New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-25
BUSHNELL ESCAPES IN PERU.
4 DETECTIVE PLAINLY oUTwTTTED.
,,,,r, pp1soyrR's BoLD AND SUCCESSFUL cAREEB

TIME PRISONERS BOLD AND SUCCESSFUL cAREEe
his PROSPERITY IN SOUTH AMERICA.
1n.oec,or Dyrnes received dispatch last evening
A. Police Headquarters from Detective Phlllp
Reilly of the Central Office, dated Lima, Peru, as
follows: Prisoner escaped Friday at lqulque,
porn Rearrest impossible. Instruct Minister at
Lima" ,,
Tho prisoner referred to is William A. Bushnell,
ubo is q well-llnown society man at Santiago,
C1,iB ,yber, he masqueraded under the name of
Gera Id Hanson. Under the alias OF Hanson he was
opnointed the general agent of the West Coast
Teephone Company, and he travelled frequently
among the seaport towns on the western coast OF
South America He was implicitly trusted by his
EMPLOYERS. and abused their confidence two years
AGO by stealing 81 900 in gold lie was arrested
at Santiago but never brought to trlal. lie
had made himself popular in all the large cities
where he visited, and when he got into trouble
influential citizens came to his aid and the prose-
cution was dropped lie still remained "a
social favorite. The president of the West Coast
Telephone Company heard that Hanson at one
time lived in this city, and he requested Inspector
Bvrnes TO find out what was known about him
here. Advertisements were in erted in the papers
here asking for tidings Of Gerald Hanson, who
left this city several years ago. An answer was
received from a woman in Brooklyn who said
that she had met Hanson at Santiago and recog-
nized picture of him that had been taken in
group of prominent society people there. She also
said that he was coiege-mate of Daniel Lock
wood of Buffalo, the former law partner Of eX-
President Cleveland. Mr. Lockwood was com
municated with, and he discovered that Hanson
was none other than his old friend William a.
Bushnell, who was the only one OIL DIS college class
that mad not turned out we'll
1t was learned that about ten years ago Bushnell
was the confidential clerk of the law firm of
Butler, Stillman ~ Hubbard, whose Offices were
then at No Ill Broadway. Bushnell got big
salary from the firm, but il was not enough to
meet his expensive tastes, and he bypOthecated
S50,000 worth of securities for S35, 600, and dis
appeared He went out OF sight completely,
ana eiuded the detectivs. who made a diligent
search for him and finally had TO give up the
hunt.
Butler StiIman & Hubbard being anxious TO
prosecute their former employe Detective Reilly
left here on November 3 list and arrived at
Santiago Decem Der 1. He arrested Bushnell
four days later and submitted his eXtradition
ulte Chilian Government. Bushnell fought every
proceeding and was backed by his friends but he
was turned TO Detective Reilly July -.
On the following day Reilly sent dispatch tO
Inspector Byrnes that he had got Bushnell on
steamer and would start at once for this city.
The method Of the escape is not known, but IL
is presumed that the friends OF Bushnell came 10
his assistance at lquique, seaport town in Peru.
Reilly j. one of the best detectives on Inspector
Byrnos's staff, and is careful. cautious, and be-
lieved to be thoroughly honest and above being
brbed. He has been trusted in many important
cases, and has never made slip before In
spector Byrncs has 10 opinion to offer on the
escape as Reilly has not sent an official report to
him of all the circumstances He has perfect
confidence sin Reilly and is satisfied that he was
not lacking in diligence