Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-02-20


Inhabitants Of Sing Sing village were after
him, but he dashed his horse into a run
and escaped without scratch. That night
he hid in barn and stole another team,
with which he continued on his way TO
New York. He was again seen and chased
for the whole locality had been alarmed,
but he got away and finally reached Bos-
ton. Soon after this he went to Philadel-
phia, where he was arrested, but escaped
from the officers by jumping from a sec
ond story window.
Mahony's next escape was from Charles
town prison, where he had been sent for a
Job done in Boston. Having obtained q
suit Of old clothes, he asked permission TO
go to the hospital TO see doctor. Instead
of doing this he put on his old clothes,
took compile of cans Of paint from the
storeroom and started TO walk out the
gate. The way in which he deceived the
guard at the gate who stopped him shows
his quickness Of wit.
"How did you get in here" said the
guard.
"Why, didn't you see me come in on a
wagon with three other men this morn
ingY" replied Mahony.
WAS it before or after breakfasts" ask.
ed the guard, still suspicious.
Mahony, who remembered that the
guard could not have been on duty before
breakfast, replied promptly, Before
breakfast, of course.
"Oh, said the guard, 81 was not on
duty then, and that is the reason / did
not see you. You can pass.
For a few brief moments Mahony en-
ioyed the luxury of liberty but he was
soon met by an officer who knew him.
The alarm was at once given. and the run
away was back inside the walls within ten
minutes, wearing ball and chain weigh
ing % pounds After making a second
attempt, which was not so nearly success
ful rs the first, Mahony gave it up and
served out his sentence
A the time of writing the sketch of his
life above referred TO MGhony professed an
intention to reform, but he was no sooner
at liberty than he began his old career of
crime Ii seems that he went to Philadel-
phia and cleaned out "A store, with the as
sistance Of pal. The plumber, which
was worth about 5000 was shipped TO
New York, but il was traced and Mahony
was arrested as he claimed it at the express
office lie was taken To police headquar-
tiers and locked up When the Philadel-
phia officer arrived and asked for his pris-
oner, there was a big sensation in Null
berry street.
The elusive Mahony was not to be
found.
A general alarm was sent out, and big
hue and cry raised, but there was no trace
of the prisoner. The boldness Of his escape
was big surprise to the police officials.
The cell in which he had been confined
opened directly on public passage way.
Mahony had forced the bars of the win
dow over the door, squeezed his body
through and walked out to liberty in
broad daylight and under the very noses
of his captors. He had 10 walk through a
corridor in which people were constantly
passing and within ten feet of the door of
the detective Office, where there were a
dozen or more men who knew him.
This was not by any means his last
escapadc, but it was one of his most no.
torious ones. He went west after this, and
continued his operations under various
aliases He served long term in the Hi
nois state prison at Joliet, and other terms
In the Eastern penitentiary in Pennsyl-
vania "A last accounts he was still be-
hind prison bars, but was probably plan
ming another escape.
IEpONE i ACOUIN