The sun., 1889-11-29

A convicted prisoner made his escape
from the custody OF the law in Brooklyn on
Tuesday In q remarkable manner. He is a
negro named JAMES FURMAN, who is some
what less than forty years Of age, and has
spent more than half OF his life in prison.
He was recently released from the State
prison at Sing Sing where he had served q
term Of four years for an assault with a
deadly weapon. He had hardly returned to
Brooklyn before he resumed his career Of
crime. About fortnight ago he endeavored
to force an entrance into liquor saloon in
East New York after the proprietor had
closed the doors at midnight. He was re-
fused admission, and thereupon drew q
pistol and pointing it through window
into the barroom, threatened to shoot any one
of the three inmates who might stir. After
things had been In this interesting situation
for about an hour, policeman came along,
and when he appeared upon the scene the
negro took to flight.
Shortly afterward FURMAS was arrested,
tried before Police Justice, convicted Of
assault in the third degree, and sentenced
to imprisonment for one year In the Peni-
tentiary, and to pay fine Of $500.
After receiving his sentence In the Police
Court on Tuesday afternoon, FURMAN was
placed in the prison van, In o compartment
containing nine other prisoners. to be con-
veyed to the county jail In Raymond street.
The van had no sooner started on its way
than the negro drew q revolver, threatened
to shoot any OF his companions who might
attempt to interfere with him. and began to
saw his way out of the vehicle After a
time he succeeded in making hole large
enough for his body to pass through, and
he dropped into the street Just as the van
come in sight Of the Jail. The escaped
prisoner then disappeared.
In this singular occurrence there are
several circumstances which require eX-
planation. How did this convicted prisoner,
who must have been well known to the
police authorities as a desperate criminal,
succeed In retaining upon his person or In
procuring the circular saw and the revolver
which he employed with so much effect2
Certainly he ought to have been thoroughly
searched when first taken into custody and
If he was thus searched. it is hardly conceiv-
able that he should have been allowed to
keep the saw and the pistol. If he did not
have them then, how did he obtain them ?
Proper watchfulness on the part Of the
officers in whose custody he was ought to
have rendered it impossible for him to pro-
cure them from any friend.
Another remarkable fact Is the apparent
failure OF any passer-by to notice the escape.
1t is not common thing for a man to
descend to the pavement through the bot
tom Of moving vehicle, and it is strange
indeed, that no one saw FURMAN as he let
himself down through the hole which he
had sawed in the floor Of the van. Or did
some one observe the incident and refrain
from calling attention to 1t for fear Of being
annoyed by the obligation to attend and
testify as witness?
So far as the possession Of the revolver by
the prisoner is concerned, the case seems to
call for investigation by the Brooklyn police;
and it Is also evident that adequate precau-
tions should hereafter be taken to prevent |
the possibility OF any such escape in the
future.
Furthermore. the occurrence may operate |
as useful warning to the authorities in |
this city. Is it not quite possible that a |
similar escape might be made with equal |
facility from the prison vans used here?