The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-17
TRAIN ROBBER PERRY CAUGHT.
Adjective and Policeman Cap
ture Hin.

xrsmps-Ho Appeared Perfectly Tame
and Gave an Interesting Account of
His Escape from tho Asylum.
WEEHAwkEN. N. j., April 16.-After
i've days few hours OF dearly bought
liberty, Oliver Curtis Perry, the daring
train robber who escaped with four
others from the criminal insane ASYLUM
last Wednesday night, was captured a.
IN early hour this morning and ia now
prisoner at the Hudson county Jail,
awaiting reuuisision for his removal
to the New York institution. Although
he kept suddenly silent for over eight
hours, he finally acknowledged his
identity to Chief OF Police Kelly and
gave Vivid description OF his escape
and subsequent wanderings. He was
very reticent as to his exact movements
after he left the asylum and fenced
carefully every question asked as TO
who befrieEded him during his five
days flight.
The place where he was caught is on
the banks OF the Hudson river, about a
quarter OF mile bslow the elevated
structure leading to Ell Dorado and on
the line Of the West Shore road. About
o'clock this morning Detective
Edward Clifford, who Is employed on
the West Shore road and Police Officer
bernard McAleer, of Weehawken. were
at the West Shore railroad depot and
their attention YVES attracted by two
small bon6res down the track at the
place Indicated above. McAleer was in
uniform. Clifford and he walked
briskly towards the spot and when thew
were within hundred yards OF the fire
they saw four tramps sitting at one fire,
which was level with the track, and three
others standing around the other blaz,,
wnicn was about twenty yards further
up the bluff.
The officers hailed the men but re-.
ceived no reply. Then Clifford got
nearer and beckoned to Perry with his
finger, indicating that he should come
TO them. Perry shouted, IF you want
me you'll have to catch me-" He
started to run up and across the bluff,
which Is covered With boulders and
shrubbery. McAleers ran after him.
After running about three hundred feet
Perry fell and rolled down about twenty
feet and McAleer csught him and
brought him down to the railroad track.
AS they walked towards the police sta.
tion Perry said his name was John
Martin, and that he was waiting to
jump on train for Newburg. Clifford
was deaf to all the prisoners entreaties
to lot him go. Il did nothing wrong, :"
said he; III am q tramp, but I'll cut
wood for you or do any honest work you
ask OF me II you don't put me behind
the bars again"
A short time after he confessed to
Chief Kelly. He spoke intelligently
and showed no signs of insanity.
Describing the escape, he said: "When
the guard came along jumped out and
grabbed him by the throat and choked
him. He shouted twice, but told him
to keep quiet. Two Of the other cranks'
held up his hands and we bound his
arms We then left the isolated ward
and walked into the chapel There il a
long ladder in the chapel used for stage
purposes when they have plays there.
and 1t reached to the roof.
I'VE elm bed this and broke our way
through the ceiling OF the chapel into
the attic where the windows are not
barred. We went through one OF them
and walked along the edge OF the root
until we came to the water spouts and
climbed down. 1 reached the ground
first and as We had made no agreement
az to what direction we would take,
started to run. One of the outside
guards set the dog on me, but knew
too much for him, as put the dog on
another fellow who was running ahead
OF me. That night trRmped all through
the Peekskill mountains alone and l
was guided by the east stsr
81 reached New York on Saturday
night last. spoke to number OF po-
licemen. This was risky work; you
know fellow has got to make a bluff
sometimes. 1 was there nearly two
days, and they didn't know IL. On whist
roast for the New York police"
Perry complained of his treatmen.
at Jersey McCouly's Mission where he
stopped part o: the time in New York.
NOW look at me- gentlemen" said he
appealingly, 'look at the condition l
am in. That's the only thing am
ashamed of. / could have got tools,
| money, clothing and gun, but pre-.
ferred the disguise of tramp and the
hardshtps connected with 1t. 1 could
have gone TO my friends, but. you SEQ
there was no money on me when ar.
rested"
Perry would not tell anything of his
movements in New York, except that
he trsmped around; but instead of
answering the questions put to him in
this respect. he began to toll why he
had made the escape. Men, he said,
were sometimes held down and Jumped
on and their ribs broken thereby.
Will Serve IL Elected.
COLUMBUS. Ca. April l6.-J. A.