The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-22
HELD BY A SEARCH LIGHT.
MYERS MD IN A SHADOW on THE
PRISON ROOF AL MIG HI.
The. Light Was Thrown In Ills Direction So
Frequently That rae Hnd no Chanco to
Escnpc-His Elaborate Preparations tie
Attcmpts to E,capo by nay. but IL Caught.

The Light was Thrown In Ills Direction So
Frequently That tss Und 10 Chapcs to
Escnpc-nls Elaborate Preparations tie
Attcmpta to E'cnpo By nay. but IL Chuaht.
TRENTON, y. j., Sept, 2l.-Johu Myers made
n bold attempt to escape from State prison at
noon to-day. He had made elaborate prcpara-
tons to get away last night and succeeded
III getting to the roof of tho main building, but
was prevented from going further by tho rays
OF tho new electric scnrohlleht which bright
cned he roof about him aud made 1t easy for
the guards on the prison walls TO SEQ him In
case he made tho attempt. From 4 o'clock last
evening until 4 o'clock this morning Myers sat
upon tho roof. In the shadow OF n large venti-
lator, awaiting some chance that would direct
the rays OF the scarchlight in another direction
long enough for him to rcachthc walls, but the
light was swung around for n moment only, at
abort intervals, and returned to the point
which lighted the prisoners path 10 freedom.
Myers, who is about SO years old, was SON.
fenced from Union county in the fall of 1894
TO seven years for burglary. lie has been
what the officials call a good prisoner and ono
OF the last they would have suspected OF max
Ing an attempt to get away. But, according to
tho story he told this afternoon. no had been
making plans for q long time. Securing q
table knife from tho COOK house, ho had fash
Toned a sort OF chisel to remove bricks and NOR.
tar from .Lho ceiling OF his coll. Tho handle Of
az eH NJ was made or u piece Of broom han,
Ole; Inc bricks and other rubbish he placed
appear that he was in bed. He stole a loaf OF
bread. and wetting II, moulded 1t into the shape
to represent q man's face, and eyebrows were
painted with SCOT secured from the gas jet.
This dummy deceived the deputy who makes
the rounds Of the wing at intervals.
With a sharp shoe knife stolen from ono of
the shops Myers fashioned from his vrayish
by some means he had bleachcd tho stripes
from his, prison shirt. From n part OF his bed.
ding and a piece Of carpet he made a rope about
down from tho wall. Myers told Keeper Moore
to-day that he began to dig his way to liberty
several days ago. Last evening he got into the
attic and with Il saw made from u knife cut
through the tin roof and one Of the ioists. Tho
hole he made in the wall of his cell was eight
br sixteen inches in size, and through this he
squeezed himself into tho attic. When he
reached tho roof he found himself In front OF
tho rentila'or, and here he sat shivering in the
cold through the night, waiting for the chance
that did not come.
This morning Myers turned out for break.
fast. and later went into the yard to exercise.
At noon, when most OF the deputies are at din
ner and the prisoners are locked in their cells,
Myers went through the hole to the roof and
made the bold attempt to do at midday what
he had failed to do at night. He had dressed
in his blanket suit. and with his rope in a
might be mistaken for one % the tinsmiths who
We're repairing the roof OF another wing. John
II. McucfaIl, one OF Inc guards. lnlAklhe al
was not right, sent word 10 Keeper Moore that
there was IL strange man on the roof, and an
alarm was sounded. Myers had lowered him
self from the main building to tho roof OF n
p%ortico at the main entrance and was fastcn-
INK his rope there, when Deputy Jacob Rein.
hardt thrust n revolver through the grating OF
n window and commanded him to surrender.
Myers; who was but fourteen feet, from the
ground, gave up at once. When taken before
Keeper Moore tho keeper said to him: This is
u nice thing YOU have done. isn't iti'
YES" replied Myers. It's your place to
keen, me-; and it's my place to get away if j
can"