Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-19
HELD UP THE COURT.
Sensational Escape of Prisoner
From L. $. Commissioner'sO Office.

Sensational Escape of Prisoner
From 81 L. $. commissioners Office.
a lame man with a gun held up United
States commissioner, a United States dis
trict attorney. two deputy United States
marshals and two post office inspectors
in the United States court in the post
office building at Buffalo Saturday after
con, walked out of the room, locked the
door behind him. imprisoning the officials
and, limping TO the elevator, coolly rode
down to the street and made his escape,
For manv months the Post Office
Department has been in receipt of
complaints from postmasters in small
towns (all the way from Indianapolis to
the New England states concerning the
operations of lame man. VINO represented
himself as u United States post Office in
spector and was making the rounds of
the small town offices. examining the books
and supplies hand.
He usually reported everything in good
shape but after he had left the postmaster
invariably found that he was several
hundred dollars worth Of postal notes
and money orders short. When he did
not work the Inspector game he did sneak
work, His favorite method was TO an
nounce that the money order office was TO
be abolished and take away all the blanks.
the case, and for weeks and weeks tney
have been hunting the lame man, who
went by half a dozen names, William II.
Clark and John Heart being among them.
1t was finally learned that his real name
was Leroy harris. and that his home was
IN Valparaiso Ind.
A few days ago Harris was located in
Buffalo. Inspector Letherman Went on
and the general delivery window was
watched. Saturday afternoon Harris APP
pied for letters and was arrested by Leth-
erman and Deputy United States Marshal
watts He was taken to Watts office. but
Tor some reason was not searched.
Commissioner Fairchild, being notified
OF the arrest, opened court on the third
moor of the post office building, in the dis
trict attorneys office. and Harris was taken
over there. He is such cripple that he is
Obliged TO walk very slowly. with cane.
Wren he was arraigned before Farchild
there were present i'll the room besides the
commissioner and the prisoner Deputy
Marshals Watts and Colt, Inspector Leth-
ernan, a clerk from the post office delivery
department, and United states District At
torney Mackey. Harris sat in a chair in
front OF Commissioner Fairchild. midway
between the latter's desk ana the door lead
ing into the corridor The officials We're
grouped about the commissioners desk
where Letherman was standing ready to
swear TO the complaint, which had been
prepared.
Hands Ordered Up.
Commissioner Fairchiid was reading the
papers aloud, and Lethcrman had his right
hand raised to make the afilrmat ton. when
Harris slowly arose from his chair and
very quietly said:
Hands up, please, gentlemen"
Every one turned toward him except
Commissioner FairchiId who did not hear
the remari, and who continued reading the
papers. All the others promptly obeyed
for Harris had a revolver leveled at the
group.
Hands up goes" said Mackey. as he
stretched his as high up they would
go
please raise your other hand too. Mr..
Inspector" said Harris to Letherman, and
he was obeyed.
Commissioner Fairchild was still read
ing the papers. Harris turned his gun
in the direction of the commissioners head,
and said sharply. Mr.. Commissioner, please
raise your hands"
Then. for the first time the commissioner
became aware of what was going on. He
is nearing the three score and ten mark
but he moved with remarkable spryness
when he saw Harris revolver gently wav-
ing 20 ana FRO only few feet away, and
up went his hands.
Harris now had the privilege of looking
al the entire judicial and criminal force of
the United States in Buffalo with their
hands uD In the air high as they could
go, in the most approved western fashion.
He stood a few seconds and looked al the
inen under the cover of his pistol and thea
began backing toward the door, talking
as ne went.
kindly remain just where you are for a
moment" he said. Il won't detan you long
- YOU As he said this he reached the
door and opened it, and took the key out
and inserted it on the outside. Then he
stepped into the corridor and shut the door
ana locked it. He had all the officials I'M
der lock and key. He called up the ele-
vator. went down to Washington street
and mingled with the crowd
1t took the officials several moments to
recover. Watts. who was the first to come
to, opened a window and began firing off
his revolver to attract attention. He sue
Ceeded in drawing a crowd around to the
Seneca street side of the building, but by
the time he got out no trace of Harris could
be found.
Harris was the cause of the issuing of
a special order from Washington a short
time ago notifying postmasters not to give
up their blanks to any except on order
from the department. 1t is estimated that
he has cleaned up about $1,000 in the past
few months.
Harris Rernptured.
Harris was caught the same night at
Clifton. Ont. About midnight. when alone,
a stranger walked in the railway station
and asked the operator what time the next
train went west. The stranger sat down
to wait for il.
Seeing that he filled the description Of
Harris which had been sent out the opera
tor slipped out quietly and sent a messenger
to arouse Detective Griffin. who is one of
the best men on the dominion force.
Griffin came down to the station in his
trousers and oVercoat, every pocket bullying
with firearms. He peered in the window of
the station. located his man and marched
on him with drawn revolver.
Harris seeing the drop was on him. per-
mitted himself to be diSarmed and hand
cuffed. He objected to going back to the
United States and sent for lawyer The
lawyer took sl2 of the $l2.0J Harris Rad
with him and advised him that he might
as well return at once, as ii was only a
matter Of getting out extradition papers