The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-18
n BROKE FOR LIBERTY
Daniel O'Leary Makes an Effort to
Run Away From the
Chain Gang.
Brought Down by One Shot Fired
BY Watohman Quill
Lawrence.
4 Ballet in His Neck That May Lead to
serious Rcsults-An East Sidc
Excitement.

Serious Kcsults-An East Sluc
Excitement.
Daniel O'Leary, a city prisoner working
on street grinding with what is known ~
sstho chain gang" madc q break for liberty
about 10 O'Clock yesterday morning al
Fifth and Montana venue As a result
be 10 now in the Sisters hospital on Cath
ollie hill, with a bullet hole in the back of
the neck, u piece Clipped off one OF the
bones or his spinal column, a chunk of lead
lodged somewhere in his throat, and his
face bruised and scratched. The shot
which stopped his efforts to escape was
fred by Waterman Quill Lawrence with
the purpose, he declares, to wing"
tho man, but not to hurt him seriously.
The injuries to O'Leary's face were the
result of the fall after he had been shot.
The bullet wound is not of itself neces-
sary fatal, though paralysis through injury
to the spinal column, or lockjaw from the
injury to the muscles of the neck, may re-
suit.
Watchman Lawrence has charge OF the
"chain gang" which comprises petty Of
tenders against city ordinances, who are
unable to pay their fines. and are obliged
TO serve for the city at the rate of 81 per
day until the score is wiped out. OLeary
had been sentenced to pay a fine of
SIS for committing the somewhat indei-
nits offense of "~yagrancy," which means
that a man cannot demonstrate to the police
ahat he has some reasonable excuse for
living. O'Leary had been on the chain
gang before for drunkenness, and this was
his second time to handle pick and shovel
for the city. 70 make up the $40 fine
O,I.eary would nave had to work eight
DAYS. Had he not attempted to escape
Yesterday, he would have completed one
fourth of his sentence by shutdown. There
were five men on the gang yesterday morn
ing when they started in to grade that part
of Fifth avenue just west of Montana ave
nue., SO as to make a good drive to Lenox.
They were working on the south side of
Fifth avenue digging away a bank vars ing
in heicht from two TO five feet. O,Leary
was handling one of the picks. He COM
planned of it being dull, and Lawrence,
who was standing on top of the bank
keeping guard, told him to get another a
few yards away. OLeary went to this
point indicated, and said mono OF the picks
there were sharp enough to work with.
Lawrence told him to 60 to the tool box,
which was on the other side of Fifth ave-
nue.. and get one to suit him. Carrying
his old pick with him, O'Lsary went to
the box, alongside which is q small wooden
shed. Owing to the grazing of the
street. the level is about three feet below
the place, O'Leary threw his pick hastily
aside, sprung up the bank between the tool
box and the shed, and started off at full
speed across the lot in a diagonal direction.
running in zig-zag fashion with the idea OF
disconcerting the guards aim in case he
should fire. Lawrence drew his pistol. II 49,
calibre. and called four times to the fleeing
prisoner to stop. at the same time waving
his weapon. ULeary looked over his
shoulder several times, saw the officer and
and continued to run. When O'Leary
had gotten about 100 yards from
the point where the gang was at
work, and where the lot begins to slope
down toward Sixth avenue, Lawrence fired.
O'Leary pitched forward on his face and
oners, with Lawrence, ran to the PROSTATE
man, and raised him up. There was a pool
IT blood where he had fallen, but it was
from his nose and mouth, which had come
contact with the ground with great force.
4 hole in the back of his neck, from which
small stream was trickling, showed
where he had been hit.
ICHi . OA'o" HA4oSAASAo p4ShCu LIZ
lp and carried him to the house of Mrs. F.
.. Ward, 315 Montana avenue, where he
vas placed in bed. One of the "trusties' .
the prisoners was sent for a physi-
ian and returned with Drs. James J. Mao
and j. j. Lesser. They probed for
he ball and succeeded in locating it. 1t
entered just to the left of the spinal
lar vein and lodging somewhere in the
auscles. In it's passage it had taken off
he projecting part of ons of the vertebra,
nd this shock to the spine had produced a
artial paralysis. DR.. Macdonald, {
tho was left in charge of &
he case, decided not to make /,
ny effort to extract the ball at present, and :
rdered O'Leary's removal to the hospital. !
this time the semi-paralysis had worn :
artly OF and the man was able to move his s
with comparative freedom. The doc :
Or does not consider O'Leary's condition 5
ecessarily fatal. but says that it is impos-
lble to tell just yet what the outcome will
Q. just now he is doing as well as could .
9 expected, though suffering about his face .
intense pains between his shoulders.
The wounded man is about 25 years old,
is from Canada, but has been around
hese parts for some time, having worked in a
lutte and Helena. When arrested for ;
elng drunk not long since he gave the +
anne of John L.. Sullivan, ana acted as :
AouSh AV Ia W. lSlbs IIG bdlU ne Onu II
cen working for Ex-Street Commissioner {
'rady,. and had money coming to him, Z
,fter his release he got Il job cutting
1ood at a private residence, aud worked
long there awhile. He negotiated with
he lady OF the houss for a coat and vest.
greeting to work for them. He was given .
ne coat and vest, but as the lady saw him j"
trapping up some other articles with them. a
o was dismissed. The coat and vest he 1,
ad on when shot. The second time he o
'as arrested O'Lsary said he had /
often what money WAS coming to him and +
ad blown it in.' This was the time ha !.
7as "vagged." OLeary remarked az be !,
IN bed yesterday afternoon that he i
hooght 1t hard that a man should be shot a
OF nothing" lie said he did not expect
to shoot.
Watchman Lawrence says O'Leary had b
aade a proposition to another of The pnny
Q make n break yesterday morning. "lIad V
no other man told me of this c]outinped
lit would have all been ayoidnd
Dr. l would have just put a chain on him a
don't Ike to chain Il man, however. as il /
o him up to everybody, and Won can't D
as much work out of him. [ didn't near =
!, shoot this man to kill, but aimed TO hi
I'M IN the arm and make him stop. IF
had my big pistol with me I could have J
me pretty near hitting him whArs
to. l couldn't leave the other mon.
chase him, and either had to shoot or lat q
IN escape" |,
Marshal Sims says he is very sorry for g
10 shooting. he would rather, where a l.
'ety onenaef mace a dash for liberty, let
le man get off than have him, shot ira
lances were if a prisoner escane5 he I
keep away from the city afterwar va c
honQh he had never knoup III au. .