The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-30
BIOODHOUNDS AFTER THEM.
LOOKING FOR THOMAS AND JACKSON
IN THE WOODS NEAR BORDENTOHN.
The Escaped Convicts Armed and Not TO he
Taken Easiiy-But the Prison Authori-
tion Don't E1peet 70 Soc Then Again.

The Escaped Conviots Armed and Not TO he
Taken Easiy-But the Prison Authori.
ties Don't Expect to See Them Again.
TRENTON, n. J.. May 29.-Tom Thomas and
Henry jackson. the colored convlcts who es-
caped from the State prison last evening, are
still at large. and although six bloodhounds
have been unleashed TO assist in tho hunt for
them the prison authorities think the prospect
OF their recapture very poor. Word reached
the prison during the night that two colored
men had been seen In the woods between Bor-
dentown and Crosswicks, and 1t was deter
mined to use the dogs In an effort to bring the
fugitives back. Before daylight eight dep
uty keepers started out with the brutes. Their
instructions were to remain out II justified by
the possibility Of success all summer. and II
they met the desperadoes to bring them back
dead or alive.
Thomas carries enough wckedness for a
dozen highwaymen." said Turnkey James
Turnbull to-day. There ie murder In his
heart all the time. He will fight like an en-
ragged boast for HIS liberty Unless our men
have the luck to corner him and Jackson
80 completely that resistance will be useless.
they will have the biggest sized struggle on
their hands that has ever fallen to their lot.
The couvicts have a revolver. I've no doubt it
is in the possession of Thomas. There are
seven bullets in 1t. and Thomas will empty
every chamber unless. as ! say he is in fix
30 that he won't be able TO use the weapon.
He's not q tall man, but he Ia powerfully built,
and as cunning as he is strong There was
plot 10 break out of the prison year
ago. dozen convicts were concerned In it.
and I've always had the notion that Thomas
was ringeader OF the affair, Had any ATTEMPT
been made to carry the plot out murder would
4 ,,11-
learned OF the plans and nine convicts were
put in dungeon cells on bread and water: but
Thomas WAS not among them. We had no
PROT and have none ne, now, that he was in the
po but bedo e do now ''F The on ehe
SiSts Mho were ppt be n the dsrd
them. Thomas behaved eplendidly. so far as
you could see. Jackson's behavior was al,
anybody into the belief that, they could be
trusted. don't think they will ever be caught.
Men with the snd they have got are
The Trenton police gave the prison people a
helping hand in the hunt last night and to-day.
the notion that it is OF no use to try to capture
the men. .oo l..
this are bs sf sSp ISaGn by
Ct 500 for The return Of the fugitive, Capt
By them. was removed to his homo to-day. and
10 bedfast. His physician SAYS he Is recover
ing from the effects of the blow he received.
There are nearly a thousand convicts In the
State prison. Among them are some Of the
most vicious characters in the country. They
are not allowed to read newspapers but every
one OF them to- day knew all the details Of the
escape last night There is always additional
danger after any disturbance occurs in the
prison, and ON that account the vgls OF
the keepers have been sharpened. The dis
cpline H. always strict, and only once in a great
while 10 there disorder Of any kind. Thomas and
Jackson enjoyed no liberties in violation OF the
rules. No charge had been brought against
them since the day OF their Incarceration In
1854. They timed their effort to break out for
the only hour In the day or night whom but q
single turnkey is ON duty In the main hall OF
the prison. Excepting the prisoners who were
in the night school Of tho institution, and the
hall runners and walters. every convict was
locked up, The latter are chosen from among
the good men" Although no rule is broken
In their favor. sill the watch ,upon
them Is relaxed. The prison officials de-
clare that Thomas and jackson made the
assault robbed the guard. stole the clothing OF
two deputies. unlocked the street door. and
got out in less than forty minutes. The sand
with which they filled a sock to make sand
bag was scraped up in the prison yard. The
only detail Of the escape that the officials do
not consider brilliant was the leaving of the
street door unlocked. Had the two convicts
locked II from the outside they would have
nude the head keeper and his family and all
the deputies prisoners for a short time, as all
the other exits were secured and barred.