New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-20
SAWED HIS WAY OCT OF JAIL.
A sw1NDLER's DARING ESCAPE FROM THE JER-
SpY CITY PRISON.

sEY CITY PRISON.
Henry F Straight swlndler and forger. who
was recently arrested by the Jersey City police.
escaoed Yesterday morning from the Jersey City
nrlson by saving through the iron bars OF a win
dow The police promptly apprised OF the
flight OF the prisoner. and were Immediately sent
out 10 guard every avenue, but Straight eluded his
pursuers. although he journeyed several miles in
the city before trace OF him was lost
The cell he left vacant Is now occupied by his
wife. who called at Police Headquarters and was
trapped into confessing that she had supplied her
husband with the saws which he used She is held
for aiding and abetting the escape Of prisoner
The closet Of the city prison Is under the winding
stairway leading TO the platform of the second
tier Of cells There is long window to admit
light TO the closet and stairs. This window was
protected by FIVE iron bars. Straight sawed
through the centre bar at It's base and bent It IN
ward and upward leaving aperture seven inches
wide and twenty inches long. 1t was ugh'
soueeze as Straight Is a well-built man. with
large head He aid not avoid injury. as those
who saw him after his fight state that he had
several fresh decorations on his face
The prisoner waited until $50 o'clock In the
morning. when the other prisoners were taken 10
the nolice court on the floor above. II Is sup
nosed that he completed cutting the bar on Tues
dav and as soon as the other prisoners were re-
o,,ad n. entered the closet and began TO bend the
bsr II could have been only the work OF a mo-
ment for Straight. as less thah ten minutes AFTER
the opening OF the police court the alarm was
given. 49,, .o. ,-, .At.A
e separated from a stable yard oy an old wooden
fence Straight broke board from the fence
and ran through the stable yard 10 Gregory-st. To
avoid suspicion he went into the Closet without his
haf or oyercoat and was hatless when he escaped
The front part OF the lot on which the stable
stands Is occupied by three-story frame building.
The lower floor Of which Il used as a saloon by
Jacob Kramer. who. hearing the noise made by
Straight in dslodgng the board from the fence ran
IA the rear stOop and saw Straight squeeze through
the hole ir. the fence and run through the stable
ward 10 C;regory-st He gave the alarm All the de-
tectives were In the Headquarters at the time, and
they were sent after the fugitive. while general
alarm and description OF the prisoner were sent TO
every police station and all the reserves were sent
10 board streetcars or guard every avenue OF
The detectives traced Straights movements in
Jersey city and learned that ne boarded a coal
train running to Weehawken. Since then nothing
has been OF him .
straight is under Indictment In New York. Penn
svlvauia and Maryland. and a score or jalls ya"n
for MIN lie swinded banks and merchants by
forged bills of ladlng and bogus drafts. lie had
heen GENERATING for over year when arrested, ana
had realized a large sum from his transactions;
Mrs Straight acknowledged TO Chief OF Police
Murphy that she had taken three saws TO her nus
band TO aid him to escape. When sne hppsa.eeu
al Police Headquarters she was unaware Oh the