Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-05-16
ssoAPsD FRom THE oELls.
william McCloskey a burglar
wriggics Through a Heater Eluo
and Escapes.

william mcCIoskey burglar
wriggics Through a Heater EIuo
and Escnpes.
William Mcoloskey, burglar held in
the police station in 81 900 bail for court
made q successful attempt at escaping
from the cells Tuesday. The incident
occurred during the afternoon when the
officials were giving their attention to q
sick prisoner. who was being removed
from the cells 70 wagon which waited
in front Of the city hall to take the man
to the almHhouse. Some half-a.dozen
prisoners were In the cell al the time,
which Is the front one facing the police
room. The other jail birds assisted
McOloskey In removing the bricks from
the sides OF hot air register located in
the western wall of the cell corridor. II
was not necessary TO remove more than
10 or 20 Of them. This was
readily accomplished by picking
at the dead mortar which
quickly crumbled away at slight effort
from the conspirators. The bricks were
secretly and silently passed from hand to
hand and piled in the dark rearmost cell.
The small 1890 inch iron register was
then removed. Not the slightest suspi-
Dion had been aroused. McOloskey then
got ready for his rush for liberty. The
space the man had to wriggle through
was square funnel about equal to the
measurement of the register. But had It
been less II would not have daunted the
experienced burglar. Quietly slip
ping OF his clothing and conceal
ing himself behind three of his
pals he awaited the signal from those
posted at the window and door as to the
propitious moment for the essay. Feet first
the man descended wrisgling and twisting
himself conveniently to the awkward
corners Of his strange pathway. At
length the most difficult part OF the per-
Torrance, the passage OF the mans broad
/ shoulders, was successfully accomplished
and with rush the upward-extended
arms disappeared. His clothing was
thrown down after him with ''good by
and .'good luck" from those the
burglar left behind. MoOloskey was now
landed in the dark station cellar. Here
he commenced his toilet, which neoes-
Bayily was not very exaoting one, except
in the sense of celebrity. Travelling along
through the various dark passages and
passing by the fire telegraph apartments,
he found daylight leading up 10 the stone
stairway to the city hall front. With the
nonohalance OF the experienced crack thief
McOloskey quietly sauntered up into
the sunlight, across the wide stone pave
ment, without being recognized by any
one. He then disappeared into safe OBJ
security. Nothing has been heard of him
since.
The thief's absence was quickly dis
covered. The open register and the pile
OF bricks told the tale, which was silently
confirmed by the smirking prisoners
whom the fugitive had left behind.
Mayor Harrington and Judge Ball e1
amined the premises yesterday. II II
only too apparent that the orumbling old
brick structure OF the city hall offeri
only too ready means of escape to the
experienced burglar. The register wal
rebuilt yesterday by a couple o.
masons. The preoaution was taker
to insert iron bars crosswise little dis
tanoe down the fue, SO thatif the register
be removed the bars beneath will furnish
more difficult problem for the expert
thIef's acute brains to solve.