Morning journal and courier., 1883-11-03
Sam Plne Eseapes.

He Breaks from ahe Br1dGeP0re SAAA Thursday HiGht--A Reward or s1s00o EOHerod by shsrffT. Crosby. for His App prehensiOn and Arrest.
 BRIDGEPORT, Nov. 2.-Deputy Jailer Will liam ScoasId was disagreeabIy surprised this morning upon making his usual morning in- spection of the Bridgeport jail to find that the notorious Sam Pine had broken jail and was once again free man. He at once hurried to Sheriff Charles H. Crosby and to him communicated the news of PineasegOapss. Sheriff Crosby at once, hurriedly dressed and together with Jailer Scoheld they made a tour and inspection of the jail, but thar of. forts were useless for the bird had flown. To COURIER reporter who visited the jail this evening Jailer Scofeld related the manner of Pine's escape. He said: ttAbout quarter of six while making my usual morning rounds upon reaching Sam Pine's cell, No. 76, which is situated on the second tier, discovered that Sam was not in his cell. After a close inspection saw he had broken out the three middle bottom iron bars of his cell door and had made his escape. I at once notified Sheriff Crosby and together we started upon his trail which led up to the workhouse situ-
 
 was confined. The door was fastened with a large paddock, which had been forced of, In the Workhouse is g large water tank in one corner. Pine had crawled upon the top of this tank and had cut a hole through the ceiling and made his way up in the loft. From there he climbed up to a circular win- dow about sixteen feet high from the timbers in the peak of the roof. The window is fifteen inches in diameter. Showing out the window he fastened line which he had taken from the workhouse. composed of, rope or tarred string, which is used for Inak- ing chairs, and which he had tied together to make it long enough to reach the ground By this he lowered himself to the ground and freedom" The manner of escape was clever ly planned and the iron bars of his cell door, which are of an inch thick, were sawed of close to the top of the lower iron piece and broken of at the bottom. This made @ hole foot square. The saving of of the bars vas neat piece of work and shows he was thor ouphly experienced in his work. He took away with him the tools he had used. and one of the iron bars with which he probably forced the iron paddock off the Workhouse door, He probably thought also it would be a good weapon of def nee in the hands of a desperate man. He did not leave any marks behind him upon the ground to show what direction he took. s- s
 This is the second attempt that has been made to break jail in Bridgeport. The first was attempted by Charles Rogers about eight months ago, which was made in almost precisely the same way. No blame can be attached to Sheriff Crosby or any of his deputies, as it appears that the county off cials don't see fit to employ Q night watch. man, and no tour is made of the prison be- tween the hours of 10 p. m. to 8. m. the next morning. After the unsuccessful at- tempt of Charles Rogers eight months ago, it was suggested by several that night watchman was needed at the jail, but the county commissioners thought they would trust to luck, and as the first attempt had been frustrated the second would be like wise; but 1t seems they were mistaken. The news of his escape was not made public until Sheriff Crosby had held @ con. sultation with his deputies an they at once came to the conclusion to let the public know of the escape and offer $1, 900 reward. The printed handbill describes Pine and adds to the description as follows: .s- Sail Pine is light c;lored negro, about five feet seven eight incheP high, scar on neck and white spot in eye his blind mother lives at Danbury Conn. si n
 The above reward win be paid by me to any pkrsou persons who will deli said Pine to OF give me such information to secure his arrest
 This is the first escape from the Bridge port jail since it has been built, thirteen years ago. Sam Pine was sentenced to State prison for burglary, to serve term of IA years. on Tuesday last, and was only waiting to be transferred to Wethersfield with @ batch of prisoners which Sheriff Crosby was to have taken there to day. Up to the time of our going to press he had not been cap tured. He was also identified by Miss Sto- cum as the man who outraged her person. '|
 St James, Episcopal Church. fI