Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-10-01
FLIGHT OF FOUR PRISONERS.
Escape Of Desperate Inlaates OF New Cast


Escape OF Desperate Inmates OF New Castle
Special correspcnderce OIL oaznrte sno Journa all
New Castle. Sent. 2s Intense ex-
ciremont was created here Saturday
evening by four prisoners escaping
from the county jail. Two of the
fugitives were recaptured in less than
half an hour but the other two are
still at large. The men who escaped
had the freedom OF the corridor and
the western yard. They had gone into
the yard several times but did not
attract suspicion until TAO o'clock,
when Night Warden Howard Reed dis
covered that they had a rope. He
promptly notified Miss Ella ellis,
daughter Of Sheriff Gillis, and re-
quested her to inform her father, who
had gone outside the jail. While Reed
was summoning assistance the quartet
William S.. alias Bonnie" Harris,
William DUNCAN, aliae LARRY, tho
Yorker" Thomas Gibbons, alias
Cleveland Jimmy" and Joseph
Smith, alias Chester Joe''--were
given signal and when be was about
to enter the Office they rushed upon
him. DUNCAN held revolver close to
the warden's face and the other three
almost choked the officer into insensi-
bility, disarmed him and took his
keys. A prisoner named Brown at
tempted to assist the warden but fled
when a revolver was pointed at him.
The quartet then ran to the front door,
brandisbing revolvers during their
flight. Mrs Gillis, who heard them
approaching, shouted to them to stop
and with oaths they told her to keep
quiet.
Descending to the sidewalk the men
ran to the school green and thence to
Third and Harmony streets, where they
met Samuel Ford, who was in q car
riage. They dragged him out of the
vehicle and entered 1t, whereupon be
grasped the horse's bride. They
threatened to shoot him If he did not
let GO, but he refused to comply.
Jumping from the carriage they ran to
st. Peters cemetery. two blocks dis
tant. A large crowd followed them.
Officers Morgan and Tobin entered the
cemetery and soon found Harris and
DUNCAN, the former up cedar tree
and the latter lying between two grave
stones. Harris and DUNCAN were re-
captured Immediately. Meanwhile
Gibbons aud Smith had scaled the fence
and gone out Delaware street to the
railroad, whence they proceeded to
Farnhursk There they com PEELED two
tramps TO give them some clothing,
after which they proceeded in the
direction of Wilmington, where they
probably boarded train. For the
raiment they obtained from the tramps
tho fugitiyes gave their prison garb.
The revolver taken from the warden
was found in st. Poter's cemetery yes
terday by Samuel Ford.
While Officer Morgan was taking
Harris back to Jail the latter struck
Oscar Rulings ID the mouth because
be stopped to look at him. whereupon
Frank Meredith struck Harris on the
right ear, inflicting severe wound.
Leg irons were put on DUNCAN and
Harris yesterday and will be kept there
during the remainder of Sheriff Gillis'
term. ''E
Gibbons and Smith, who belonged to
the Folly woods gang, where convicted
last February Of highway robbery and
sentenced to two years. imprisonment
Gibbons is about 80 years old, 5 feet
91a inches high, weighs about IT'S
pounds and has sandy hair and nous
tache. Smith is "a years old, feet
inches high, weighs about $50 pounds
and is of light complexion. Harris,
who is serving three years. sentence
for robbing house in the Ninth ward,
Wilmington, had escaped on another
occasion. DUNCAN is serving sen
tence for housebreaking. His term of
imprisonment expires next February.