New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-01
A FUGITIVE WITH A WOODEN LEG CAUGHT.

WILLIAM BATTERsBY, ONE OF THE PRISONERS WHO
ESCAPED FROM THE LONG ISLAND CITY JAIL,
AGAIN IN CUSTODY.
William Battersby, one Of the four prisoners who
escaped from the Long Island City Jail on S, ar
day, and who was captured on Sunday night, was
safely lodged in the prison yesterday. When asked
how he spent the time while he was free, ne laugh
iugly replied ooh, it wouldn't do to tell anything
about that. | had very pleasant time, but IL
didn't last long enough"
GLOW did you manage to escape with cork
legf7
"Oh well. II is easy enough TO do that when
you've got ten years staring yOu in the face"
Battersby continues reticent and will not give any
information to the officers about the escape. Keeper
Eldridgc through whom the capture was mainly
effected, said yesterday: There was a young wo-
man named Garfield who was intimate with Bat
tersby. He used to write letters to her from the
Jail When I started out to capture the prisoner
knew he would have to seek his friends for money
and also was sure that he could not travel far on
account Of being a cripple. Detectives Fautry'
Kavanaugh and myself traced him and Walters
to Ridgewood. We then went to Cypress Hills and
to New-Lots. We first visited the house of a Mrs
Hallahan. an aunt of Battersby. / stajd outside
to guard the house, and the other two officers
searched il thoroughly but could not find the fugi-
tive. BUt a ItIIe girl lcit the mousse huu Idu W
Caulfeld's residence, which IS about two blocks
away As soon as the officers were through we
FASTENED to Caulfeld's house, thinking We might
find BatterSby there. On the stoop We're seated the
husband and wife and son and daughter. We said
we wanted to search for BatteTsby. and they de-
clared he was not there They refused to give us
permission TO examine the house unless we could
show a warrant. After threatening them with ar
rest, however, they yielded.
"1he house is a twO-stOTy and attic frame dwelling.
We searched the first floor, which the Caulhelds oc-
cuped but discovered nothing. When we started
mcnts were occupied by a German family. We
went up however, surprised the German woman,
and finding nothing, were about to depart, when |
discovered an old door leading to dark garnet, |
called Kavsnaugh and said that it would be bad
place for one man to 90 If BatteTsby and Walters
fu German. We entered the garrett together, but II
was so dark we had to find our wav by lighting
matches We first saw a bundle of clothes IN the
shape of man. We disturbed it, but found
nothing. trunk was opened with Ike result, On
searching further saw end of the light coored
trousers worn by BatteTSby prOtTudng from a
bundle of clothes near the chimney. Thanking
there might be two of the prisoners there, l seized
my revolver and told them would shoot II they re-
sisted. Removing the clothing found BattelsDy
between two beams. He said he had not been with
Walters, although we knew differently. lie refused
TO give any information whatever" 80
1t is now believed that the iron bar was cut with
a file by cOnfedeTates Of the prisoner Belmont.
Two strange men were seen lurking around the jail
last week. and 1t is thought they got into the prison
yard at night and performed the work unnotlcGd.
woman, who visited Belmont very often at the
Jail, probably carried the message Belmont was
intimate with another woman named Anne WOOD.
lie her letters and asked her TO raise money for
his trial The detectives say they expect to arrest
Walters and BplmOnt tO-daV