The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-15
LUCK IS QUEEN.
The Fact Illustrated Through Some Stories
by Detective.


Philosophers may say what they please
may call 1t tho truition OF studied effort or the
result Of intelligent causes-but | tell you
1t to you by the tragedy which occurred in
your city on Decoration Day"
tectives in the state OF New Jersey, and IS at
1a%9sd to t6 o or Gs
speakers name, was here last week on private
business: and while detailing his experience
II pude TO the killing of the negro Jackson
and the capture OF MS eompanon o Thomas rs
What do you moan by the luck attaching
Just this There were two men, ignorant
negroes. who were in the New Jersey state
and yet they made their escape with the great
est ease-scarrelp with an effort, and with very
little preparation or fore planning that re.
CURED ingenuity. excepting the grasping OF
same prison. u man who for years has been
trying to get out and has made several unsuc-
5smP ID h o Sd al b the
master. and he is one Of the finest mechanics
in the United States.
three almost successful attempts to get out of
the Essex county prison at Caldwell and the
But nrst want to Hoini out that dumb luck
whers well directed effort fails. as will show.
professional name, Of this man. Is a burglar
who taxes rank with Jimmy Hope. Irving and
lending MS trial for breaking into Trapha.
watched in the prison. but he threw the keep
ers oily their guard by complaining OF costiye-
for him. but he said that he didn't want any
powerful medicine. but some fKs would do, rs
they were sufficiently laxative, He was and is
eomped wtR He used 10 throw o the boxes wss
a. he got them every day, up on the shelf In
At the close Of one day; when the turnkey
started to pull the lever which locks all the cells
on the tier where Connors was confined. he
animation was quickly made. and the trouble
was traced to Connors's cell. It was there found
th9 he had the anchEr 9Er in his cell
but for the timely tunlimely for Conuorsl dis
covery he would have boon free of the CORR
What had the figs to do with it?"
took the boxes broke them up and
leaves. He then hound the book strongly with
stout cord and using It as fucr T gradually,
VIII llmpy forced the par TIE BGe was
master Of the power Of leverage
,"Connors's next attempt, was Just as acct
talking to him through his cell bars one day.
When Sakn Ms h%nd u.s. away from the 6ar
that bis hands were black. An examinntion Of
the bars showed that two OF them had been all
but saved through and the spaces filled M
"
backing from his shoes. He had Intended to
make his break for liberty the night OF the day
he was discovered.
His third attempt In that prison was I'M
successful on account OF the failure of his
friends to he on time. He had worked the bars
rope to lower him to the yard: the Waterman
WAS to be 81 lenced by an air gun In the hands
OF his friends as 1t was afterward found out.
but his friends plans miscarried.
HE Was shortly after this. upon conviction,
taken to Trenton. Pat Laverty was then head
keeper. and when Connors came to the prison
Laverty went TO the burglar and said; Con
nors, are you going to break away while I'm
keeperr Liberty is sweet. Mr. Laverty was
to look out Tor him. He was stripped and
searched thoroughly, every portion OF his body
being examined. but no implement or tool Of
any Kind WAS found on him. and q new suit
OF clothes was given him. too. Before his cell
was placed n cage Of fine wire netting TO pre-
vent communication with him. This cage was
about ten feet away from his cell door, and
when his friends called they were not allowed
10 come any closer and were watched by n
special keeuer yet scarcely u month after his
incarceration one OF those steel JAWS or
L-shaped levers. used for bending bars further
apart was found in his cell The tool weighed
forty eight or fifty pounds. Now, tho mystery
IL. where did he get 1t?
Now. the point want to make is this; Here
was u man Of wonderful mechanical genius
who spent years In his work OF trying to gam
freedom. who brought to bear every appliance
known to tho machinist and every principle
known to the laws OF scientific mechanism. yet
negroes without one 1.-THE OF hiI brains. man
age to escape from one OF the finest prisons In
the country Don't tell me there's no such
thing us luck