The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-16
SHARKEY'S ESCAPE.
How One of the Old Tweed Ring Sailed Out
Of New York HarbOr in Mike Murray
New York Sunday News.

Schooner. 4&
.. New York Sunday News.l
On Sunday, Sept. 1, 1879, William }.
Sharkey, ward politician and sporting
man, killed Robert S. Dunn IN bar
room at 2S9 Hudson street. Dunn had been
a professional gambler for fifteen years.
Shart ey was the son of respected residents
of the Ninth Ward, but he went astray
early in life, and after brilliantly noto-
rious career of the crooked sort, doomed
out into successful political adventurer.
He was power in the Eighth Ward prl-
maries, had club named after HIM, and
belonged to every influential political or
ganization in the Fifth Congressional Dis
trict. Sharkey was found guilty of MUIR
der in the first degree, and sentenced to
be hanged on August Is. 1878 Novem-
Der 49,, 1878, found Sharkey still in the
Tombs, an occupant>of cell 40 on the sec
ond tier. AT ten o'clock on the morning
of that day the murderer was visited by
his mistress, Maggie ,Jou1dan. The
girl, who, since her separation
from her first lover, Thomas Muir
ply, the plckpocket, had been a dev0ted
companion of Sharkey, had beggared her
self in order to provide funds for his de-
tense. She visited him constantly in
Jail, and her quiet, modest demeanor had
made her general favorite. On the day
in question She remained, in conversation
With him for two hours and a half, when
she was joined by her friend, Mrs.
Wesley Allen. At one O'Clock Maggie
Jordan left the prison. At half-past one
tall, ungainly female, heavily yelled
handed a ticket to the doorman and went
out At two. o'clock Mrs Allen tried to
pass out without ticket, alleging that
she had lost hers. An alarm was sound
ed and Sharkey was found to have shaved
his mustache off, invested himself IN the
attire provided by his mistress and her
friend, and escaped. The ungainly fe
male with the thick veil was the convict
ed murderer himself. The last trace
Sharkey left Was on a Blocker street car.
The late George W. Matsell, then Super
intendant of the Police, took vigorous
steps to track the assassin. All the
European steamers were kept under sur
veillance Two thousand dollars reward
was offered. The Eight Ward was
searched with a vigor that left no likely
refuge UNEMPLOYED, and people who were
known to have been Sharkey's intimates
were closely Swallowed. But all in vain.
The flying man had managed to vanish
and leave no trail.
Among Sharkey's old acquaintances
was Mike Murray, who had lately come
into possession of the schooner Frank At
wood, now famous as the means of
Tweeds escape to Cuba The Fran At
wood at that time lay at the foot of Pine
street, loading for a voyage to Jacmel,
Hayti. On Novem Der "a, five days after
the flight Of Sharkey from the Tcmbs,
the schooner's lading was completed and
Captain Bryant reported as ready for sea.
The agent conveyed the information to
the owner, and Captain Bryant was sum
moned to meet him at Wenberg's office.
Are you all ready tor sea, Captain?''
asked Murray.
eyes, sir - was the reply.
GLOW soon can you get out?"
II can 60 out by daylight tomorrow il
necessary
"Can't you get out to-night?"
"Not very we'll, sir. It's hard to get g
tug after dark now. But il I must gel
clear, why of course / must"
Murray reflected a little WHILE Then
he said: "Well, meet me at ten O'Clock
tonight in front OF the Sinclair House
Don't fail, now, mind, and mean while
get all ready for sailing"
In obediancc to this command, Cap.
tain Bryant went On board at once and
saw that every thing was prepared fo1
departure. His clearances came from the
Custom-house that afternoon, and he only
awaited Murray's orders to sail.
AT ten O'Clock that night" said the
Captin to the reporter. II was at the
corner OF Clinton place and Broadway
stood by the side door of the Sinclair
House. Murray wasn't in sight. and !
was just commencing to get cold enough
to want hot drink. when he came out of
his gambling house across the way. Ben
Weinberg as with him. They were talk
ing very conidentially together, and look
ing sharply for me.
II skipped across the street to meet
them. Murray said, Il hope you haven't
been waiting long, Captain. Are YOU
ready to sail to-morrow?'
''"I am said, or earlier if you want.
"'Oh, we'll, guess Tomorrow early
will do: Look here, Captain! there's 8
young fellow, the son of clergyman, g
AAouu VI NIue, wants. 10 take a w est In
dian trip, and it struck me you'd Just be
the man to tote him off, His expenses
are all paid. Let's go and take a drin.
on it,
''We. took the drink in the Sinclair
House, and while VIC we're taking it Muir
ray explained to me that my passenger
was in a little trouble and wanted to ge1
away on the quiet. It was only civi
damage case, he said. Murray handed
me package done up in thick yellow
paper, tied and sealed.
There's 81, ZOO in gold and drafts in
that bundle,' re said. Give it to nv
friends son ~hen he lands. You needn't
let him now you've got it till then. Gel
OFT as soon as you can tomorrow, and
don't take pilot. Just sign his bill and
steer yourself out. Jump In hack no '
and get right aboard
"He called hack and paid the driver
ana got in. Only then it struck me to
ask what my passengers name was, ana l
opened the hack door and called to him
as they were walking off. Murray told
me Frank Gap,nl>.l