New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-20
CRIMINALS CHANCES.
A MURDERER's ESCAPE.

The news that Sharkey, the alleged muir
derer of Robt, s. Dunn bad escaped from the Tomb:
disguised as woman created quite sensation yestef
day afternoon among people generally well as among
the omciais Many discredted the report, but II
was Vefineu by Information irom the warden OF the
Tomhs. and the DIstrict-Attorney's office.
william j. sharkeY OF No 1l9 varick-st. shot and in
stantV Killed. on Sunday evening, Sept 1872. Robert
g. Dunn alias Bob Isaacs age 49, OF No. lO2 Analyst.
The shooting took place In the barroom Of exPoceman
Charles Harvey, known as THE Place." at No. 2Ss
Hudsonst. sharkey escaped from the barroom after
the commission OF tho terrible deed, and Monday
night delivered himself up to Capt Garland Of the
Twenty-eighth Precinct at a point ON Westinghouse.
between Charles and Perrysts which he ntnated to the
Police Captain On Sept L. 1872 Sharkey lodged in
the Tomps, and July g. 1873. he sentenced TO be
hanged on Aug Is, 1872 stay OF proceedings having
been obtained. his Is now before the Court Of
Appeals.
sharkey has been the occupant Of cell on the second
er-the thrd cell on the left hand reaches the
bacony-shce the stay OF proceedings was granted On
the same Tier were lodged other prisoners accused OF
murder-John Scannell OF killing Thomas Donohue. John
T.. simmons OF killing Nicholas b. Duryea, and James T.
King OF Killing Ambrose ONeiland while they had the
privilege OF walking the balcony during visiting
hours ana keeping their cell doors open when they
pleased Sharkey was kept In close confinement. This
seeming severity explained by the keepers by say.
ing that sharkey had been nsoent the Warden and
been guilty OF breaches OF discipline and had therefore
TO suher never was word Of sympathy for him heard
from any one connected with the prison; but the pale
faced young woman dressed in black. who was
ever 10 be seen during visiting hours standing
and sometimes sitting outside his cell, seemed to have
excited commisseration for herself II not for the unor
tunate man. No visitor failed TO notice her, and upon
inquiry was informed by the tendsrhearted keeper.
"shes Maggie Jordan, his WIFE at least she claims to
be so; she's good gold" She seemed to be the only
tic that bound him to the world, for except his
BROTHER whose visits at very long intervals no one
else visited him. Therefore, when il declared yester
day That this man. OF all the other prisoners had made
his escape, the opinion expressed that IL mpos
sibe be could escape without the cOnnyance OF Of
the oihclais and everything points to that theory.
THE wARDES's ACCOUNT.
reporter Of THE TRIBUNE conyersed with the Warden
upon the manner Of Sharkey's escape He said
Learned from the keeper AT the gate at 2l5 o'clock
that haf an hour before Qi5 M. he suspected that
that he sent another keeper after the person suspected
and he followed the person along Franknst to Elm-st,
town Nothing OF this was told me until few minutes
Pa 10 co o w ls %oa harse at the
suspicion was aroused, the tickets at the gate were
counted The number of tickets given to the visitors
was found all right Sharkeys cell discovered TO be
open. and then 1t was believed that this woman, who
turned ont to be Wesley Aliens wife, must have given
permission to visit some one on the third tier, and
granted 1t.
q. Then You suppose that Mrs Allen merely gave him
the ticket VINO gave HIM the woman's clothesf A.
do not know.
@ Have you arrested Maggie Jordan on suspicion OF
6eug concerned in his escapei A No. she had left the
TOlnbs few minutes before the discovery made.
O'clock at quarter OF o'clock learned the fact He
wore green vail and had taken of his mustache Fal-
coner the gaekeeper who let him out although he
was full OF suspicious.
A THE TRIBUSF the second q a
quarter past o'clock yesterday. Phillips the keeper,
greeted him with a disagreeable air Maggie Jordan
the only visitor The reporter noticed that that
part of the tier where sharkey lodged aud that In the
ding there fewer visitors than he ever remen-
beers To have seen there.
About 81 o'clock superintendent Matsell visited the
Dstrct-Atorneys Office where the greatest excitement
over the escape was manifested Warden Johnson was
sent for aud Intercepted by Mr.. Allen who seemed TO
ssId MI Alien addressing the warden. that that
would try TO escape aud inunated that ought TO
replied The Warden. deprecatingy; whether you told
me or not tell you that no one mas been confined more
Mr. Allen-Well then, I'm afraid the other murderers
will escape II that ia the kind OF watch kept over them
Have you suspended these officers, Philips ana
The warden-No.
M. Allen-Dld you arrest Maggie Jordani
Mr. AlIen-Every officer in that prison will go out.
believed that Maggie Jordan Will be arrested to-
day. and the officers named charged with aiding sharkey
the escape. The clothes are believed TO nave been
"a
passed INTO cells without any search by the keeper IL
Il said that Mrs Aliens presence IN the Tomos was
either the result of accident, she was there by invita-
ton OF some VI the officials.
ACTION OF THE POLICE.
Superintendent Matsell received tho OF Sharkeys
escape few moments after its discovery at the TOmbs.
in the office OF Assistant DistrlctAttorney Allen He
at once summoned Capt Lesry Of the City Hall Police
and ordered him to send officers to the European steam
ers departing afternoon and to search them thor
oughly for the escaped feon. He also ordered Capt
Ieary to send out general alarm by telegraph to the
police of his escape In relation To the result OF the eX
animation OF the warden superintendent Matse stated
that in his opinion 1t evident that there must have
been some officer in the prison who helped
sharkey TO escape. It was also clear Stnat
he escape OF prisoners. Warden johnson had acknow'
that Sharkey's cell had not been searched Ior
10 his knowledge The keepers bad orders TO
search the cells at week. In superintendent
MatsePs OPINION the cell OF a prisoner under sentence
to prevent the securing OF weapon with which SUI
eide could be committed tool with which escape could
be attempted During the fortnight in when S,hIarkey
was unmoested he doubtless received by INSTRUMENTS
the w0mens garments In which ne escapeu. maruen
Johnson stated that prisoner, whose cen faces
on Monday last pass article through the aperture
the door OF Sankey's cell 10 hun Tue most npor-
ant result OF Warden Johnsons examination III supern-
endent Maisels opinion was statement that no hahe
that upon questioning the keepers he had learned lnst
one OF them at the gates had noticed the person In
woman's garments who IL supposed to have been
sbarkey and had said to another Keeper, bll .nat
the keeper VINO made the remark nor the Keeper TO
whom il addressed made any attempt 10 establish
the closely vailed person who mad just passed
out Of their sight.
The telegram announcing sharkey's escape was no
sooner received Mt Police Headquarters than Capt.
Irving of the Detective Squad summoned all his officers
and sent them 10 various points IN tue city WHICH MAS
snspeeted sharkey would seek AZ o hidingplace. The
search continued throughout the afternoon Without sue
cess. The weary officers returned 10 ionoe ueau-
quarters at nighfa ouy to receive further orders IN
regard to the, exertons that were expected Oh them
during tue coming night. ,a., no
cinct Police arrested Maggie Jordan, the woman VINO
been daily visitor to Sharkey ior some te pacA
She refused make any statement to the police anu
wan Immediately taken to the Iombs ana iockea up
where was allowed TO see her.
OLD WORLD CRIMINALS IN NEW-YOBk'
The number of Enrnnean criminals who nave