Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-15
GILLIAN CONSPIRACY
To Aid in the Escape of a Prisoner
Wanted in This Country.
A PERFECT LEGION OF FRIENDS
Made Open Efforts to Take Him Out of the
officers Custody.
SOME RATHER PECULIAR FEATURES

NEW YORK, August 14-Acting Super
intendent Byrnes submitted to the Police
Board this afternoon Detective Sergeant
Phil Reilly's report of his unsuccessful trip
back from Chilli to this city with William
H. Bushnell, the thief and forger, to get
possession of whom he fought the Gillian
authorities nine months. The detectives
stor- follows the case step by step after the
surrender OF the prisoner until his escape
five days later.
The surrender, he says, was unwillingly
and grudgingly made, so much so that, ap-
preheusive of trouble, he called upon the
American Legation to demand of the Chilian
Minister some sort of document steting that
Bushnell was a prisoner surrendered to him
by process of law; but the Minister refused
to give such paper as he requested.
A PECULIAR PROCEEDING.
Bushnell was given into his hands by the
Chief of Police on July ID, without line
or a scrap of writing to show any authority
for holding him. This was the entering
wedge of the treachery. A receipt for the
surrender was demanded of Reilly, but
nothing given him.
They were on board the steamer Imperial,
a three-decker and one of the largest South
American coasters. A great number OF
BushneIl's friends were on board. They
seemed to be everywhere, and made no con-
cealment of openly advising Bushnell to
escape. Their argument was that the de-
tective had no authority for holding him,
and that he could go when and wherever
he pleased.
Bushnell thoroughly understood the sit
uation, but firmly declined to take the prof
tered advice Bushnell insisted on going
to New York. On the steamer he was to all
appearance the only champion the detective
had. Reilly did not like the look of things
and went to the Captain of the steamer with
a request for protection and assistance in
holding his prisoner.
WORSE AND MORE OF 1T.
The Captain said fatty that he would not
have Bushnell considered a prisoner or
treated as one for one moment. The Cap
tain also informed the prisoner, and told
him that while on board his ship he could
go where, and do whatever he pleased.
Every one of the officers of the ship
was friend of the prisoners too, and also
at least one of the passengers, one Rickel-
man, who was apparently there for the ex-
press purpose of aiding Bushnell to escape.
At every point where the steamer stopped
this man received telegraphic dispatches
and conferred aside with the prisoner. At
every port, too, Bushneil's friends came
aboard in droves. They seemed to fairly
overrun the country, and were loud in their
demands that he should go with them, and
let the American detective 90 home alone.
AT Tallal, the last stopping place before
Iquique, the Governor of the Province came
on board with others and added his impor-
tunities to Bushnell to leave, and extended
the hospitality of the province 10 the thief.
Bushnell, however, refused to accept the
offer.
PLENTY OF FRIENDS.
The steamer arrived in Iquique Bay on
the evening of July IL. Friends of Bush
nell came on board at once. By the next
morning there were more than 100 of them
on board the vessel. Reilly obtained from
Mr.. Trumbull, the American Consul there,
a man TO help him look after the prisoner.
Both of them kept sharp eye on the move
ments of Bushnell all the time.
The prisoner remained apparently in
flexible in his determination to come to this
city, and his friends were getting ready to
leave the steamer. The vessel had weighed
anchor and was about to proceed when
Bushnell went to the stern of the vessel on
the middle deck. Two minutes later when
sought he was missing.
A thorough search was made of the
steamer, but he could not be found. There
was nothing left for the detective but to
proceed to the next port, besides the prisoner
might still be hidden on board, but he was
not. From one of the deckhands the de-
tective learned during the voyage that
Bushnell had been seen sliding down the
stern of the steamer on a rope, conveniently
tied to the flagstaff by one of the ships
officers.
EVERYTHING READY.
Under the overhanging stern was a four
cared boat waiting for him, into which he
sprang, and was rowed ashore, while the
steamer.proceeded on her way. The detec-
tive acknowledged himself defeated.
AT the next port Reilly had to wait four
days for the next steamer back 1t was in
the middle of winter and the roads were
impossible. He tried to telegraph but
could not.
When a chance offered he went on to
Lima and saw the authorities, but all hope
oil recapturing the prisoner under the cir
cumstances was in vain, and he turned back
home empty handed. Reilly sums up with
the statement that beyond a doubt there
was from the first a regular conspiracy to
rescue the prisoner, and that the captain
and officers of the steamer were in the con-
spiracy. Reilly submitted letters and re-
ports of interviews to substantiate these
statements.
After the prisoners escape the passenger
Rickelman demanded the prisoners bag
gage. Reilly refused to surrender it, but
on the following day it was surrendered by |
order of the captain. The report was laid |
over for consideration at the next meeting