The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-15
FRANK K0EHLER PARDoHKD.
The Convict Who Once Escaped from Sing
Sing by being Headed Up In a Barrel.


PORT JERvIs, May lathe story of the
career OF Frank Koehler who has just been re-
leased from Sing Sing prison under pardon.
has the clements OF sensational criminal
romance. 1t was here. where he has many
respectable relatives living. that no first fell
In with bad associates and engaged in crime.
He WAS then bakers apprentice and not yet
20 years old. During the summer and fall OF
1872 a gang OF BURGLARS had It's headquarters
here and robbed more than twenty-five stores,
railroad stations. and dwelling houses in this
and neighboring towns. Some members
OF the gang were railroad employees.
and these accomplices disposed Of the booty in
New York. The robbers long eScaued detec-
ton, but at length the indiscrcet talk OF young
Koehler, who had become an active member Of
the gang, led to the discovery and punishment
OF most OF the robbers. In consideration OF
Koehler's youth and Of the fact that he pleaded
guilty Of tho crimes charged. Judge Stephen
". Fullerton. then County Judge Of Orange
county. let him oil with sentence OF i've years
at hard labor in sing Sing prison.
hoohler hadn't been IN prison nve months
when by clever and daring trick he effected
an escape. Ito was employed IN the prison
SSo oop shop He engaged 'eL, fI convict e
the barge. which was being loaded with car
60 Of barrels for Neew ork. That night as the
the river, Koehler broke out OF the barrel,
jumped overheard. aud swan ashore. He
made his way back bore and found a hiding
place with some friends. But he hadn't been
here long whom he was discovered and recap
t1red 10y prison officer Before the officer
ronte for Sing Sing, ko ehler gave him the sin
and made good his escape by swimming across
the Delaware River
For some years following Koeher appears
to have led a life OF wild adventure In South
come time in 1852 there appeared at Union
City; Pa" O. stranger giving tho name OF Frank
hoehler. iie was hccoInpaniel by his wiie.
whom ho had married In London The pair
pad some money and koehler bought out a
baker shop and settled down TO business lie
was Industrious and apparently model Of
honesty, and he became popular rs a trades
man and made money rapidly.
Union CITY then had II Law and Order So
cclety with a young lawyer, named Frank Nc
ClintocI, us It's attorney Baker J. oehler com
mlttrd some petty ofionre, for which the LAWYER
had him hauled INTO court and fined. KTeier
was very mad, and Threatened 10 get suuaTe
Win The, ne Eroseecn!or low, nights later
dynamite bomb was exploded under the law
yers house. TIC house WAS wrecked, and the |
lawyer and his vile and three children barely |
escaped with their lives. Koehler accused OF |
an attemnt 70 murder, was lodged in jail
The Sil Sing officials read the newsnaner
accounts OF the affair and had no difficulty in |
Identifying the LEGGED dynamiter with tho a. |
caped convict Of tho same name, They secured |
! ne return Of koeh'er to his old quarters a;
nlng SlEE Tor The PURPOSE OF serving out his |
term. DrilrE his STAY at Union City he made |
many r.ends among influential GormHhs |
lIneIc VINO discredlt the charge that he was ths |
9 Snhhltsr who blew up Lawyer McClintOck's |
= 9use' these friends !otned with the prison |
Gnv III zee mere IN an earnest application to
SySn, an Tor the pardon, which has now been