions
door we should have been in Chatham $. at this time
He compsined OF having friends and he was deter
mined TO bciInd himself He saidhe stood il year and
could not stand il no longer. In order to prevent the
hole in their cell from being discovered they had fitted up
shelf az if for books aud pasted a newspaper against
the wal Under their hunks we're found the AMI
rubbish which they had taken from the wall. All that
could lie found in he shape II oo bit Of crowbar
and sheath knife. DoDnelly was convicted Of the Der
By robbery in Broadway time but not yet
sentenced stay OF proceedings in his case having been
obtained Miller awaiting trial under Indictment FOR
burglary Of Bowey and Dover ct He was baled
out revous Indictment but forfeited his bail and went
TO Cincinnati where be appehended on suspicion OF
forgery large amount Of bills the Bank Of the Stale
of New York being found in his possession la etEe np
ing escape from the jail at Cincinnati he broke both
bis legs On recovering he brought to this Cry and
was awaiting trial on the charge above named