The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-13
A SEMDLANCE OF A MURDER
THE DROWNING or 4 BLACK WELLS
ISLAND PRISONER.
The End Of . Surreptitious Visit TO tho City
By Convicts-A Mnimcd DTunknrd said to
Have Bcen Thrown into the River.

The End Of = surreptitious visit 10 tho City
By Convicts-A Mnimcd Drunknrd said to
Have Been Thrown into the River.
Yesterday morning Capt Robbins, Of
the Eighty-cighth street police, received infor-
nation that Thomas Bounty, negro, boatman
for Henry Baxter Of Eighty tn street and East
river, knew Of the death Of a prisoner who had
been missing from Dlackwells Island.
81 was called by parties on the island to come
over with the boat early on Sunday evening
said Bounty, when Intercepted by the CAPTAIN.
" | did 30, and took in John Kid and man with
a wooden leg. There was no one else. rowed
them across to the foot OF ERhty-sxth street,
and they went up that street. About 10 o'clock
they returned, and woke me up by knocking on
the window. They wanted to be taken back to
the island, and got the boat ready to { Ike
them. There was no one In the boat but John
Xxi i and the man with the wooden leg, and my
self. when we had got a short distance from
tho float Kid and the other man began to quar-
rel. The man with the wooden leg was very
drunk. lie told Kid To let him alone, but KID
kept pulling him by the leg. At the boat house
on the island, Kid. without saving word TOOK
hold ~ the man with wooden log, and upset
water, too and they both went down. when
Kid came up. he caught hold OF the bont and
! pulled him in. ! did not see the other man
again. Rid told me To say nothing about II, and
| went home with my boat. ON Monday the
ferry at Eghty-sixth street was stopped by the
Island authorities. because a man was missing.
On Tuesday, Mrs Baxter, who knew | took
some men of he island on sunday, accused me
Of drowning the man. then told her tho cir
Cumstanccs."
Capt. Robbins went TO the island and found
that h i'd who IL n fireman In the wnrkhOuse,
had been arrested for aiding prisoners tn escape.
~ having become known that he WAS on the
island on SUNDAY night. lie was delivered 20
Capt. Robbins. lie saws that about half past 7
on sunday evening he. W. II. ChattertOn. and
Lewis Gardner were rOwed across tho river by
Bounty. They went up Eghty-sixth street
nearly to Third avenue. to Waace's Groggcry.
where they Caroused until nearly 10 o'clock. On
their return. Chatterton. who was a convict left
them at second avenue, saving he was going
| home, and would not 20 back To the island.
| Gardner and KID aroused Bounty, and he rowed
| them back 20 the Island.
There wasn't any quarrel" Kid saws. After
we reached the boat house saw Gardner 20
| over backward and heard him cry out, For
| g DDS sake save me- | jumped after him, but
could see nothing. Bounty told me to come Ia
| the stern Of the boat. did so and he helped
| me up. | asled him what to do about II, and
! he said he al not know. | went no stairs and
| told George Thompson, the boat keeper. Then
| went to the almshouse engine room and
! changed my clothes. In the morning reported
to Deputy Warden Golden. Gardner was O
prisoner"
Kid and Bounty were taken to the Yorkvill,
| Police Court and ronanded to the station house
kid rs a prisoner and Bounty as witness.