Evening journal., 1898-03-14
CRIMINAL AT LARGE.
No Trace of the Desperate
Man Yet Discovered.
ATTEMPTED WARDEN GOULDs LIFE

MITCHELLfS PISTOL GRAZED HIS
CHEEK, AND DoUGHERTY's RE
VOIVER FAILED TO GO OFF.
JERRY FIARRTGAN's BRAVERY.
One of the most daring attempts 10
break iail in the history of the prison
at New Castle, and which nearly re-
suited in murder, startled the entire
community early Saturday evening.
BY holding revolvers at the head of
Former Sheriff Peirce Gould, chief
warden at New Castle Jail, John
Dougherty and James Mitchell, two
desperate prisoners, tried to force their
way through the grated corridor door.
Dougherty succeeded in getting past
the warden, who resisted their attempts
and grappled Mitchell by the throat,
though the latter held a revolver at his
mouth. Mitchell fired, but the bullet
only grazed the warden's cheek, as
Jerry" Harrigan, another life prison
er, had rushed to the warden's rescue
In time to knock the revolver aside.
DOUGHERTY TRIED TO SHOOT.
Meantime Dougherty was running
backward out the corridor with the re-
volver leveled at Warden Gould, try
ing his best to shoot and demanding
Mitchell's release. Dougherty's revOl
yer, however would not go off.
A FAST HORSE IN WAITING.
Once on the streets, Dougherty con-
tinued in a run across the school green
where a spindle wagon with a spirited
horse attached, stood in waiting for
him, the escape having been carefully
planned with the assistance OF confed-
crates.
The prisoner drove at n rapid pace
out Of town by Wilmington road, but
left the carriage before reaching Will
mingtOn.
CHIEF WARDEN'S STATEMENT.
Warden Peirce Gould made the fol-
lowing statement of the escape:
"At 5.45 Saturday evening | went to
the corridor door toilet out Mrs. William
Dutton, a regular visitor at the Jail,
where her husband Is a prisoner.
mo sooner had the woman stepped
out than John Dougherty and James
Mitchell, who had been exercising in
the corridor, jumped at me with drawn
revolvers.
Realizing that Mitchell was the more
dangerous man, / seized him by the
throat but not in time to prevent him
shooting. Just at this moment
Jerry" Harrigan, another life pris-
oner exercising in the corridor, leaped
ON Mitchell and struck the revolved
from him so that the bullet only cut
my cheek.
"All this time / could hear Dough.
erty swapping his pistol in the outer
corridor as he ran.
"Harrigan, being a one-armed man
could give but little help in the desper
ate fight and dare not let go the mans
throat to get my revlOver. Sheriff
Finn and Edward /. Rogers rushed il
to my assistance and we soon ha'
Mitchell begging for mercy and crying
Il surrender ] surrender. DON
shootl'
IL am very glad we saved Mitchell
as he is a house-breaker and hard t
catch We can get Dougherty again
The sheriff has offered a reward of $40
for him."
Edward I. Rogers was passing tn
corner Of Second and Delawar
streets at 5.45 p. m. when
man dashed frantioally out {
the front door OF the prison an
brushed past the reporter, fourishin
a revolver.
Reaching the corner Of the Jail wa
the wild fugitive was met by OTvid
Porter and brother, who tried to ste
him, seeing a pistol in his hand, an
knowing that he must be an escape
prisoner or a murderer or both.
The man, who proved to be job
Dougherty, kept on over the scho
green and on reaching Third sire
jumped into a spindle buggy and W;
driven furiously toward Wilmington.
While the escaped prisoner was ma
ing his run for liberty a murder WI
being attempted inside the prison wall
James MITCHELL one of the burgla
who robbed Mr.. Banning,'s house, WI
graphing Warden Peirce Gould with
revolver at his heart and shouting 4
him to hold up his hands.
The warden drew his revolver al
Mitchell fired, the bullet grazing Il
right side of the warden's chin, lea
ing an assassin's track.
JERRY HARRIGAN'S BRAVE DEE
At this juncture Sheriff Finn rus
ed into the Jail through the still op
door. As he entered Jerry" Harrig
knocked the smoking pistol from {
prisoners hand to the stone floor.
The warden seized the prisoner
the throat and pinned him to the wa
Sheriff Finn grappled with the m
and ther was a tussle royal. The m
was finally landed in a cell.
The whole affair seems to be the
suit of well-planned jail delive
Mrs. William DuttOn. wife of anotI
prisoner, was admitted to the Jail
the warden shortly before the ana
and the escape was made when she "
being let out
MYSTERIOUS SPINDLE WAGON
The carriage had been standing
Third street, but few minutes. bef,
its new occupant took his seat bes
the driver Of the yellow horse.
The escape was telephOned to c,
tain Chambers a few minutes after
escaped prisoner passed out Of
excited and the affair is the talk
prison door. The town is very MI