Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-11-12
BIG FRANK WITH US AGAIN
SHERIFF FORD BRINGS HIM FROM
NEW YORK.
The Gaze of the Front Street Tlmiti-
tude Does not DiscOmpose Him in
the E.cast-Isaclx i'm EHis New Castle
Quarters.


the I.cast-Isacix i'm His New Castle
Quarters.
Alto. O'clock, Thursday night, Sheriff
Ford arrived in Wilmington from New
burglar, Francis H. Carter, alins "Big
Frank, who escaped from New Castle jail
on the night of September Sd, 1879,
Carter, at the time of his escape, was
serving out sentence of 10 years for an
attempt to rob the National Bank Of Del
aware, in this city, in November, 1873.
Associated with him in the attempt were
Frank Lawlor, William Hurlburt and
Jimmy Hope, making quartet OF the
most expert professional burglars in the
country. Their attempt TO rob was frus-
trated by the bravery and quickness of a
young lady, Miss Irene Chardon, mem
Der of the then cashiers family, who
fled from the house after the other
members of the family were gagged
and bound, and running up Market street,
closely pursued by ''Big Frank gave
the alarm. The burglars were captured
the next afternoon, in house ut Ninth
and Kirkwood streets, where Trey Ind ee-
tablished headquarters during their
operations. They were tried at the SEES
SlOn VI tOuft bhth anu SFItNutua
to receive 40 lasLes and be imprisoned ten
years. The lashes were duly adminis-
tered, but after about three months Of
their term Ind expired all four escaped
from jail. "Big Frank was recnptured
in Virginia by Sheriff William II. Lamb
son and remained in jail about year,
when on September Sd, 1877, he again
escaped, and has been stranger TO Del
aware until he was returned to his old
quarters Thursday night.
The prisoner was apprehended in New
York on March 26th last, whom he was
arrested on charge of planning to rob
the Butchers and Drovers' bank, and also
cashier of manufacturing firm who
went to bank once a month and drew
about 1872 900 with which to pay wages.
The Delaware authorities were notified,
but the attempts to bring him back were
successfully defied by his counsel, John
0'Byrne, Esq. ,(who was one of the counsel
for the four men during their trial at New
Castlel until early last week, when the
court refused to grant an order for his
release and remanded him to the Delaware
authorities. .
Wednesday week Sheriff Ford received
dispatch from Inspector Byrnss of New
York, announcing that he could have the
prisoner whenever he came for him.
Thursday the sheriff left Whining
ton on the c. 80 O'Clock train, accompanied
by Day Warden Joseph Toy. On their
arrival in New York they proceeded TO
the district attorneys office, but from
some unexplained reason, the attaches of
| the Office seemed very reluctant to give
the order for the prisoners transfer to
Sheriff Ford's custody. They offered
various triiing excuses, principally based
upon the absence of the district attorney
from the city, and it was not until s
o'clock in the evening that the order
was given. The sheriff then proceeded TO
the Tombs prison, and "Big Frank" was
brought out. He looked well and greeted
| the sheriff pleasantly. His hair is closely
| cut, but his well-known sandy beard is
longer and more flowing than ever. He
was neatly dressed in black frock coat,
black vest and light pants, and wore
black Derby hat. He had on checked
woolen shirt, without a collar. His bag
| gage was contained in small card board
box, wrapped in paper. As he drew near
the door Warden Toy fitted him with o
| pair of handouts, and he was then placed
| in o coach and taken over TO Jersey City,
from which place the party left on the
6.15 train.
"Big Frank" conversed readily and
pleasantly during the journey. He said
he would prefer New Castle Jail to the
New York prisons, and in view of the
failure of the efforts to prevent his re-
turn, expressed sorrow that he had not
come without objection in the first place,
as he wonld thereby have served several
months of his sentence by this time. He
blamed his arrest on Inspector Byrnos
who, he charged with having an unjust
4 L.. a4nx,1
to keep him under arrest on suspicion as
long as he remained in New York. During
the entire Journey the prisoner made HIM
self very companionable, and smoked
cigars which the sheriff freely supplied
him with.
II was 1890 o'clock when the party
reached Wilmington, and they waited at
the station until the departure of the
midnight train for New Castle. The news
of the distinguished arrival quickly spread
and number of people, including the
members of the sporting fraternity along
Front street, gathered to take O look at
him. He bore the scrutiny with his usual
composure and did not express the slight
est annoyance. Running comments We're
freely indulged in by the visitors, and all
united in wondering at bis genteei, res.
peetable appearance. In looks he is a
thorough gentleman, and but for the
, steel bracelets that adorned his wrists IL
, would have been hard to believe that he
was a lawless man and one of the most
J expert cracksmen in the country.
} At 1902 o'clock the sheriff, Warden
) Toy and 'Big Frank" boarded the train,
| and half an hour later the prisoner was
placed in his old quarters in New Castle
| Jail TO start again on serving out his SEN
: tenee.
As he was sentenced in December, 1878,
. and served until September, 1877, with
! theexception of the five months he was at
liberty after his first escape, Garter still
' has to stay in Jail about six years and
: seven months, ending about June, 1892.
4 Big Frank is safely installed in the Now
: Castle Jail where he will, II the courts SEN
y tence is carried out, remain over six years
Z | The sheriff has assigned him the second
cell from the east end in the southern tier
on the first floor. The dingy apartments
3 little barred window looks directly out upor
o the whipping-post and pillory, OF which the
v notorious cracksmnn has amost unpleasant
d recollection. 1t was a matter OF especih
pleasure TO him that he did not have tc
undergo any further corporal punishment
on his recent return.
His little cell is barren of furniture exeep
i
d wooden chair He has spent much OF hi
e time lying on the bed since his return ant
4 thus far has not been at all communicative
:, Friday afternoon as q party OF visitor
a including two young ladies made tou
i of the jail the notorious criminal wa
le lying upon his cot evidently Il
II deep meditation. Whenever the party ap
n preached his cell he covered his face with
d newspaper and kept it buried as long
,e they were in position to see him. Afte
- they passed by his door he would throw tn
= paper aside and stare blankly at the ceiling
u seeming unconscious of everything abou
is him. The instant any one approached hi
e. cell door, the paper was again quicki
q placed over his head. He has not yet pre-
Is cured curtain to cover his grated dooi
n but is in the hopes of soon procurtn
n enough material to cover the space.
The criminal has aged very considerabl
ie since his escape from jail and his appeal
i'd ance would indicate that his 'jobs" hay
y not bren n very great financial success
ut Formerly. he was very well dressed an
~ quite genteel in his appearance, but no
nj his clothing shows evidence OF long an
40 hard usage. His beard is long and bush