Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-11-26
Tragic Death Of Thomas McCrea.

Sheriff Evans Of Erie county. assisted by
W arden McCrea and others took batch
of convlets from the Erie jail to the River
side penitentiary last Thursday. he
prisoners were handcpffrd aud the doors Of
the car they occupied were locked until 81
ter the train passed Rochester, waea tue
Sheriff and his deputie5 made read to
leave the train at VI Woods Rua stati n.
Just as Ellsworth was reached two prls-
oners, named Cronin and Schubart, threw
their shsckles from them and made a dash
for liberty, Cronin breaking for the tront
donr while Schubart attempted tn jump
through the window. which Deputy Fral-
els had opened al his request. Francis
dragged Schubart back and soon had the
hanGcuffs securely locked again Warden
EcCrcs was sitting opposite Cronin "hen
he made MS break, but the prisoner was
out on the platform before ScCrea reached
him. Cr0nin was crouehed to Janp when
McCrea caught him about the neck. CroDin
threw the warden over his body aud both
men fell from the train together
TIE widest excitement followed All
of the prisoners sprang To their ieot, and
the combined efforts OF the deputies and
them. The bell rope was pulled, the train
came to a standstil, aud several OF tbs
deputies, hea Ged by Sheriff Evans, hasten
ed back
MeCrea and Cronin we're lying beside
the track unconscious. but CIonin soon re-
gained his senses. Both men we're placed
nn the train and at Woods RuD the prison
ers for the penIteDt tiary were taken OH, Win
the exception of Cronin, who was taken 10
The Federal street station. The Aliegh euy
General hospital ambulance met the train
and McCrea was removed to that lnstltu-
ton, while Cronin was taken 20 Oentral po'
lice staten. Just as the hospital Wa7
Ieachsd McCrea expired. DR.. ,. D smith
made an examination of his injuries ana
found that the entire back part OF HIS head
was crushed in, exposing his brain.
AT Central station CTOnin refused To si'
low his injuries TO be examined. DE Was
removed TO the penitentiary, where he Was
placed In tho hospital his collar bone
vas broken, and be sustained serious
scalr wound.
How the two men got their handouts
loose cannot be understood by the Officials,
as they were under the closest watch dur
ing the entire trip. In some manner how
ever. they had picked the locks, for the
cuffs were not broken, and at o signal had
made the dash io- liberty. Tne only IL
formation that could be got from the meE
en- the matter was e statement from Cranln
who claimed that Schubirt had unlocked
his handcuffs This, however, is consider
ed impossible
CroniE and Schubart we're tae leaders ui
the most notorious gang of car breakers ~
the country, and their stealings amounted
to thousands of dollars from the roads IN
aud about Erie. Among others who help
ed dispose of their goods was Erhart, who
is blind, and sold small articles on the
street; Mrs Giles, who pleaded guilty at
Erie OF receiving stolen goods, aud Mrs
Nuber, who was convicted "a the same
charge. Neither OF the women have been
sentenced. Cronin has been indicted IA
times for car breaAiDg, and has served ID
the Allegheny county workho1se for SIX
months and again in the Columbus penI-
tsntiary. He is about 40 years old.
The dead warden has been turnkey OF
the Erie Jail for three years. He wa5 Chief
OF police in Bradford, Pa, for number OF
years during the oil excitement and made
a brillian: record, He was As years of age
and leaves d wife and three children.
He was brother of d. F. McCrea Of the
Lowry House, and his body was brought
To Butler Friday and buried in Clearfeld
cemetery Saturday.