Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-05-04

The escape OF Rcd Leary, the notori-
ous banls robber, from Ludlow street
jail, whore he was held to await ex-
tradition papers from Massachusetts,
for the Northampton bank affair, when
$1,000, 900 was taken, was sensational
and for some time inexplcaoe. In
vestigation however, showed that
Leary had had the assistance of expe-
rienced accomplices on the outside. At
noon on the eventful day, May I, 1870,
he was visited by his wife, who acted
MS the 'go-between. Lcary's friends
had hired room in the house next
door to the Jail, and had picked their
way through to closet at the end of
the third tier of cells. the bricks and
mortar being taken out carefully and
piled in the fireplace of their apart
mont.
Mrs. Lcary notified her husband that
all was ready, and he crawlcd through
tho hole to liberty. Lenry was al
lowed the run of the corridor until
half-past ten o'clock, which was his
time for retiring, SO that it was some
/
covered. lie accordingly had no trou-
bic in eluding his pursucrs.
Besides Red heary there was another
of the Northampton bank robbers who
managed to get out of Ludlow street
Jail while awaiting eXtradition. Billy
Connors was the name of this worthy,
and his escape is perhaps the coolest
on record. He contrived to secure an
impression Of the Jail lock, from which
his friends on the outside made key
Connors, pulling his hat down over his
eyes, selected n moment when none of
the guards was looking and sauntered
ont of the building with as much nom
chalancc as though he were the WARDEN
himself. Once in the street, his won-
derful nerve did not desert him, for,
| despite the fact that his absence might
| be discovered at any moment, when
pursuit would of course, result he did
not quicken his pace until he had ar
rived at the lodgings which had been
secured for him. Connors escaped in
1877 and was not rccaptured until 1881.
William J. SharlScy is supposed to To
soldier in the Spanish army at the
present time. He escaped from the
Tombs November 10, 1878, while under
conviction for the brutal murder of
Robert S. Dunn. While awaiting sem
tencc of death stay of proceedings
was granted. Sharkey now occupies u
unique and decidedly unenviablc posi-
tion, for he is the only man in tho
world who could be legally hanged in
the state of New York, as his convic-
| tion occurred years before the electro
cution law had ever been suggested
Sharkey was assisted in his escape
by his sweetheart, Maggie Jourdan,
an extremely pretty girl whose devo-
tion he repaid tn blows and kicks
after she had, at imminent peril to her.
self, snatched him from the very shadow
of the gallows. Maggie seemed to be
fascinated by Sharkey. She was in the
habit of visiting him every day. The
prison officials were charmed by her
pretty face and quietmanner, and they
sympathized with her in her affliction.
| She walked into the Tombs on the day
of SharlSey's escape without exciting
| suspicion. She wore two complete
suits of women's apparel. In her low
er's cell one of these was quickly
taken Off by her and put on him.
| SharlSey then shaved off his mustache,
and drawing a green veil tightly about
| his face walked out on to Center street
free man.
A few moments later Maggie Jour-
dan left the building. She had tick
ct, as also did Sharl1ey, but Mrs. Yves
Allen, sister-in-law of The Allen, had
none; and this caused an investigation
which revealed the fact that the choic-
est bird in the gloomy old cage had
flown. 1t was also developed that on
her visit the previous day Maggie had
| taken an impression in wax of the lock
on the door of her lovers cell, and
when she came to liberate him she was
provided with key which worked per-
| fectly. Maggie was arrested for COM
pliGity in the escape, but could not be
convicted.
Michael O'Connor was worthy
| brother of "Wily" O'Connor, the notori-
GUS burglar. In fact he surpassed him
as an escaper if not as an operator.
Michael was an exceedingly enterpris-
ing and pushing individual, and when
he was but twenty six years of age had
broken out of half dozen prisons. In
December, 1887, he and companion
robbed a jewelry store at Pittsfeld,
Mass. They were captured at Great
Darlington and carried back to the
scene of the robbery, where they were
locked up in Jail to await trial.
OConnor ripped up one of his
shoes and took out the steel shank,
which he speedily converted into
saw. With this primitive tool O'Con-
nor sawed off the bars OF his cell and
let himself down into the Jail yard.
Then this imperturbable scamp, elud-
ing the guards, returned and sawed off
the bars of his pals" cell The pre-
cious pair took the window cords out
and let themselves down into the jail
yard, whence, they swung themselves
over the high surrounding wall and es-
capped They were afterward captured
in this city.
According 70 an officer of the Chicago
police force, George Anderson has been
regarded for years as the most expert
Jail breaker in the United States. An
derson once escaped from the Sycamore
Qn) Jail. That is building of lime
l. r., F. - al l.. IL
This fellow was there with thirteen
other prisoners lie used to take the
ashpan of the stove, fill it full of live
Goals and hold 1t against the Jail wall.
He continued this until he had slated
the wall through for distance OF
about three feet square, which was
carefully hidden from view. His fell
low prisoners watched him working
day by day, and one night, when the