Morning journal and courier., 1882-05-05
.Andersen's Escape.

His Adroitness i'm Getting Out of the 1n- sane Asylum-Efts Letter Left Behind The News i'm This Cfty-The Search for Andersen.
 Much stir among the officials and talk about town generally was created yesterday by the news that Andersen had escaped from the Insane Asylum in Middletown. He es- capped from the institution by means of false keys on Wednesday night. He was confined in the building for insane convicts. It is 8 large, strong, stone building, made with in- side and outside guards. and accommodates 25 persons. Yesterday morning Andersen's cell door wss found open, but .the other three doors through which it is surmised he passed through in escaping were found se- curely locked. According to the statement of Dr. Shew he must have escaped after 4 o'clock yesterday morning, for the watchman whose duty 1t is to make tour of the build ing at 10 p. m., 12 m. and 8. m. reported everything all right. In eHecting his escape he displayed considerable ingenuity, having to make the false keys, and also to bore half way into the woodwork of the door, as the key hole does not extend only half way through the casing. The convict building has three attendants, who are compelled to stay there all the time. It is certainly cu- rious that they were not awakened, as one of the attendants occupies the room next to that occupied by Andersen. The hospital officials say that he must have had outside assistance, as the three outside doors are protected by civ Inv, Vol oJ, lo&o &oI, to which no ore has 8 key but the night watchman. Andersen was taken to the hos pital March 10, 1880, from the State prison, where he was very violent. Since being brought to the hospital he has been steadily improving, though at the time of the Gui- ceedingly He has never behaved in a very ugly manner at the hospital, but spent most of his time in painting landscape and pic lures and not without considerable success. Dr. Shew thinks that he has gone or will go in the direction of New York. Andersen has received several letters since being placed in the hospital, namely, from his wife and sis ter of New Haven, also some from Sweden. His clothes were carefully searched each day, this precaution being taken by reason of his attendants realizing his smartness.
 Dr. Shew telegraphed this description to various parts of the country:
 John Andersen, swede aged thirty-sx years, five feet six inches in height, light brown hair cut moder ate short mustache and goatee gray eyes, dressed in gray mixed suit with short frock coat light elas tic gaiter shoes.
 Andersen left behind him 8 letter for Dr. Stanley of the institution It reads as fol lows;
 Dr. Stanley:
 od-bye-Don't try to catch me-it's use-in twenty four hours I out of country-I will har one if I am not cornered and then will have the choice any of the large unframed pictures if iu will end all the rest and money to y poor child and my mother. Messenger. II am armed I am innocent of the death of Hall.
 JOHN ANDERSEN.
 Upon receipt of the news yesterday Detec- tive Reilly called on Andersen's wife, who lives in this city, and told her about her bus bands escape from the asylum. She did not appear to be alarmed in the least, and had already heard of what had transpired during the night. Mrs. Andersen is known by an other name since her husbands incarcera- tion, which the police keep secret as safe guard for her. She told the detective that a sailing ship or steamer was to leave New York yesterday for Sweden, Andersen's na- tive country. Dr. Olmstead, of the asylum, had already gone to New York yesterday to notify the authorities.