The morning call., 1894-12-28
Convict Riordan Tries to
Escape.
AIDED BY A CONFEDERATE.
A Handful of Pepper Dashed
in a Deputy's Eyes.
FOUR SHOTS CAUSE HIM TO HALT
His Accomplish Escapes But is
Known to the PoIice-Will
Go to San Quentin.

Joseph Riordan. notorious thief and
ex-convict, made an unsuccessful attempt
to escape from custody yesterday. Several
weeks ago he was arrested for burglary by
Detective Cody. Proof that he had par
.ticipated in several burglaries, among
which was the looting of NJ. M. Estee's
house. accumulated. and his conviction
was comparatively easy matter
The detective caught him one afternoon
shortly after the E5tee burglary at the
corner of Jackson and Dupont streets. and
took him into custody. Together they
walked through the heart of Chinatown TO
Clay street, where they boarded a west
bound car. Riordan watched his capt or
closely, and when the car was passing
Waverly place leaped to the ground and
took to his heels. Cody is good runner,
and the thief had not covered halt block
before he was again in the detectives
grasp.
Riordan pleaded guilty and prayed for
mercy, but as it was known that he was
guilty of several robberieS and that he mad
already served term of five years 10 San
Quentin for burglary Judge Belcher de-
cided that leniency would be thrown away
upon one who was apparently hardened
criminal, and sentenced the thief 10 six
years confinement at hard labor in the
State prison.
Riordan was taken to the County Jail to be
held there until yesterday afternoon, when
he was to be taken to San Quentin. At 3
o'clock an eX-c0nvlct named Hoyt. whose
term of imprisonment had but recently eX-
PRED, called at the jail and was given per-
mission to speak to the prisoner. What he
said is not known, but the light of suisse
quent events makes it evident that he out
lined plan of escaping and promised to
assist RiOrdan at the proper time.
Half an hour later the handouts were
placed on the prisoners wrists and Deputy
Sheriff Riley was detailed to take him to
San Quentin prison. The deputy aud his
charge descended the stone steps of the
jail together and turned up Broadway,
where Riley proposed to take a Union
street car. At Pinckney alley, narrow
street running northward from Broadway
along the western wall of the Jail, a man
who is believed to have been Hoyt took a
handful of red pepper from handkerchief
and threw 1t into Riley's face. The
deputy, blinded for a moment by the
burning atoms, released his prisoner and
Riordan ran up the alley. while his &C
complete dashed down Broadway. The
alley runs up Telegraph Hill al an angle of
about thirty degrees and the hadcuffed
fugitive made haste slowly. Riley gras ped
the situation in an instant and, with tears
streaming from his eyes, drew his revolver
ana hred a the criminal. Deputy Webb,
hearing he report of the pistol. LETT the
jail and joined Riley. who had started up
the alley after firing four shots, none OF
which struck the fugitive.
The deputies gained rapidly on Rordan,
who. finally seeing that he could not es.
cane, turned around and raising his man
acled hands to his head begged them to
spare his life. They took him back to the
jail and placed him in the dark cell, where
he will languish until this afternoon.
When he is taken to San Quentin to-day
he will wear an "Oregon boot" heavy
circle of iron ten inches thick and four
inches deep, about his leg.
Riordan escaped from the County Jail
with Murderer McNulty and desperate
named Sullivan four years ago. They cut
through the rotten west wall and emerged
| under the plank sidewalk in Piucknsy
alley. RiordaD and McNulty were recap
tured. The former was sent to San
Quentin and served his term and the latter
is serving a life sentence The accomplish,
| who threw the pepper in Riev's eyes, was
pursued by Policeman Reynolds. who saw
| hun running and gave chase. He ran to
| the corner of Green and ,rtery streets,
where he entered an old stable. There
the policeman lost the scent. He searched
the rickety building from cellar to roof,
! but found no trace of the fugitive.