Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-15
CUNNINGHAM FREE
Tho Chester Prisoner sawed His Way Ont
OF the Local Police Station Tuesday Night
Seen and Shot Mt Yesterday Morning
Near Elsntern

lno Chester Prisoner sawed His Way Out
Of the Local Police Station Tuesday Night
Seen and Shot Mt Yesterday Morning
Near Elsnere. N
Buck Cunningham, tho man who
is wanted in Chester for larceny, and
who has been locked up at the police
station for nearly two weeks, Tuesday
sawed his way out of the city prison.
1t is not known exactly when he
escaped, but the officers believe it was
about IL o'clock. He was seen on
King street shortly after IL O'Clock by
two young men, who reported the fact
at the police station. This was the
first knowledge the officers had that he
was out.
In order to escape, the prisoner cut in
two one of the iron bars in the front
| corridor. The bar was about an inch
! thick, and it must have required con-
| siderable work. 1t was all done very
quietly, for no noises were heard that
would arouse the suspicious Of the
officers at the station house.
1t is supposed thst the saw was handed
him in the afternoon by woman
named Maggie McManus, who had
been allowed to talk to him. A small
was found by Janitor Thomas in the
Wi ulbui tu6 llidu udti gone.
After saving the bar in two Gun
ningham bent it and crawled out into
an alley way and gained his liberty at
the rear Of the station house. Bouldon,
the negro who is wanted at Hockessin,
and several other prisoners were in tho
corridor at the time, hut they evidently
planning escape, for none of them fol-
In -, -
without even their knowing It.
1t was about 11.30 O'Clock when the
officers discovered that Cunningham
was gone, and as soon as it was made
known a search all over the city and in
the surrounding country was made for
him, the officers being out nearly all
night. 1t is presumed that the Nc
Manus woman was in waiting nearby,
and as soon as he got out he met her
and she provided him with clothing,
for when he left the cell he was clad
very scantily, his coat and shoes hav-
ing been left behind.
The whole transaction must have
been extremely quiet, for although
the corridor is alogside the office at
the station, and two windows in the
office face the corridor, the men in the
station house had not the slightest in
timation of what was going on.
Early in the morning Officer Lane OBJ
tanned a clue, and he informed Chief
of Police Dolan that he thought Gun
ningham was somewhere between Mary
land avenue station and Elsmere.
Officers Lane and Mcguire were accord
ingly sent out to scour the territory.
The suspicious of the officers were
correct and shortly before 10 o'clock
they saw Cunningham near quarry
in the vicinity of Richardson's Run.
He was some distance away and they
gave chase. Cunningham started to
run and Officer Lane fired at him. He
still kept on running and Officer
Mcguire, who was trifle nearer,
blazed away and emptied his revolver
at the fleeing criminal. The officers
think one of them hit him, but he
managed to get out Of their sight in
the woods. Word was sent to the CEN
trail station that Cunningham had been
seen and shot at and Capt. Kane, De-
tective Witsil, Sergt Bailey and Officer
Gilllng were sent out to reinforce
Mcguire and Lane. Chief of Police
Bagshaw OF Chester, who arrived yes
terday with requisition papers for
Cunningham, also accompanied the
officers, and vigororous search in the
woods was instituted, but up to the
time of going to press Cunningham
IVES still at liberty.
Several persons saw and recognized
Cunningham. Charles Meredith and
Officer Mcguire recognized him as he
was crossing corn field in the vicinity
of the colored camp near Union Park.
Then it was that the officers started
after him. One Of the workmen in
quarry near Elsmere stated that Gun
ningbam stopped there and told the
men at work all about his escapade.
He said he got out of tnc station house
at about $50 O'Clock, but this is
thought not to be true, for the officers
at the station say he was there at II
o'clock. The man to whom he told
this was an acquaintance. Soon after
the conversation in the quarry the
officers hove in sight and buck"
started off in the direction of Newport.
That was the last seen of him.
TINE ATp4NK ITTaRSIfe