The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-09
JOE COBURN IN SING SING.
TIKEN FROM SLEEP, AND OFF IN AN
EIRLY MORNING TRAIN
"That District Attorneys once Must he In =
Bioody Hurry TO get Away with Mc"-uis
Promise to Conform TO the Prison Rules.

Joe Coburn, the pugillst was sound asleep
In cell No. 8. in the condemned row OF the city
prison at 1880 yesterday morning. when night
Warden John Orr shook the cell door and
shouted. Joe. get up: they're going to take
you away" This was the first ntimation the
prisoner had received that he was to be taken
to Sing Sing prison yesterday. When he heard
the words OF the night Warden he turned over
in his cot and said. mo, thoy amt going to
take me away. I'm not going up to-day" Later
a keeper went 10 the cell. and seeing that CO.
burn was yet asleep. called out. Joe. you must
get up; the deputy sherifrs are waiting for
you" Then the prisoner rolled out OF his oot
and looked around dumbfounded He glanced
out between the bars into the corridor. but there
wae no one there except the stoiid keeper who
was smoking a cigar near the stove
Coburn hastily wrote letter TO his wife
and one to Ned Mallahan. Deputy Sheriff John
Murlholland. in a coach. entered the prison
yard. and Deputy Sheriff Burns went into the
prison and spoke to Coburn. light breakfast
was ordered. but 1t was not touched by the
pugllst. He walked around his cell as though
trying to collect his thoughts. and occasionally
he looked out at the deputy shcriffs.
The other prisoners seemed to have recelyed
special kilograms that Joe was about TO start up
the river. for they peered through the gratings.
and uttered the regulation sympathy which
such occasions seem 10 require. The coach
horses stamped in tho prison yard. and the
clock on the top tier marked $40. The train
that tho deputy sherffs intended to take
was the 9:15. and Mr. Mullholland said that
the trip to the Grand Central Depot
might be made in twenty-seven minutes
Yet Coburn showed no disposition to step from
his cell. II had been rumored that he had said
that no one would ever take him alive to Sing
MI 10 k.l al lint hsr ffrht ln
taken TO Sing Sing on the 2 F. NJ. train Tho
early morning train for Cphurn was agreed
upon, SO that his friends and supporters should
Ats:i5 Coburn was in his cell and tho keepers
hogan 10 ihiagine that ne ended 10 snow hght;
Warden John Quinn entered tho corridor and
said sharply. Give the deputy sherins their
Colurn's cell and ordered him TO walk out
The pugilist. wearing ncavy clothing and an
overcoat and hat stepped into the corridor and
was confronted by the sturdy warden, grim
keepers. and the two .matter-o f-fart deputy
to Deputy sGerir Mulhollend,. In q great
deal Of hurry, amt you" MIR. Mulhoiland
orders" Then the pugilirt was handcutird to
Deputy Sherln Burns, and the party went into
the yard and entered the coach.
- ftcll you what il is,' Coburn said. this
thing amt right Brooke was to argue for n
stay OF proecr,iins1 tni5 morning, and you
That District Attorney Office must be in u
bloody hurry to get away with me. Ii they give
a ioh all thg way through. Capt Williams
started it. AMI Rollins inlshsd. fhats what's
the matter. lou see what fix I'm in now. II
had known that was going to be- taken up
the, river to-day. should have sent my watch
| and Things home 70 my wife,
We'll take care Of your watch and things"
Al right, John. Cohurn cont inuod. address
| ing Deputy Sh.rin Mulholland You take care
to ses XeI MaiiaEan, DiiiS BoTst and Mickey
| Ing about me going away this morning This
amt n way 10 treat white man. Do you hear
The deputy sheriff. and the reporter nodded,
! aud Cohurn resumed. " don't care 80 mn 'h
/ about myself, but do care for my family The
police and tho District Attorneys Office have
g9i C9hurn down, gni hope thty re- satisfied y
! into shapelcss mass. and he looked out at the
/ street cars a. the coach swiftly rolled through
/ lhr Bow"ry an up Fourth avenue AT Madison
/ square lie asked. Why was l taken away SO
"Beeausc, Joo," said Mr.. Mulholland III we
waited until the O'Clock train there would be
! 10000 persons AT the station IN Sing Sing.
Cohurn twisted his long nluustarne and said
that he was sorry that he was not given time in
a'hed the depot. lnd.r sheriff Cummings
was on the sidewalk. When Coburn stepped
Burns bohind him. Mr. Cummings whispered
n tn. pusillst's "nr, md Cohurn nodded in re-
T ply Then Ned NulllAau, unH oi the Prisoner :
friends. arrived. llo had received hasty
/ me-suge from tohurn. The pnriy hurri"dly
entered the l"ill ana Took seats M IN" smoking
! neehborhood knew that Cohurn was on the
tram Men and boys lo'k"d around the car,
| Tho prisoner laughed u- he said 10 hysiQnd +,
,,Tncy re- piling Il 9n me-. AIN they When
At rarrytown a brakeman shriekod in tho
car: The next station is Sing sing" Cohurn
turned pale. aud said IN an undertone: " That ;
NY ran'h." When the train ihundered under
the prison tunnel. he shudderel as he re-
marked; That's the prison. AZ the depot.
deputy shrriils. he was hcset 10y the hackmen
and loung"rs. who surround all prisoners ana
demand their coHts and hats. tolurn had some
tobacco put NJ Tor him. AMI theh the party
started down tne track. The prisoner said that
he was ia 4, especial hurry 70 enter tle prison
When IN, purity reached the prison I'M
Cohnrn took on lis oyrrroat and handed H. t.
MalluhAn Then he WIS escorted in thc gate
way. Tine clerk a the reception desk tNain ned
the commitnrnt documCul-. and III Il mechan'
iimr directing the prisoner e. remove his hat
TAr ugly gn@Acs on Joes head were thus dis
pnyod. Ihc usual Quosiion- wrrn pat 20 nm
npd hn clenr'} responded. lie SAID that he w'''
/ u hricklaycr by trade
Wore YOU eyer prisoner IN state priscr
or neniirntinry before the clcrA asked
Yes. sir" Cohurn promptly replied. wa
her" for threc YEAR"
" For what crin"f'
"Fortrionious assault"
Coburn -nid that he VITA moderate drnkcr
! Au"r ih" iul formula" qu,sii 'n- had boon Put
the clerk -olemnly removed hi- eilk hat AMI d"
liver,l u s,.t sp''rh substantially ns follows
"Sr. it is my duty Ia inform you that If yol
comply with the rules ana regulut Ions of th'
pr son that YOU are entitled. under the commu
iutlon law. to certain deduction upon you
term of sentence Tho rules and regulation
are very severe. and II Is 10 he hoped that yol
Will conform your conduct accord ngy.'
The pusilist bowed aud inluircl. " How mucl
tim" of my sentence p
The clerk figured up the deduction and re
plind. Three years and SIX months.
Then Coburn said, with show Of oNtrem
onrnrstnc-s. L shall cndrayor to do nothing
that may suut me Oh from that deduciIon, ii
then shook hands with hls friend Ma ahal
Deputy sheriff Burns, who began +
weep Then no Ernsped Deputy Sherii
Mulrnlland ana the reporter hy Inc hand. Hn
ns ~ ne said GOod-hy" his Noioe inlt red
The prison ply ysiclan then entered an. too
| COhurn away.
AT IO.3O IN the morning counsel for Cohur
appeared before Judge lnwr "A - M n-ked /"
u Stay of proceedings. Mhiln his Honor Wa
considering the rls, Mr. Brooke went 10 IN
Shrrifl, onirr. and learned that the pri-onr
had been sent 10 Sng sing. lie returned % IN
supreme Court with the information. uuI Judi,
Lawrence dismiss "a the SUBJECT.