Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-04-04
The Champion Rascal.

The officials of tho Cook county, H., jail
have on their hands, iu the person OF James
Egan, strk;ngly handsome young fellow,
who, with q long criminal career, combines
good education, polished manners and the
muscular development OF an athlete. Egan
Is locked up under the alias Of j. FL. Ham
mill, on the charge of forgery. His remarka
BILE conduct since his arrest 10 Chicago, gives
renewed interest 10 his previous sensational
record At Denver, Col, three years ago.
EgaD secured entrance 10 the iir social
circles, and WAS great favorite until he
was arrested on two charges of forgery. He
was aent to the penitentiary at Bowdler for
two years. 1t was then sscertalned that he
had previously done time in the pententiary
at jackson, Mich When Egan was released
from the Colorado prison he went TO Chica-
90, end last October was arrested for forging
a promseory note purporting to be drawn
by James II. Walker SD Co, In favor Of "Ja5.
81. Hammill" for 81 ,675 for payment of the
steam fittings in the firm e new building. Egan
or, as as he calls himself, Hammil, endeavor-
ed to negotiate the note with the Surety
Loan and Savings Company. While iD jail
awaiting trial he endeavored to induce State
Attorney LoDgnecker to be lenient with
| him, Offering in return to give valuable evil
dence against the bond thieves Shaw, Pies
ner and Corbett. When placed on the stand,
| Egsn told sn ingenious story, to the effect
| that G. D. Taylor had given him the bonds
subsequently, received by Shaw. Egan,
| however, broke down under cross examina-
ton, and convinced the States Attorney
that he was rascal. When taken back to
all he suddenly became insane; but failing
to convince Dr.. Egbert that hts mind was
gone, he changed his tactics and became
very ILL., For days he lay Cd his cot in a
semi-comstose condition, and the most care
| ful watch failed to show that he was sham
ming. His aim was to he sent to the hospi.
! tai, and the doctor had about decided to al.
ow him TO go there when he spoiled his
chances. He was seized with a violent bit
| of coughing, and when the physician next
made his round Egan showed him about
pint Of blood which be had coughed up. At
q glance Dr.. Egbert saw that the blood
| was arterlal, and not lung blood. He
carefully searched the prisoner, but could
not fud the slightest sign Of q wound from
which the blood had been drawn. The
shrewd forger had probably drawn 1t from
either his mouth or nostrils. But DIR. Eg-
| DbIl Is Vi lu6 UplDIOu lu1S l1Bou 10 fSi oiNA
| though by no means in the dangerous con-
dition he assumes. He is an inveterate
morphine eater, and has taken as much as
twenty grains day. The physician allow:
ed him some morphinein gradually reduced
doses until daily dose of one grain was all
he was allowed. This was suddenly stop
ped, as Dr. Egbert became suspicious that
Egan was holding out" some of the drug
| from each doae with the evident idea of Sc
curing enough TO make suicidal dose in
case of emergency. The supposed missing
| morphine cannot be found, but the doctor is
afraid of bis willy patient, and wishes him
safe cut OF his hands. Egan Is too sick for
trial, and not sick enough to 60 to the hos
pita. He has apparently made up his mind
not to go to the pententiary again, and, in
all probability, has the means at his dispos.
al to commit suicide. The officials are all
anxious to be rid OF such champion rascal.