Daily globe., 1879-07-13
SHARKEY'S ESCAPE.
How One Of the Old Tweed Ring Sailed Out
Of New York Harbor in Mike Murray's
schooner.
New York Sunday News

AAOW Ono VA SAo Oiu AWceu AlnS Salle0 OWC
Of New York Harbor in Mike Murray q
Schooner. ai5
New York Sunday News.
On Sunday, Sept. /, 1872, William j.
Sharkey, ward politician and sporting
man, killed Robert S. Dunn IN bar
room at 288 Hudson street. Dunn had been
a professional gambler for fifteen years.
Sharkey 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, bloomed
out into successful political adventurer.
He was q power in the Eighth Ward pri-
maries, had a club named after hlm, and
belonged to every influential political or.
ganlzation in the Fifth Congressional Dis
trict. sharkey was found guilty Of mur-
der in the first degree, and sentenced to
be hanged on August Is. 1878 Novem-
Der 10, 1873, 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 Jourdan. The
girl, who, since her separation
from her first lover, Thomas Muir
ply, the pickpocket, had been a devoted
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 a general favoritc. On the day
IN question she remained in conversation
with him for two hours and 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 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 of, 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 Blocker street car.
The late George W. Matsell, then Super
intendant of the Police, took vigorous
steps to track the assassin. Ali the
European steamers were kept under sur
veillance. Two thousand dollars reward
was offered. The Eight Ward was
searched with vigor that left no likely
refuge unexplored, and people who were
known to have been Sharkey's intimates
were closely shadowed. 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
Tweed's escape to Cuba The Frank At
wood at that time lay at the foot of Pine
street, loading for voyage to Jacmel,
Hayti. On November "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.
care you all ready for sea, Captain? %
asked Murray.
eyes, sir" was the reply.
How soon can you get out?"
u can go out by daylight tomorrow if
necessary
"Can't you get out to-night?"
"Not very we'll, sir. It's hard to get a
tug after dark now But if I must get
clear, why of course I must"
Murray reflected little while. Then
he said: swell, meet me at ten o'clock
tonight in front OF the Sinclair House.
Don't fail, now, mind, and meanwhile
get all ready for sailing"
In obediance to this command, Cap
tain Bryant went on board at once and
saw that every thing was prepared for
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 a hot drink. when he came out OF
his gambling house across the way. Ben
Weinberg was with him. They were talk
ing very contidentially together, and look
ing sharply for me.
IL skipped across the street to meet
them. Murray said, Il hope you haven't
been waiting long, Captain. Are you
ready to sail tomorrow"
81 am I said, 'or earlier if you want.
'Oh; we'll, I guess Tomorrow early
will do. Look here, Captain! there's a
young fellow, the son Of clergyman, a
friend of mine, wants to take West 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 drink
on it.
eve took the drink in the Sinclair
House, and while VIC were taking it MUIR
ray explained to me that my passenger
was in little trouble and wanted to get
away on the quiet. It was only a civil
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,' he said. Give it to my
friends son when he lands. You needn't
let him know you've got it till then. Get
off as soon as you can tomorrow, and
don t take pilot. just sign his bill and
steer yourself out. Jump in a hack now
and get right aboard
HHe called hack and paid the driver,
and got in. Only then it struck me to
ask what my passengers name was, and
opened the hack door and called to him
as they were walking of. Murray told
me Frank Campbell.
"'When will he come on board?' I
asked.
usL ord hloss vo,,i hos IN hoord I, -, /,