New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-09
YOUNG JAIL BREAKER.
THE BOY WHO WITH HIS SISTER ROBBED
CHILDREN. ESCAPES TWICE

TWO PRISONS IN JERSEY CITY PROVE INCA
Fable OF HOLDING HIM-HE WILL BE
SENT TO THE COUNTY JAIL.
John Timothy. the boy in custody with his sister
in Jersey City for numerous thefts and highway
robberies in stripping wclclad children OF their
raiment bids fair rival the late Jack Sheppard as
jail breaker. He has thrice attempted TO escape
and vice succeeded In getting outside the prison.
Unfayoraby for the young scamp. his absence was
quickly detected and he was pursued before he had
a minutes start.
John is eleven years old His sister, Mamie. who
is two years his senior and arrested for the
robberies, insisted that she was wholly responsible
for the crimes. John, she declared, an nno-
cent, thoughtless, irresponsible boy who was COM
peteiy under her power and did what she told him
to do without the slightest idea that he was doing
anything wrong The police credited the girls
story. John silent and his silence was at
tributed TO stupidity The frank manner of the girl
and her inclination assist the police In recovering
the booty influenced them to be indulgent to the
children 1t anticipated that their tender years
would excite mercy. and they would be either sent
some charitable institution be surrendered to
their parents who contemplate returning to Eng
land 1t not the intention CT the police to con-
fine them in a cell. and they would have been
treated witnesses but for the unexpected develop
ment of the boys penchant for breaking jail.
His first attempt described IN The Tribune
yesterday. After the arralgnment in the police
court they remanded to the Second Precinct
Police Station in Jersey City. and were allowed to
play about the corridor OF the cells and the patrol
mems quarters. board and checkers were pro-
vided for them The boy grew weary Of checkers
and at the first opportunity, when the patromens
room vacant, he bolted through the door to the
stable yard where the patrol wagon is kept, and
with the agility of monkey clambered to the roof
of the stable dropped into the yard of the dwelling
tn ~ nj Aff IT., Apbt toad, -,
the neghbors and he recaptured He and his
sister transferred to the prison for women and
children the Third Precinct Police Station on
Oak.and-ave., Jersey City Heights.
This Is an insecure place of confinement. 1t was
formerly used lodging room for tramps. 1t
Is the upper floor OF two-story brick extension to
the police station. The lower floor Is used as the
prison for and the cells and corridors pro-
tected by doors with stout iron bars. When the
present Police Board decided to prevent women and
children prisoners from being confined in cells with
drunken and vile male prisoners they converted the
old lodging room into prison. They did not expect
to lodge any desperate criminals there, and light
bars put on the doors. and a frame OF light
iron with tubular iron bars was placed In the win
dows.
While Mrs. Wyatt. the matron. was temporarily
absent at noon yesterday young Timothy took
plank that bed from one Of the cells
and using 1t as lever. wrenched out of place the
making aperture a little over foot wide
through which he squeezed He dropped into the
courtyard AMI. ascending the stairs leading to the
corridor OF the women's prison. clambered from the
top of the rail OF the stairs to the roof OF the
prison II the yard in the rear of the PRISON Is
tree and of its limbs extends about six feet
above the roof. He Jumped. caught the limb and
slid down ii and the tree the yard. He ran
through the yard and alley into Cook-st.. anG nai
reached Hoboken-ave and was making toward the
lower section of the city as fast as his little legs
could carry him when intercepted at Oakland and ana
Hoboken ayes. by Detective Keenan, The boy was
the roof when the matron returned. discovered
his absence and gave the alarm. Detective Keenan,
and the reserves were Immediately sent out to
bring him back.
The young prisoner was deprived Of the. freedom
Of the corridor and lodged In cell. Even this
did no; discourage him About o'clock ne was
found making another attempt 70 regain liberty
There is at the top Of the celldoor an opening
about a foot long and nine inches wide. Young
Timothy placed the plank. his resting place against
the door. He had climbed up his board. and was
endeavorng to squeeze through, the hole at the
top OF the door when detected. The matron is
now keeping close vigil the slippery young
prisoner. who Will he committed to the County jail
To-day as he Is a of too much trouble to the
police lie and his sister have been held for en-
terng and larceny but TO be aligned for
larceny from the person before Police Justice Potts
ard for that reason were not committed to the
County jail