The New York herald., 1873-11-20

tickets were used for men and women visiting the
was confined there he went in and out OF the
prison Just as he pleased. Mr.. Matsell thinks the
and was not a thing OF moments decision az the
prison authorities would pretend. The cells are
sell says he has no doubt the clothes sharkey wore
out OF the place were in his CELL Ii not more than
week, at lea, least tina that time. On two or three
superintendent OF Police mr. Matsell has discov-
cred that efforts were being made to get prison.
ers out OF the Tombs, and he has Immediately laid
the facts before Commissioner Sterne, and pre-
cautions were taken that prevented escapes. II is
were not able to find out something OF this matter
before 1t was brought to successful issue. |
are brought against the Keepers in the Tombs on
all hands, but the investigation Is to be made at
once, and will, no doubt bring out the truth OF
WHAT THE KEEPER OF THE TIER SAYS.
A HERALD reporter yesterday afternoon visited
the Tombs for the especial purpose OF cleaning
some facts relative to tine escape OF Sharkey from
Lawrence Phillips, the Keeper on the second Tier
OF cells in one OF which the sentenced murderer OF
Dunn was confined. Warden Johnson sent Tor
Mr.. Phillips, and told him to give whatever state
ment he wished to make to the writer. The foilow-
ing conversation then ensued:
REPORTER-Mr. Phillips, wish to learn wnat you
Know about the circumstances connected with TINS
these female visitors OF the prisoner calleds
Mr.. PHILLIPs-As passed along the TIER saw
one was the prisoners wife mlstress-l do not
know which-and the other was woman VINO
came to see Wes Allen every day during ms IN,
carceratiOn here and who called herself MRS"
Allen, though, as did not attend her marriage.
am unable to state whether she was MS lawiut t
spouse or not. These women stayed there about
fifteen minutes, ana then Mrs. Allen went up TO
cell No. 95.
REpoRTER-Who was the occupant or that cell
Mr.. PHiLIIPs-There were two prisoners in
there-a man named Flood and one named Tins
man. 1t was the latter whom she went to see.
REPORTER-When did you last open the door OF
Mr.. PMILL1Ps-I have not opened the door of
Ghnrk VIC anila Of oil fA -dnu Gyn has
OF strict confinement since he grievously insulted
Kennedy and warden Johnson BY splitting in their
faces. He has been closely confined ever since ne
REpoRrER-When did you first discover sharkey
Mr. PHILLiPs-I FIRST found out he was gone when
the alarm came up stairs; then went to his cell
the door was closed but unlocked:
REPOKTER-WhO took Sharkey's breakfast TO
him Z?
Mr.. PH1LLIps--A woman. one of the prisoners,
who acts under Miss Foster, the matron.
REPoRTER-Has she keys with which to open the
doorsY
Mr.. PHILLIPs-No. keeper opens them for
ond tier, unlocked the gate for her.
REroErER-Is It. not possible that hat G ODwyer y
alter the exit OF the woman who took Sharkey his
breakfast
the admission OF visitors every cell-door is tried,
and No. 40 was then perfectly barred and secure.
REPORTER Can you account in any way for the
escape OF the prisoner
MI. PHILLIPs-I think that skeleton keys were
used either by Wes Aliens wife or the woman who
mystery. | wish could, for l expect l shall get
into trouble about 1t.
A HERALD reporter called on Warden Johnson,
about an hour after SharkeyS escape, to inquire
what his version of the transaction was. The
warden was somewhat reticent but declared he
was at loss to think how sharkey could nave
effected his escape without colluslon on the part OF
some one connected with the prison.
For the past four months SharkeyS cell mas been
kept continually locked and bolted, saving only
opened to serve him with meals, admit his rela-
tives to see MIN and so forth. Yesterday, how
ever, he was called upon by Mrs. ewes" Allen
and Maggie Jourdan, who is said to have held
peculiar relations with the prisoner Sharkey. Mrs
Wes. Allen apparently mad no business IN the
conviction, some four months since, oil her husband
The warden is inclined to suspect that ''some-
thing wrongu has occurred between the keeper on
the tier and Sharkey's friends but intends to make
a rigid official investigation into the whole affair.
The keepers who between them are responsible Tor
the escape are Messrs. Phillips, Jones and Falkner.
Each OF these three men was passed by the escap-
ing felon at various stages of his route OF egress
from the jail.
The Story OF shnrkcy's Crime.
On Sunday, September /, 1872 the funeral OF Mr..
James Reilly was organized to take place from No.
2s7 Hudson street. Mr.. Reilly had been member
of the Michael Norton Association His remains
were to be inferred in Calvary Cemetery and
among those who participated in the procession
were Robert s. Dunn, alias Bob 1saacs, OF No. 102
Amity street, and William j. Sharkey, who resided
at No. 119 varick street. These men marched
in the procession within a few feet OF
each other, and on arriving at the ferry
both of them broke ranks and wended their way
toward the ward to which they belonged. Dunn
went to the liquor store kept by Charles Harvey,
at No. 2Ss Hudson street, which is Tor was) known
as "The Place." While in there William Welsh,
Jacob Phillips and Will Belts arrived and joined
hmm in his lmhihatiOnS While the party
were drinking Sharkey entered the sa-
loon, and, observing Dunn, with whom he
had previously been very intimate, COINED
in the call" and drank glass Of rye
whiskey. There had been no animosity between
the men, their frie ndship, in fact, having been
so strong that Sharkey had loaned Dunn 5000
about two years PRIOR TO that date. On this event.
full Sunday Sharkey was impecunious, and asked
Dunn to pay him what he owed him. Dunn pleaded
inability In civil parance, when Sharkey backed
toward the door leading from the saloon into the
street, drew single -barrelled, hair-trigger Der
niger, pointed it at Dunn and hred, the
ball from the pistol penetrating Dunn's breast,
just to the left Of his right nipple Directly he was
1el corpse pom the floor Sharkey, on seeing
the effects OF the wound he had inflicted, cried i'm.
mediately, 'Bob, did not mean to shoot you,"
and, running out OF the door, succeeded in effect
ing his escape. Welsh, Phillips and Belts were the
only persons who witnessed the shooting.
The deceased was corpulent, healthy man and
had until within short time OF the killing been
employed as dealer IN gambling saloon,
located at No. 149 Fulton street, and was also
holding position in the Comptrollers onice at
salary OF $1,000 per annum. The assassin was
well known Eighth ward politician, having an
association named after him, and he also belonged
TO all the influential clubs in the Fifth Congress
sional district.
Dunn was regarded as a harmless man, though
he had been connected with faro banks In this
city for Is years and he had many friends IN
sporting circles.
On receipt OF the news OF the murder Captain
Garland and the detectives under his command at
once instituted diligent search for the murderer
and succeeded In tracing Sharkey tot house in
Washington street, near Perry, where the fugitive
from Justice was arrested. Sharkey de-
cared the shooting was quite accidental: but
the witnesses Of the AFFAIR declared 1t was deliber
ate evidently premeditated and Intentional. At
half.past two O'Clock p. NJ September ?, Drs.
Marsh and Houton, both OF whom were attached to
the Board OF Health, held pOst-mortem examina-
tion upon the body Of the deceased and the YER