New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-12
OFF WALKED THE PRISONER.
AN ESCAPE FROM TWO UNITED STATES
MARSHALS.
THE. MAN CAME FROM OKLAHOMA AND WAS
BOUND FOR THE KINGS COUNTY PENITEN-
TIARY-LEFr ALONE IN ROOM AT THE
HIMSELF SCARCE.

TIARY-LEFT ALONE IN RO'M AT The
COSMOPOLITAN HOTEL. HE EASILY MADE
HIMSELF SCARCE.
John F. Btte a prisoner his way to the
Kings County Penitentary from Guthrie. Okla
homa Territory escaped from the two United
States marshals who had him In charge at the
Cosmopolitan Hotel Chambers-st and West Broad
way last night, and while they were smoking IN
the hotel Office walked out a free man. He had
not been recaptured at o'clock this morning.
Bittell is under sentence to serve seven years In
the Penitentiary He arrived at the Grand Central
Station shortly after o'clock last night In charge
of two United States marshals. One OF the officers
was accompanied by his wife. United States Mar
shals on similar missions to this city have almost
Invariably gone to the Metropolitan Hotel. Since
that has been pulled down. however tnis party
drove to the Cosmopolitan.
They registered as William NJ Mix and wife,
Frank Marrick and John Il. Bittell all from Perry
Oklahoma and assigned. Merrck and the
prisoner to room 90. on the second hoor, ana MIX
and his wife to the next room, NO. 10" After de-
posting their baggage Btte was locked In No. "
and the two marshas leaving him alone there went
down stairs to the office to smoke a cigar, while
Mrs Mix took a seat in the dining ROOM
Shortly before 10 o'clock Michael Mcnamara
nr,vato Waterman employed by the business firms
occupying the next block to the hotel noticed
man leaving the hotel He man Of medium
II
and a heavy black mustache and eyebrows. he
wore dark trousers heavy shoes, blue polka-dot
shirt black coat and vest and a black DERBY hat
which seemed to be too big for MS nead' anu "aS
slightly cooked the left eye
As he left the hotel he stood hesitatlng on the
sidewalk for a moment and then walked quickly
I'D Chambers-st to Broadway, looking behind MIN
two or three times he went. The marshas, when
they missed their prisoner. ran wildly about the
street stopping at the corners. and examining the
roofs of the buildings. the fre-escapes ana every
dark hallway In search Of the man they wanted.
They searched vainly for an hour, and tneh so'hs
back TO the hotel telephoned to Police Headquar-
ters and asked that general alarm De sent ou.
for their prisoner In the mean time the escape mad
been reported by the policeman on post 70 ths
Leonard-st station. and the police telegraph haa
Every effort was made to keep the news OF the the
escape from the newspapers both at Headquarters
and In the station houses At the former pace,
however the reporters heard OF the story ALMOST
before the general alarm was sent on Its way, hnn
peported TO them and at the Leonard-st. station
Police Captain Cross pretended tnat .ne n who
questioned q, him about it. At the Cosmopolitan
Hotel every was equally retcen me ne hsi
clerk pretended have been unaware OF tne pus, r
ness OF his four guests Of the relation OF the men
to each other and to know nothing at all ABOUT the
II was learned however, that when MIX ,sa,1 ana
Merrck up to the locked bedroom tor hara ine.s
nrisoner st 10 O'clock ne had vanished ana mere
Vas nothing TO show how he had escaped he mignt
have got out the transom or as easily nave ave
oprned the window and dropped to porch ana
then into the courtyard behind have re-enterea IN.
without anybody being the wiser Instead OF Sleep
ing peacefully in their beds while the ponce were
hunting for The fugitive the marshals were scour-
ing the city Mix who Is the chief. returned 10 me
hotel at a quarter to two O'Clock, dripping WIN
nersniraton and tired out. He walked into the hote
Office glanced anxiously around, as though haif
expecting the prisoner seated on one OF ths
for whskey entered the elevator and went up stars
n "a . rf 49, = -
To a reporter who asked him whether the fugt-
tive had been recaptured yet, he answered curty.
mo-. and moved away quickly to escape iurther
questioning. -. =, =, 49,, ..or.. g.
The crime for which Bittell Is under sentence is
believed to be forgery but as all information is
refused bv the authorities this cannot be verified