The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-07
JERSEY JAIL JUMPERS.

C0unty Jall-1ney Fell the Turnkey and
Stab q Prisoner-Exciting Chase and
Recapture-0ne Of the Fugitives
Shot Wonderful Feats
Of the Runaways.
Yesterday morning Jersey City was thrown into
state OF unusual excitement over the report that
terrible outbreak had taken place among the
prisoners in the Hudson County Jail; that one man
had been killed and several badly wounded while
many prisoners had succeeded in making good
their escape from the JAIL In short time
several citizens hurried towards the prison, which
Is located on Newark avenue, within few blocks OF
the brow OF the hill that overooks old Jersey City
and New York city and harbor. The true state OF
things was speedily made known. At eight O'Clock
IN the morning the prisoners, to the mum
Der OF more than 100 were out OF their cells
some sitting lazily near the barred windows,
others walking up and down the corridors,
according to custom before breakfast. Com
municatlng with the several corridors is a
small Oblong area on the first floor, shut in by
strong walls and iron gates. This spot is known
as the "cage." The entrance gate thereto is paral.
lei to the visitors door which faces the avenue
Though that gate Mr. Flcke, the turnkey, passes
about eight O'Clock every morning armed with
PAOvCAuol iOi VIC CdpLVtS WHO are supposed
to have re.entered their respective cells by
that hour. Yesterday morning the prison clock
went wrong and the prisoners were not in their
cells when Mr.. Ficke drew back the iron bolls and
opened the 'cage" gate. He had two pots OF
coffee In his hands and was wheeling into the
cage" when he was caught by the throat and
splash went the pots and coffee about the hall.
Three stalwart prisoners, named James Anderson,
John Rogers and John Murphy, rushed upon
him, and. thrustlng him violently out of the Way.
entrance 10
barred. The men in an instant turned to
the left, forced back o glass door, flew through a
OF boiling hot coffee, jumped over an old woman
employed there as cook. and then, without waiting
oaRRMG AWAY TMh sAssHs AND
rapidly towards tke rear vail, stabbed a man man
the way, climbed q chicken coop that brought
them to the top Of the wall, jumped down so1se
suss '. IN s %: 3 dome tas rear s
o sRsn stss to ten T.
the third fugitive shot BY HIM. he found himself
lying on the moor, without knowing exactly how
was among the possibilities, and he made q des-
peirate enort to close the gate; AS he was doing
rushed him. Tney snshea and PeEs
during the scufhe. managed to close the gate thus
preventing the escape OF more culprits The
the screams OF the woman that had been so roughly
handled by the flying criminals and the general
Se 81
rushing out through the 'front.' door door, ran ran
in time to see Murphy jumping over o fence. He
called on him to stop or he would shoot; but
not Ryers0ns fault, for he fired at him. Murphy
was about TO cross garden across the street when
Ryerson closed on him. and two watchmen secured
the prisoner. Ryerson then started after the Others
who were running In the same direction. He called
on them to surrender and, seeing that they paid no
heed 10 his order. he tlred: The bullet struck
wounded man still continued to fee. He was
hotly pursued by colored prisoner named Clay
him in a cellar. Rogers dropped on the road and
surrendered. Anderson made q desperate re-
sistance on being brought back, but he was
handcufed by RyersOn and lodged in his cell once
again. as also were the other fugitives. Foster is
stout, determined and cool Individual, about
thilty.hve years Of age and is confined in default
oners v are ;. awaiting trial for having broken
caught in the house, but the others escaped
to New York, where they were bageed after three
present quarters. Foster occupies the same cell
as Anderson, while Murphy and Rogers are asso-
GATED in another cell Anderson Is small put
stout pae,laced individual aged twenty three
probed, hut no bullet could be found, and
after stikins him. Rogers has wound in his left
hand, but he declines to tell how it was innlcted.
Murphy Is dark complexioned. stout and smooth
faced, thirty years old, and worked In an iron es-
tabllshment. He expresses his conviction that
the servant girl OF the house, on Jersey
avenue, cannot recognize him Murphy has
cut or his mustache), and says he Is an
honest man. Rogers Is good!natured
Christian to all appearances and complains Of a
prOtuberance on his lett eye, which, he says, was
caused by the turnkey. they all avow
that they did nothing but walk out when
they got q chance, and say that they'll
be more successful next time. They grumble
about the prison fare, inasmuch as, II they had
been well fed, they could easily have mustered
strength enough to get away. The prisoner,
Tucker who was stabbed in the yard has deep
and very painful wound, Jour inches long, in his
right wrist The stampede of yesterday must have
been preconcerted, and was the boldest ever eff
fected there: ,. Mrs Jones was, very fortunately,
through otherwise she might have shared the late OF
the old cook, who was caught by the hair and
hurled into the dining room. The whole afternoon
was spent In removing the debris OF the wreck
created by the burglars. Murphy enjoys the
soubrquet OF Brooklyn Johnny" Anderson that
of Jim Anness,n while Rogers is dubbed Liver
membered when they come before Judge Bedle.