The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-30
COWLEY'S FOURTH ESCAPE.
A DANGEROUS LUNA1IC ESCAPES FROM
THE FLa7BUSH ASTLUM.

Ho yyrenched Apart tho Bare OF His Win.
dow mud t,id to the Ground n Rope OF
He'd Ciothing-Once Hs Escaped from =
Hospital und Three Times from Fintbush
Mailman Frank Cowley Is once moro at large
He escaped from the Flatbush Lunatic Asylum
on Thursday night by using his great strength
in forcing opcn the bars OF the window In his
col. and descending tn the ground a distance
OF twenty-five feet. by means Of a rope made
gu. OF his torn bcdclothing.
This Is the fourth time that Cowley has
taken to flight since he came on from Pom
sylvania in November, 1901. and became a
charge upon the Kings county authorities.
His first escape was from the County Hos
pital while awaiting examination rs to his
sanity. and his three subsequent escapes
were from the asylum whore he was entered
as n dangerous lunatic.
Cowboys two previous escapes from the
asylum were effected much in tho same man.
ner as his latest one. Early in December. three
weeks after his Incarceration. he broke open
tho window bars and dropped to the ground.
Three days later no was recaptured after ter
rorizing a lot of people In his mothers house
in WillamsburEh.
On the morning OF May II his cell was again
found vacant. with all tho window bars twisted
out OF place. As he occupied one OF the corri-
doris next to tho roof. the asylum authorities
were puzzled as to the manner Of his flight.
1Io had apparently no means OF reach
Ing tho ground. Cowley walked to New
York alter making his second escape. He
visited Steve Brodies saloon and other
resorts on the Bowery. spending two nights
in cheap lodging houses. lie was found in
Bellevue Hospital. whore he had been sent on
account of his strange movements On his re-
IN 70, h. In In bnfOrA
Commissioners of Charities. and gave an ap-
parently straight story OF his wanderings, =.
breaking open tho bars. he said TINT he raised
himself to the roof dropped to the lightning
TGd sIs I'VE nmse 10 The bs
and then. according to his favorite haliucina-
ton. told how some women had followed him
convert him into medicine.
The commissioners Immediately made, a
searching, injury; which resulted tea n me dis,
another They also reprmanded half dozen
other keepers. and ordered that the asylum
cautonswere ordered to be taken In Cowley' 8
case. ,
When s report came to their once in BrooEIy
yesterday morning from DR.. Waiter Fleming.
the Medical Snre5intenddeht anMouncnIS 'haf
again taken to light. Commissioner Colt
said; .,a,,, .,,,, chat sno,,,, ooro oor,d
his previous escapes. Certainly tho Commits
sioners cannot he held responsible for his get
ting away. Under the new regulations of the
State Commission in lunHcy, the medical OIL
GERS have entire supervision and control Of the
asylum. including power TO appoint and dis
charge all their assistants"
Medical Superintendent Fleming said
There was an active force OF attendants and
keepers in the asylum on Thursday night.
Special precautions had been taken III the OK
animation o! the window fastenngs in Cow
ley's room. and he was changed frequently
frpn
Keeper McManus. who had charge OF Cowey,
has been Cor several years In the asv lum and
was an experienced man. he facts show.
however that he was careless In this instance.
The mere fact that the time OF the escape can
not he fixed more closely than within the five
hours between midnight and A. N. convicts
him Of carelessness."
Dr Fleming said that Cowley was a very
dangerous man to he at largo. towley was
formerly brass fnisher. and although only
s feet g.. inches in height and weighing 100
pounds. he is n man Of iron muscles and phs.
norenal strength. He Is Of stocky build. 33
years old, with blue eyes. reddish brown hair,
and wore n full dark red beard.
It is supposed that when he left the asylum
he wore only his undershirt and drawers. as
his other clothing was found in his room.
Just rs soon as his disappearance was dis
covered an alarm was sent out to the FlutbuSh
Brooklyn. and New York police.
A careful search was made in the asylum
grounds and in the adjoining neiGhborhood
but up to lato honr last night no trace OF the
fugitive had been found.