The New York herald., 1869-03-28
"THEC.n ALLEN IN A NEW ROLE.

His Alleged Successful Attempt I'm Rcscuing
an Arrested Illinois Escaped Ccnvict-Tw0
Cenflemanly Deputy ShcriHs-Tle Eisith
Ward Gnng Again.
At four o'clock yesterday afternoon, as the bust.
ness OF the day was being closed at the Jefferson
Market Police Court, there came before Justice Led
with motley crowd Of well known characters Of the
Eighth ward, prominent among whom was their
reputed Chief "Theo.n Allen, who was in charge OF
Sergeant Christie prisoner. So soon as order
could be restored In the court room an individual
owning pair Of very broad shoulders and wearing
his hair closely cut stepped up to the railing
and accused 'fhls man, Thco.' Allen,n OF
resculng from him by force an escaped convict
from the Illinois State Prison at Joliet "You see,
Judge, have the authority TO arrest one William
Forester, who convicted In that state Of bur-
glary, and sent to the prison there for thirteen
years. He escaped, and upon the requisition OF the
Illinois authorities, Governor Holman issued this
documcnt.n Here the complainant drew from his
pocket an ofncial paper from the Department OF
state at Albany, duly signed and sealed directed to
Sheriff O'Brien, authorizing the convict's arrest.
Upon It there was an endorsement directing Robest
+. Townlcy TO make the arrest which order was
sAnd are you Mr. Townley ~ said the Judge, look.
Eyes. sir; belong to the sherio,s ONCE, and am
Not OF the Metropolitan Police Department.
"No' SIR; special detective deputed to make this
.'wen, Mr.. Allen, you have heard this charge.
at Is false. did not know he had prisoner.
When I frst saw the muss this man Townley-
wnom ! once sent 70 the Island for SIX months,
man down on the sidewalk IN Mercer street,
Prince, and knowing him to be thief and thinking
hun out from under him, when ne got up and
walked away. did not know the little fellow, nor
was q detective nor did i know II then. It was
afterwaro, when Sergeant Christie arrested me. that
In support OF TINS itatement there appeared for
Allen three witnesses, well known IN the Eighth
ward, who corroboratcd him in every essential par
ana one wilson, the former statang that at first he
imagined that 1t was an ordinary light between car
aYes,~ hurriedly cnimed In the accused. ethat's
what thought Il was-a street nght; and do you
thlnk, Judge. as am deputy sheriff. too, that
Tne olilcer who appeared upon the scene at arst
was sent for az this juncture and upon his arrival
hp; but the charge OF rescuing prisoner was not
made until afterwards. He further assured the
ately amer the disturbance.
Townley was then lnterroeated by the Court when
he admitted that he was sentenced to serve six
months on the Island at the instance OF Allen; but
said he, ''hIs testimony 1t the tmc was
q s'' NJ that ss9Nf fneS y s:cspssa :sss vssS cSn
Wet FORESTER. and because OF his Acquaintance
with him, he had been selected 10 arrest him. and
knowing that he ffequcnted the st. Bernard House
he 'piped" him there and that he had sesn him but
two or three minutes previous to the rescue, when
he approached him and the following conversst ION
Deputy-"Buy. have a warrant for your ar
restn
Forrester-"No, no. l guess not. That's played
OUT he answered. when he attempted 70 escape,
and at tins time, the oficer continued, "Allen came
up and rescued him ~ have referred To-"
Justice Lcdwith ut this point, assured the COM
plainant that ~ he was . deputy snerin, ana
as the PRISONER held similar position
settled n the SheriMB once. inst ~ the
bulk OF the testimony was In favor Of AlIen and there
was only the charge Of "rescuing pris0ner' made
against hlm wnscn wee not fuV snDssentAaeo ne nsu
no alternative In the absence Of any other complaint
but 70 dtscharge hsm. Yet SAID he addrcssing ne
complainant 10 does nos strike me that your
language u the time veTy choice. IT. Townley,
occuDyt1g IT. Doai1lon thak yuu do There VAS .