New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-07
A THIEF SLIPS HIS CUFF.
DARING ESCAPE IN THE GRAND CENTRAL
STATION.

JOSEPH sHANAHAN OUTRUNS DEPUTY
SHERIFF AND Is DRIVEN AWAY IN CAB.
The vista Of sixteen long years in the Sing
Sing prison nerved Joseph Shanafan TO deSpera-
ton Yesterday morning, and led him to make
daring and successful attempt TO escape from
custody. Shanahan and ten other prisoners, all
bound for Sing Sing, left the Tombs at O'CLOCK
FOR the Grand Central Station. They were III
charge of Deputy SherifTs Burke, Whaen and
Lynch. The prison van reached the railway sta
ton at about z: 80 o'clock, and the driver, as Is
the custom. unlocked the door and entered the
wagon to examine the handouts lie found lheh
all right Then the eleven prisoners were told
to get out of the wagon.
The party marched from the sidewalk to the
train platform in single file in three groups. firsC
came four prisoners handcuffed together, ana
then Deputy Sheriff Lynch. Then came four other
criminals. also fastened together, and foi-
lowed by Deputy Sheriff Burke Last
came the group of three prisoners anu
Deputy Sheriff Whalen.
The first batch quietly entered the smoKlng-car
IL the AS o'clock train Shanahan was the nrst
Of the second detachment TO step on the PLATFORM
OF the smoking-car. Just as he did so he slipped
his hand out of the cuff and dashed across the
platform of the car. Burke was separated from
him by the three prisoners, so he jumped on the
platform of the car Just behind the smoker ana
fred a shot at Shanahan. The escaped prisoner
took diagonal course across the yard toward
Iexington-ave. Burke leaped to the track and
fired once again at the retreating form. Neither
shot struck Shanahan.
A number of workmen were scattered about
the yard, so Burke feared TO shoot again at once
He followed Shanahan best he could, but as
he weighs about 200 pounds, he was badly handi-
capped The criminal is a stocky man, of medium
size. and he ran like the wind, jumping over the
tracks and ties and never once falling. AS ne
and his pursuer passed beyond the crowd OF Train
men in the yard, Burke fired two more Shots
Naturally his aim was poor, and Shanahan only
hastened his speed. Near FOrty-ffth-st, just as
Burke was about to fire again, he tripped on
track and fell heavily TO the ground. His shoulder
struck another track and dislocated. Burke
was half-stunned by the fall, but rose in time TO
see Shanahan climbing over the east fence Of the
ward at Forty-ifth-st Burke returned to the
railway station, his two comrades having started
for Sing Sing with the remaining ten prisoners.
Burke went TO the sub-station house in the rail.
way station and sent an alarm TO Police Head
quarters. young man told him that he saw
Shanahan enter a cab in Forty-ffth-st., which was
evidently in waiting. This shows that the escape
was the result of deliberate plan, in which
Shanahan was aided by confederates. Burke had
q physician dress his shoulder and then went TO
the Sherltis office Afterward he had the sur
geons at the Chambers Street Hospital attend to
the dislocation. Burke was shaken up generally.
but his physical pain was not so poignant his
thagrn at being thus outwitted for the first time
In seven wears He made the following report TO
Sheriff German:
respectfully desire to make this report Of the loss
Of prisoner this morning. at the Grand Central
Station, while on my way to sing sing. We lert the
and one three. We arrived at the Grand Central
Station at 80 O'Clock Cassidy the driver Of the
wagon, went inside the wagon and examined the cuffs
and found them all right Whalen, Lynch and myself
then took the eleven prisoners INTO the station ana
marched down to the smokng-car Just as we reached
TIE smoldnscar the prisoner made break ana Jumped
In the rear and jumped and followed him down
the track. ] fired two shots at MN AZ ran but
AFRAID Of hitting them SO did not dare 70 shoot AGAIN
unul ! got outside, when ! fired TWO more SHOTS.
my shoulder sgaDs Sn ob 1e Of the tracks, When got
up was so badly hurt that could not run after him
Forty fth-st. and disappear, going toward Lexington
ave- ave: was Informed by young man At the station
have jumped and made his escape. / Immediately
nonhed the two detectives who recently arrested he
0. general alarm then telephOned 20 the shers'
onmee and Immediately reported myself 10 the sheNfs
'th rev days a. he is well known and his picture
Iosa IN 'he Rogaes' Gallery The prisoners name is
- MS rStohu DHtn'p, "iiN iO
was sentenced TO sixteen years In state Prison.
shipping the hand through the cuff is an old
game OF prisoners. Burke said that he placed
ohanahan on the outside because he thought that
Daniel Caldwell and John Murphy whom he had
ON the inside, were more dangerous. Shanahan
PLEADED guilty on Tuesday before Judge COwing
In General Sessions to grand larceny in the first
degree AS IL was his second offence he was
sentenced 10 sixteen years in State Prison He
y b"ehly-hihe years old. and lives at No. TAI
New Ne~a TX hobokeH. On April "a he walked
mo ITO Ine pa1room OF Mrs. Pauline Clatz. at No
peer. lie gave So bill in payment
ehd asked for paper dollar as part Of