Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-05-13
FORCES HIS OWN BOND.

months later the carroll county court met,
ana the startling fact became known that the
bond was cunning piece of forgery perpe
trated by johnson in his cell The rascal is n
smooth, pleasant talker, who looks like
clergy man. He was regular attendant at
church, where he made is a point to ingrati-
ate himself with those he had marked down
for victims.
In recent years, though, the escapes of
Boss" Tweed and William J. McGarigle have
no parallel. Both were carefully planned and
successfully executed. In the first instance
the fugitive was returned to custody after
long chase. In the second private ar
rangementn allowed the exile to go home, pay
fine and resume the rights and privileges of
a private citizen.
William J. McGarigle was for years a
prominent figure in Chicago political and
official circles. Beginning as policeman, he
rose to the rank of chief OF detectives and
then became superintendent of the depart
ment. This position he resigned in order to
make a campaign as nominee for sheriff of
Cook county. Although defeated Mt the polls
he retained political power sufficient to secure
appointment TO the lucrative and important
place OF warden Of the Cook County hospital
While holding this Office scandals and abuses
came to light which resulted first in an in
vestigation, then indictment, arrest, trial and
conviction. While under sentence of two
years imprisonment in the penitentiary at
Joliet, McGarige made appeal to Sheriff
Matson for q final interview with his wife.
The request was granted, and the convict
went home in the personal custody of the
sheriff. An affecting farewell ensued, and
McGarigle retired to the bathroom, while his
wife and Mr.. Matson engaged in converse
- A.
er did not return. The sheriff grew uneasy,
then suspicious, then alarmed Bursting in
the locked door, an open window told the
story The prisoner was gone.
Subsequent developments showed that the
escape had been planned with the minutest
attention TO detail and results. McGarigle's
active part ended when he had worked on
the sherif's sympathies to convey him 20 his
residence. The moment the fugitive Jumped
from the bathroom window he was hustled
into a close carriage, which drove rapidly to
the lake shore There boat was waiting,
and by this means he was conveyed on board
a Canadian vessel, which Immediately set
sail Secure from telegraph and detectives,
tine "boodler" made a safe trip, landed in the
Dominion and laughed at the justice he had
cheated. He journeyed tc the Northwest ter
Hotel Banff and awaited with confidence the
issue. The Illinois supreme court passed ia
vorably upon an appeal that was pending at
the time of his flight, new trial was or
dered, the matter was arranged, - the fugi-
tive returned home, walked into court,
pleaded guilty, paid a fine of $1,000, and
went out in every sense of the word free
man.
1t is not so very long ago that still another
criminal escaped from Cook county jail, this
time through the aid of outside friends and
the conniyance of his cell mate. He was
charged with felony. He had already
served a term in the Illinois penitentiary,
and, If again convicted, his sentence, under
the provisions of the habitual criminal act,
would be twenty years imprisonment. His
cell companion had done nothing of serious
nature Soon after the transfer of the two
from a police court TO the county Jail, a man
appeared with an order for the release on bail
of John Robinson, the lesser criminal. The
turnkey was directed to let John Robinson
loose. He went to the cell and said as he I'M
locked the door: John Robinson is wanted.
John Robinson never stirred, but Harvey
Williams did, and the farther he got away