The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-05-02
BROKE HIS CELL DOOR
Lunatic Kelly Escapes from
the Strongest Part Of the
County Asylum.
JUMPED OVER A KEEPERS HEAD
Rnshes Through The Streets Fright
ening Men and Women
Caught on the
Hill.

Thomas Kelly, twenty years old. of No.
24l York street. made his escape from
the Insane Asylum at Snake Hill yes
terday afternoon Kelly was committed
TO the asylum in the early part of tiiis
week as dangerous lunatic. At the
time Of his escape. he occupied a room
on the third floor of the east wing of the
asyirm, where vio.ent lunaties are al
ways placed as it is supposed to be the
most secure portion of the building.
Kelly raved all yesterday afternoon and
annoyed the other iunatics very much.
Toward evening. however, he Quieted
down and seemed contented AT All
o'clock he kicked the panel of his cell
door out and made a wild dash for lib-
erty- He rushed down the three flights
of stairs three at a time, never looking
back to see if he was pursued. BY this
time the other lunatics in the building
had become frightened and there was
great danger Of a panic. Owing to the
good work of the keepers, however,
trouble was averted.
Kelly gained the outside of the build
ing without any trouble and started on
q wild run across the fields. By this
time the keeper who had charge of the
corridor where Kelly's cell was. and who
had pursued the fugitive. had given a
general alarm. Five cf the keepers Joined
in the chase. As Kelly turned a corner
he almost ran into the arms of a keeper
who was stationed as an outer guard
on the grounds. Kelly uttered a cry of
warning and the next minute with
flying leap cleared the keepers head and
landed safely on the other side The
keeper was a man of small stature and
prssabiy this accounted for Keliy,s sue
cessful jump. The keepers were sur
pr;sed, but soon recovered themselves
sufficiently to continue the chase. Kelly.
however. who is an athlete, quickly dis
tanced them and proceeded down the
county road towards this city. THE keep
sack River. Keeper Brown and another
keeper, who had followed in a buggy.
cont nued the chase frcm this point
Tnsy arrived in this, city about 4:45 and
made q search for the fugitive
Kelly. it seems, reached the city at
43o O'Clock. He proceeded in southerly
erection on Tonnele avenue as far as
this point ard proceeded 10 Central ave-
nae. E1s queer antics attracted crowd
~ th time He wore corduroy trousers
feet and bare headed. He cursed loudly
a7ltf tsxas Isi.esned everyday III sight He
scared tseleral children badly He met
an old lady at franklin street and Gem
tral avenue and made grab for her
She Csrted to one side and the lunatic
missed her by about three feet She
promptly went into mysteries. She was
taken TO nearby drug store, where she
soon revived.
The Eooting of the crowd had made
the lnnatic frantic by this time He
little while he would chase the crowd
which was always at his heels. When
the erowd scattered he would give vent
to fendish laugh He started off once
mere and the crowd again congregatcd
al his heels. When he reached Central
avenue and Hutton street trolley car
watched it as it came nearer Then
ali Of 2 sudden he made dash TO the
centre Of the track on which the car
WAS was running. The motornan rang the
ned Warningiy. but he paid no heed to IL
The rnotornan apDlied-the brakes quick
ly and thus saved the mans l;fe AS
sp2n TI6, as the ear game to. standstill
on a run down Hutton street He pro
ceeded as far as Sherman avenue and
then then turned north. The crowd still fol-
At Griffith street fat man got in his
way The lunatic just butted the fat
man in the stomach and sent him
spraying. He continued his wild career
saw the man at this point and promptly
arrested HIM. He was taken to the
WEBSTER avenue station in the patrol
wagon When asked who he was he
was only too happy to tell and also
stated that. he had escaped from Snake
Hill Word was sent to Police Head
quarters of the capture of the crazv
nan ma and Chief Murphy telephoned to
the Snake Hill authorities shortly after
the two keepers in the buggy. who had
been looking for the fugitive. called al
me. me station STAT house, and We're surprised to
ma nm there, They identified him He
was taken to the Oakland avenue station
mouse soon after When he was put in
a s,o cell he became violent ana it was
necessary le to O. haai6cuff hirr and rnanacie
ms ieef Tne fugitive was placed in
the cell last evening. AT eight o'cloci,
ne was taken to Snake Hill manacled
nand i1sa ana FOOT and chained to the buggy
ihe Duild- ng from which the escaDe was
made is a new one and is supposed to