The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-13
HIDE AND SEEK WITH JUSTICE.


THOMAS DELANEY EscAprs FROM THE roMps
POLICE COURT RcoM-EEcAPIURED LAST
NIGnT.
The spectators seats in tho Tombs Police Court yes.
terday afternoon nearly all nled and inside tho
iron railing which separates tho prisoners from the
ookers-on several officers with their prisoners were
moving to and fro, when OF Tho latter, by name
Thomas Delaney, charged with robbery, took French
leave HIS escape was Effected through the small iron
gate nj tho extreme right OF the Judges dosK his
cvanishment was as complete tor the timo that OF
the iorger Elliott. who the example lew days ago.
The tme was IA quarter OF four O'Clock T. H. Forty
inmates previous Clerk Rockwell had ordered OfiGcr
Farley, oil the Fh precinct, TO bring his pr soncrs
Thomas Delaney and John Fox, from the prisoners
pen. to DO nfraisned before Justice Smith. The men
were accordingly conducted inside the railing, aud the
complainant, John D. Langford, made his statement,
which was IN effect that he and the prisoners
had been drinking together, and that at two O'Clock
the morning, at tho corner OF West and Washington
streets, thcy assaulted aud robbed him Of 81 Rounds
man Leary aud officer Farley OF the Fith precinct,
however, came UP IN time 10 take has assaiants into
custody Tho statement concluded Justice Smith di-
rocteu tie olcer TO proceed TO tho clerks desk and
make his affidavit
The customary siowness OF the court officials here
cao Ia good play ior tho prisoner, three
OF an hour elapsed before Clerk Rockwell became ready
20 take the poiceman's affidavit rho prisoner in tho
MUGS OF escape anu make his preparations.
HOW THL OFFICIALS wgER SITUATED.
When ~ length pleased the Ccrk To devote his at
tcnton to business the onlccr stopped forward aud
began making his formal complaint Tho prisoners,
Fox ano Delaney, stood Immediately bchind the
oicor, leaning ON tho railing, Delaney beng
nearest the wall Within Two feet OF him was
ono OF the three iron gates Of the railing through
which no prisoner is allowed 10 60. This gale WAS
guarded Dy ollcer Burras, Of tho Court squat SER
gean Woodruff, In command oil the squad, stood near
Tho !udse's desk, exercising general surveillance
Al mi ptir ne mr.
stepped into his room 10 arrange the necessary papera
for sending boy TO tho Juvenile Asy UNI, leaving ON
nDcy standing by the wall In about minu,
he returned TO lind officer Farley looking all around
for his prisoner, who was nowhere to be The
sergeant hurredy cosed the duors and searched tho
courtroom, but tho prisoner had vanished.
HIS escape was made while Oilccr Farley making
his 1Duavit-a proceeding which did not occupy more
than I'VE minutes. In the courne OF investigators Ser
geant Woodruff found wonaD in the court room, who
stated that sin uo.iccd Delaney open tho railing gate
white officer Burras' back turned Tor u moment
and slyiy walk ou. tie sending out OF q general
alarm was the work OF moment but Tor hours no It'd
iEgs OF him came Delaney was, however, rccaptured
81 . late hour last night.
Asrsns OF AUTHORITY
To careful observers of dongs III the Tombs Police
Court u ~ matter Of wonder that SO low escapes
occur the present being the nrst IN many years from
rcc~snd those ofc.as change caci. weeleomss now
rules and regulations with which the puce officers
must comply. One magistrate insists on closing the
doors promptly AZ three L. NJ, another as positively
insists on holding open until five. ono crowds the
enclosure Win prisoners OF all Glasses, IRON tho
petty misdemeanaut TO the highway robber.
nnd while the crowd IL It's largest
thinks nothing ot calling officer stationed
At gate IRON his post Some magistrates iss orders
~ the police which the following week counter
nandod W their succcss0rs. by Tow 'shy sserins''
Is vigorously rowned down. by othors 1t IS ~nkcd At,
anu tho efforts oil tho police, In excluding slyscrs from
their virtual picritg, are discouraged some OF the
Clerks TOO, initiate thor masters the chief clerk being
especially noticeable as person oil peculiarly change
able views Among the other abuses is that OF com
polling the police 10 bring the prisoners out u the
secure prison pen into Tho court enclosure otlentincs
for hours before the judge rcudy hear their cases
TIE roLlCk STONY
Sergeant Woodruil last evening submitted his
OF the escape TO Superintendent Wallng The present
Is tho only escape which has FRED during his
OF command o.iccr Burfas, through whose gate tho
fugitive PASSED, while an Odd ollcof, having been OIL
the Iorce quarter century is new TO court duties,
the present being his second week ut the Toinba