The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-07-15
A DETECTIVES DIARY.
A REMARKABLE CASE

A REMARKABLE CASE.
THE SING SING EsCAPE-ARREsT OF WILLIAM
HAwLEY, ONE CT THE LOCOMOTIVE STEAL
ERS-FXPERIENCES OF HAwLEY Aztec
LEAVING THE ENGINE.
The Sentinel published the particulars o.
the escape of several convicts from Sing Sing
several months since. One of them has been
aecaptured after an eventful experience. as
appears by the following from the New York
Herald; The daring and extraordinary es.
cape of the five convicts from Sing Sing on
the 18th of last May is again brought into
prominence by the capture of the first of the
number, effected early yesterday morning.
In the annals of escapes from penal institu-
tons OF this state none have parta
ken more OF the sensational. nor
have any excited more wide
spread interest than this. Individual
convicts have &C times resorted to plans and
articles in their desperate attempts to regain
the precious boon of liberty, well calcu-
lated 10 produce astonishmenJ by the fer
tiiity OF genius displayed; astute keepers
have been cleverly hood winked; barriers
considered insurmountable have Welded to
well laid schemes, aided by caution and
perseverance; guards have been overpow-
cred; prison doors have been unlocked; in
fac, all the appliances of science and art
hofO bCCh successfully Cdll6u III play, DuL
never before was locomotive bodily stolen
and made to subserve to such ends. AL
though the circumstances of the occurrence
are comparatively fresh in the public mind
brief review may not prove uninteresting
AT about 10 O'Clock on the morning of the
l4th of May freight train on the Hudson
River railroad, comprising large number
of cars, all heavily laden, was pro
ceedng from above Sing Sing to New
York, and adjoining the track at an
elevation of about thirty feet is a stone
quarry upon which a number CT convic,s
from the Sing Sing prison were at work, the
usual numb of keepers and sentries being
present. Ordinarily trains passing by this
quarry 60 at rate of speed that would
cause the death of any person bold enough
to attempt to board them by jumping from
the ledge, but, owing to the large freights
before mentioned. the train on this particu.
lar occasion passed the quarry more slowly
than usual. Taking advantage of this fact,
three of the cOnvicts at work on the ledge
made a sudden break and jumped on the
top of the forward car. Others of the con-
victs, seeing the situation, followed suit,
and a stampede ensued. Only five of the
number, however, boarded the train. These
at once
THE ENGINEER AND FIRE
MAN,
detached the locomotive from its train OF
cars, and, pulling the throttle valve wide
open, flew down the road at lightning speed,
all having entirely escaped the bullets fired
at them by the prison sentries. The loco
motive, however proved an elephant in
their hands; none knew how to manage it,
aud before they had gCne five miles il came
10 a standstlll, one OF the cylinders having
Oursted-a most fortunate occurrence for
he men, it afterward transpired, as the rail-
ru1 cr1p info 1oraff in
IF the affair, had ordered the switch turned
1t one of the stations, so that the locomotive
with its occupants might be thrown
INTO the river. After the failure
IF the iron horse the convicss
ook to the woods and from that time to the
present have remained at liberty. The man
,aptured yesterday morning is William |
Hawlew, alias Shang Hamilton, alias Shang
Norris, who, at the time of his escape, was
iOing a nine years sentence tor bigamY. |
The capture was effected in this wise-some
wo weeks ago Inspector Speigh obtained in |
that led him to suspect that Haw- |
ely was in the city. Further investigation |
atisfied him that such was the fact, hut the |
xscs whereabouts OF the con vict could not |
)e ascertained. Detectives Ferris and Ken |
ledy, of the centred Office, were intrusted |
With the case, and at once commenced the |
ampaign. By tracing back the history OF |
Iawley they found that Just prior to his in /
"
erms of the closest intimacy and friend
hip with q young woman residing in |
he lower part of the city, and it was
determined to put watch upon her move
nents. For threedays she was Swallowed"
wherever she went, but no good appeared to
esult. On the fourth day the detectives no.
iced that her movements appeared exceed
ngly cratic. She went to different parts OF
he dity, apparently for no purpose, and
cted in a very strange and suspicious mau-
Ter. It'was evident that she was aware of
eing followed and was trying to throw the
be utmost caution had Cow to be adopted.
n few days the detectives located her at
70. ~ Jane street, where it was subse-
uently asc4r aimed Hawley's mother resi-
Ided. per petual watch was then placed
pom the house, in the hope OF detecting
passing between Hawley
whom the detectives supposed t be resid
1g elsewhere) ar d::tbeinma;es of the house
ut no person was seen TO enter the premi
es excepting the ashman and the milk
he former, 1t was atterward learned, was
be conveyer of all
TO AND FROM HAwLEY.
was noticed that the blinds of one of the
ront rooms were always kept closed, and
his fact led the officers to believe. that it
yas occupied BY Hawley himself. 1t was
lso noticed that whenever the hail
DOR was opened a peculiar sound, as ii
1ade by gong, couqi be plainly heard.
rom this X was reasoned that an alarm was
ounded within every time the door was
pened. If this was the case and Hawley .
Tas inside, the detectives knew some STRAIT
gem was necessary in order to get in with
ut giving the alarm. Yesterday morning,
hortly before O'Clock, the officers W ere
eady for action. The mllkman came along
t his usual hour, opened the hall door and
ntered. The peculiar gong like noise was
card Waiting about three minutes, and