Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-09-18
ESCAPE AND RECAPTURE
BLAKk, TIN BURGLAR, Walks OUT
UF FEW CASTLE JAN.


Charles j. Blake, o notorious thief and
ex Philadelphia street car conductor
esoaped from New Castle Jail about 6. Ii
O'Clock Friday night. He had been in the
corridor taking exercise and, while
Warden Hsnos was In his office attending
to some business, he unlocked the large
iroa door at the upper end OF the corridor
with key with which he had previously
been provided, and walked through the
hall OF the sheriff's residence to the from
door. He stood on the steps fer a minute
or two, HlanoinG up and down the street,
and then walked leisurely down
Market street for about one-hali a square,
when he started to run. At the loot OF
Market street he took the road leading TO
this city.
The escape was witnessed by John Till,
q negro, who is serving out life sentence
for murder, and Mr.. Nssline, a barber
opposite the Jail. Warden Hanoe was
Immediately notified, and started in pur.
suit OF the fugitive, but he could not OBJ
tain any traces OF him. News Of the
escape was tslegraphed Sheriff Martin
and the police suthofiIi5a Of this city, and
officers were put on the lookout at once.
Detectives were placed in the railroad
atations at Baltimore, Philadelphia and
Chester, police authorities in intervening
towns notified, and @ reward OF $100 for
the reospture OF the thief offered by the
sheriff.
During the evening Police Officers Can
non and Vickers discovered olew and
began working 1t up. They traced the
fugitive from one place TO another and,
shortly before 10 O'Clock, as they were
walking down the westerly side OF
French street below Second, espied him
stepping from sidewalk into the street.
He was partially Intoxicated and had ust
come from the residence OF Police Officer
Viokers, where he boarded several years
ago under the name Of Howard.
Officer Cannon yelled 70 Blake
to hold on. The latter, however, drew q
revolver and said: ''Cannon, III kill
you II you attempt to arrest me-" He
then strode aoross the street, warning
the policemen to not follow him. Officer
Viokers jumped to one side OF him and,
placing his revolver at ths despsrado's
ear, compelled him to lower his weapon.
Blake told Viokers that he would net
shoot him but, turning to Cannon, he told
him that II he touched him he would kill
him. Reaching the sidewalk In
front Of Robert NJ. Gibaon'u
stable, Blake planted himself against
the front Of the building and, aiming his
revolver at Cannon, said he would rather |
die than be arrested. The officers then |
discharged their weapons at Blake's |
head, but misssd. Blake was next |
ordered to throw away his revolver. He |
made movement as though he was
about to put 1t in his |
pocket, but the weapon dropped.
The officers immediately sprang upon
him and overpowersd him just as Deputy
5heriffs Martin and George, who were
going to the railroad station to take q
rain for Blkton, came along. Handouts
we're deftly slipped upon his wrists, and
1e was escorted to police station, from
which he was taken back to Jail this
The key with which he effected his
,seape was found on his person. II no
ioubt WAS given to him by g woman, he
having been visited recently by several.
Among his females callers was one who
8 married and who, during her frequent
'lsits, has became greatly infatuated
With him.
Blake undoubtedly was q partner to
everal robberies last spring, but his
,uilt could not be established save in the
obbery at the residence OF Joshua L.
'usey, on Delaware avenue, in which
ase he WAS sentenced last May to three
'ears imprisonment. He was also to
AVE been whipped, but at the earnest
equest of the thiefs sister that part Of
he sentence WAS removed by Governor
'tockley. Blake attempted to break Jail
n April Sd, but was ioiled.