The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-29
FOUR MORE JAIL BREAKERS.
ESCAPING FROM QUEENS COUNTY JAIL
IN BROAD DAYLI0HE
A Wounded burglar and n Prisoner with n
Cork Leg AstonishinG n Keeper by their
ARiiity-Pursuors Meeting with n Mishap.

A Wounded burglar and u Prisoner with n
Cork Leg AstonishinG n Keeper by their
AEiiity-Pursuors Meeting with Mishap.
At last weeks session OF the Queens
County Court Frank Belmont was sentenced to
i've years In tho state prison for stealing a
watch In the Lutheran Cemetery on Decoration
Day. and George Walters received ten years
sentence for burglary committed about a fort
night ago In Astoria. Pending their commit
ment to Sing Sing the prisoners were incarce-
rated in tho county jail. In the outskirts OF
Long Island City. They were placed In a
compartment In the southeast coner. containing
eight coils. Two OF these cells wore already oc-
cupied by Goo. Batterby. a burglar. who had
been five months waiting his commitment to
Sing Sing under ten years sentence for
burglary In East New York. and William Shaw.
who had nearly served out sixty days SEN
tenco In Jail for stealing harness.
The eight cells are ranged in two tiers. four
In each. Thoy look out on wide corridor
which is lighted by large barred window. at
least eight feet from the stono- paved floor.
Easy access to the window can bo obtained.
however by stepping on an iron sink running
half the length OF the ward. over which arc
ranged series OF water pipes. forming sort
OF ladder. The ward is cut of from the rest Of
the building by an iron door. When the new
comers arrived. Belmont was placed In n cell In
the second tier. two doors removed from that
Of Shaw. and Walters In one on the ground
floor adjoining Batterby's.
All four prisoners complained so much OF the
heat that during the hot ye,ather they have
been allowed the run OF the corridor: DOR INC
less during tho day Tho iailer. or one OF hts
assstants. visited the ward at least every quar-:
ter OF an hour. TO see that all WAS safe. Two Of
the four prisoners were supposed to be entirely
incapacihted from even attempting TO escape.
run nV away had been shot in the leg by police
officer. and was thought to be unable to walk in
consequence. Baterby's let leg was ot cork
Guilty. Their cell doors were opened to the four
men at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. as usual.
as % well eli as they could in tho sink. after which
| Battcrby was ordered bv the keeper In charge.
Assistant Warden Wilkinson to wash the cor
Wilkinson visited the ward onco or twice In
| the next hour to see that his orders were car
| bing as well as his cork leg would let him.
| while his three companions were apparently in;
nortion Of tho aoor At o'clock, the four pris-
| oners were yet in the ward.
When Wilkinson came at quarter past the
hour the ward was empty. With start OF dis
! may hs unlocked the door. and rushed into the
deserted room. A glance showed how The
window had been sawed In two at the top, and
then lifted from the socket in the stone sill be-
ncath. The aperture thus made was hardly
aas se' SnSs Rshw wf had been 0' resSGsI
the sink and the pines above IT,
| The bars on either side OF the aperture had
been creased with pork. and through this
narrow hole. less than n foot in width. walters.
six feet In height and broad in proportion.
Weighing 1sO pounds. the prison officials believe.
squeezed himself. His companions were
| smaller men. but even for them 70 squeeze
| through must have been difhcut Once out Of
| the building the runaways had no further d M
Guilty. A fence only six foot high surrounds tho
| Jail yard and Batterby cork legged rs he was.
| had evidently had small trouble in snrmount-
| ing II, for the yard was empty when Wilkinson
| climbed the sink and looked through the
| window.
The startled jailer lost no time In giving tho
| alarm. There were fow to give II to. Young
| Rushmore. son OF the Sheriff Of the county who
| is the Warden. was out driving. and there were
| only two men in the Jail besides the Deputy
| Warden. to guard thirty eight male prisoners.
not including the four runawnys, and seven
women. Wilkinson rushed from the Jail alone.
and harncssed his horse to tho wagon. A tiag-
man on the neighbOring railroad told him
| that tho fugitives had taken southeasterly
| direction. and were going toward Blissvllle.
| Wilkinson drove rapidly down the nearest
| avenue to the point Indicated Presently he
met Police Ofilcer Park, who joined him. Tho
| wagon was overturned. and both occupants
| were thrown out and disabled 10y their injuries.
| Tho pursuit had to be abandoned. but q de-
| scription OF the missing men was sent out by
telegraph TO tho neiRhborng cities. No recap
| turp had been made up To midnight.
| Sheriff RushmOre arrived on the ground lato
| In the evening. He Ia not pecuniarily respon-
| sible for either OF the four prisoners. They
| would have been taken TO Sing Sing yesterday
morning mad their commitments arrived.