New-York tribune., 1884-02-18
RUGG ESCAPES FROM JAIL.
ovERPowERING HIS KEEPER HE JUMPS FROM
sECOND-sTORY WINDOW

ovERPowERING HIS KEEPER HE JUMPS FROM A
sECOND-sTORY WINDOW.
Charles II. kugg, the negro suspected OF commit
ting the recent outrages on Long Island, escaped
from the Queens County Jail at Long Island City
last night. at 045 o'clock. When Jaer Murphy
was making his rounds, Rugg requested hun to
bring one of the powders that he had been taking
by order of the physician. Murphy went to the
office to get the powder and when he returned 10
Riggs cell, the prisoner, who had been lying III
wait for him, seized him by the throat and threw
him to the floor. Murphy struggled desperately to
free himself and managed to shout for help, in re-
sponse to which ex-Mayor De Bevose appeared.
and picking up club used it vigorously upon Rugg.
The latter however overpowered them both, and
freeing himself he rushed up stairs to the Grand
Jurv room with the others close at his heels, and
openng window jumped into the street. lie
seemed unhurt by the fall and, picking himself up,
he ran down JacksOn-ave i'll the direction OF the
ferry and was lost to sight. A general alarm was
sent out Immediately to the police OF New-lork ana
Brook yn -.
Rugg is twenty-five years old, 8 feet Q inches in
height, weighs 165 pounds, and is light mulatto,
with mustache lie was dressed III q dark sllrt,
dark trousers and rubber boots and was without
coat, waistcOat and hat when he escaped.
About 1880 pm. two officers arrested colored
man in Long Island City who II was thought was
the escaped prisoner; but upon taking him to the
jail it found to be m stake, and he was set at
liberty He said that he was William DAVID
Phillips.
Keeper Murphy said that Rugg had been quiet
enough since he had been in jail and had not shown
an ugly disposition. He had had several epieptlc
fts and was under treatment at the time. About ten
o'clock tonight" continued the keeper, he called
for me- and when went to the cell found him
sitting on stool shivering. Hesaid he wanted some
medicine, and gave him one of the powders that
the doctor had left. He drank it and turned to go
ont As turned he spraDg on me and caught me
BY the throat. turned as quick as l could and
c1inched with him, while the struggle was going on
Mr. De BevOise came III and hit Rugg on the head
with a club drawing the blood. .Rugg jerked
away and said I've got enough or some
thing like that and ran into the corridor through
the office out into the yard. lie found the gate
locked, and, turning back, he ran up stairs to the
Grand Jury room and jumped, head first out a win
dow. ran after HIM, but he was too quick for me.
He was confined I'm cell 9 on the lower tier"
Rugg's manner has been heretofore rather timid.
He was arrested for the assault on the Spragues
and afterward confessed to the Townsend assault,
and il was strongly suspected that he was
also guilty of the Maybee murder He mar
rowly escaped lynching when he was first arrested
and he seemed to be fearful that further attempts
walls among the officials and the inhab-
will endeavor to make his way back on Long
Island He has no money and the authorities are
hopeful of soon appreh hending HIM. The men at
the ferries at midnight said that no man answer
ing to his description had crossed to this city.