The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-10-24
ROBBER PERRY'S ESCAPE
1t Was Of Brief Duration and
Brings Added Punishment.
HE Is KNOCKED OUT BY A KEEPER.

The Robber. 1t Is Said. Was Look
ing for an Opportunity to NJ urder
Warden Durston-A Report That
He Is Fatally Hurt.
AUBURN, N. Y, Oct. 24.-Oliver Curtis
Perry, the train robber, who was SEN
fenced recently to half a century behind
prison bars, escaped from his guards late
Saturday afternoon, and it was at first
reported that he had escaped altogether,
but it was a very brief period of liberty
he enjoyed after his escape from his
cell. He was captured inside the prison
walls at o'clock yesterday .snorning,
and the only result of his desperate at
tempt to escape was to make his condi-
tion more miserable.
After escaping from the wing in which
his cell was located Perry boldly crossed
the prison yard and hid in the basement
of the broom shop, where Convict John
son was murdered by n fellow prisoner
only few weeks ago. When the night
had sufficiently advanced for the dark
ness to shield his movements, Perry tried
to gain access to the broom shop. It
was closely guarded, however, and he
next proceeded to the marble shop. Here
again he was frustrated in his attempt
to gain admittance, as the guards were
on the alert, and his efforts attracted
their attention. Perry started I'd run as
soon as he found that his presence had
been discovered. He went directly to
the collar shop, where a large number
of knives are kept, the fugitiVe's one
idea seeming to be to secure a weapon
of some kind, AS he neared tho collar
shop he was seen by Keeper Turlis, who
stood in the shadow. When within ton
feet of the guard Perry was challenged
and ordered to halt. He did net obey,
and the guard fired shot from his
rifle over the conviet's head This had
no effect upon Perry other than to change
the course in which he was running and
to increase his speed.
Knocked Out by Keeper.
His change of direction was fatal how
ever, as it caused him to pass within
reach of Keeper Suith, who, without
waiting to challenge the fleeing man,
struck him over the head with his heavy
night stick. So powerful was the blow
that the cane was broken and Perry WAC
stretched unconscious at the keepers
feet, the blood flowing from deep
wound. Perry was at once taken to the
dungeon, where he will be confined for
some time without even the comfort Of
a board to rest upon.
II il said that after his capture Perry
told Warden Durston that it was not lib
erty he sought, but an opportunity to stick
knife into him. He has conceived a
deep hatred for the warden during his
long confinement in the screen cell.
The instrument which Perry used to
dig through the wall Of his cell was the
iron leg Of his bedstead, which he had
managed to loosen from it's fastening.
After the willy little desperate had been
safely locked in a dungeon the extra
guards were relieved. Warden Durstoh
assembled them in the keepers hall, and
in an address warned them not to dis
cuss the matter of Perry's escape and
capture in public.
Despite these precautions, however,
the particulars have leaked out. A
rumor is in circulation that Perry was
very seriously hurt by Keeper Smiths
blow, and that death may result. The
rumor, of course, cannot be confirmed.