The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-02
LOCKED UP HIS KEEPERS.
n CRAFTY LUNATTC ESCAPES FROM
SNAKE HILL UNI.

Lazarus Got Some Old Clothes, Changed His
Garb ana was Away Before the Keepers
Flight Was Kuown-Arter n Long Hunt
re Was Caught at HIS brothers. House.
Stephen Lazarus, a lunatic who has been
confined in the Snake Hill Insane Asylum for
two years, escaped yesterday morning, and
for four hours wandered around Jersey City
and its c%nvirons without being recognized by
any OF the horde of detectives and keepers
who had been sent out to find him. Lazarus
is 81 years old, and was a mechanic when his
mind began to give away. He lived with his
brother and the ~latter's family at 44s Grove
street, Jersey City. The causes Of tho mans
insanity are not known, but he became 80 vio-
lent that he was taken TO the ASYLUM. There,
after n few months of misbehavior, he became
quito n model patient, and for some time tho
doctors have been satisfied that their treat
ment was slowly but surely curing him and
that before long he would be as well mentally
as he had over been.
For some time Lazarus has had all the privi-
lcges of a convalesccnt at the asylum. He was
allowed to help tho keepers in their routine
duties, such as sweeping out cells, cleaning
inmates. All this he did quietly and with
evident enjoyment, and no one had any idea
that he would again become violent,
Keepers LippmHn and Walsh called Lazarus
at, $3.50 o'clock yesterday morning and the
trio started to wash down the dormitorics.
Lazarus brought water and swabs from tho
yard and all hands turned in to work. Tho
dormitory is entered from the main corridor
of the asylum by a heavy door. This door
fastvns with a spring lock and can be opened
only from the corridor side. One OF tho keep.
crs left the bunch OF keys in this lock when he
entered the dorIuitory, and Lazarus must have
noticed that, for a few moments afterward he
began to work his way slowly around toward
the door. Lippman and w alsh paid little or
no attention to him. Suddenly Lazarus. threw
down his swat with II curse. and. shaki nB his
fist at the two keepers, made IA dash for the
half.opcn door. The keepers started after him,
but they were a little too late. Just as they
reached the door Lazarus slammed It shut in
their faces and they were prisoners in the dor
mitury.
At first they tried to caiole Lazarus by talk
ing pleasantly to him. They thought at first II
was a freak of a crazy man and that they could
induce Lazarus TO open the door again. They
made a bad reckoning there. Lazarus lost no
Zine in getting through the corridor and out into
house and opened the door with one OF his
bunch OF keys. He put on all old suit of clothes
he found there, scaled the wall, and was free.
Fifteen minutes after the escape the plight of
the two kre ers was discovered. They were
liberated and the search for Lazarus ON
menccd. The meadows were thoroughly
searched, but no trace Of the man was found.
Every available keeper was sent out TO Hobo.
ken, Jersey City, Newark, and other nearby
titled TO lookout for Lazarus. One keeper and two
detectives watched the %lnnatics brothers house
in Jersey City and shortly after 10 o'clock the
man was seen approaching. He was taken into
custody at once. He made no resistance, and
in the afternoon was taken back to the asylum.