The herald., 1896-09-12
ESCAPED FROM THE NEW JAIL
Joe McCarty, a Trusty, Skips Out From
the Receiving Hospital
He Wss Serving 1870 Days for Petty Larceny
Ne.d Of q Steward to Assume Care OF
the Patients-Chief Glass Talks

The first prisoner has escaped from the
new city jail and is yet at large, having
not been recaptured. Joe McCarty is the
fugitive for whom the officers are look
ing, and the one who improved the first
good opportunity he had to make break
for freedom. In the new Jail the receiv-
ing hospital is removed from the prison
proper, and as no provision has been
made for steward or nurse to attend
to patients that are brought in, it has
been necessary to detail trusty from
among the prisoners to remain In the
hospital and look after the wants of in
mates.
Since the occupancy of the new quar-
ters Albert Acevado, now serving out
floater, has been the prisoner so de-
tailed. Yesterday German who had at
tempted to commit suicide was in the
hospital and required constant watch
ing. While Acevado went into the jail
to eat his dinner McCarty, who was
serving 1870 days for petty larceny, was
sent out to take his place for few min
utes. He went into the hospital and shut
the door. ,nir e-5ey ot
1t was probably not over five minutes
before Jailer Richardson had occasion
to look into the hospital ward and could
find no sign of his trusty. A short
search developed the fact that he was
gone, having evidently made his es-
cape the moment the hospital door
closed behind him. The windows of the
hospital and operating room are not
barred. and 1t was through the window OF
the operating room, which looks out
into the back yard of Hill-street resi-
dence, that McCarty escaped. He had
but few feet to drop to reach the
ground, and no one noticed his leaving
the premises. A full description of the
fugitive was read to the night watch
when it went on duty, and the detectives
are securing the city In search of the
escape.
McCarty was serving term for steal
ing a camera from Wells-Fargo ex-
press wagon about \lree months ago, and
had served nearly half Of his time. He
is an old offender and is considered
habitual criminal. The camera he stole
had been packed by photographer for
shipment to the east for repairs. 1t was
given into the hands of the express COM
pany early one afternoon, and late the
same day McCarty appeared in the stu
dio Of the self-same man who owned the
instrument and offered 1t for sale. He
was paid for the camera and the detec-
tives notified of the transaction. The
next day he was arrested on the street
on description and positively identi-
fled as the thief. Several other thefts
were traced to him. among them the
robbery of a room in lodging house,
from which he got suit of clothes. He
was convicted and sentenced as stated.
Chief Glass was seen in regard to the
escape and expressed himself strongly
about the matter. There had been no
provision made. he said, for paying a
steward to attend to the receiving hos
pital but the escape had shown that it
was impracticable to use the prisoners
in that capacity. In the old station the
hospital was a part Of the jail and the
jailer had his office in it and could over
look the TRUSTEES who were on duty. Now
all is changed, and the jailer cannot by
any possibility exercise supervision
over the large Jail and attend to the hos
pital as WE'LL He will probably bring
the matter before the commission at its
next meeting and endeavor to secure a
paid attendant to look after the operat-
ing room and wards.