Evening journal., 1899-08-07
AGAIN BEHIND BARS.
Murderer Duugherty Will Now
Serve His Life Sentence.
THE STORY OF HIS qRIME
AND HOW HE ESCAPED FROM
NEW CASTLE JAIL AFTER sERv-
ING ONLY A PART OF HIS TERN.

NEW CAol LIZ JAIL AFTER SERN-
ING ONLY A PART OF HIS TERN.
John Dougherty. the murderer Of
Joseph Ericsson, a Pole, is again be-
hind the bars OF New Castle Jail. af-
ter being at liberty for nearly two
years. and will in all probability
serve out his life sentence.
The story OF Dougherty's crime,
conviction, sentence and escape reads
like a romance.
In 1895 Ericsson was murdered by
Dougherty while on his way home
from the works of the Pullman Palace
Car Company, where he was employ
ed He was attacked with a coupling
pin near Eleventh street bridge, and
his head crushed. Dougherty was ar
rested on suspicion, arraigned, plead
ed guilty, and was sentenced to life
Imprisonment The murder was a
|cold-blooded one. the intent being
robbery, and many thought the man
should have been hung. He was,
however, taken over to New Castle Jail
and locked up.
DOUGHERTY'S CAPTURE.
On March 12, 1898, Johnny" escaped,
and was never recaptured until re-
Gently. Dougherty was captured at
Middletown, Pa, on the 18th of last
month. When taken into custody
he was found in a box car on the
Pennsylvania railroad with a number
of tramps. Pennsylvania Railroad Of
ficer Hiram S. Michel and James Ken
nedy learned that there was a crowd
OF buns" in a certain car situated
on the tracks near Middletown, and
determined to raid them. They ac-
cordingly proceeded to the place at
which the car was located. and de-
manded their surrender. Michel went
on one side of the car and Kennedy
the other. y zaR
One of the officers called to the men
to come out of the car. Dougherty at
once sprang to the door, and pulling
revolver, said: you --
I'll come out" The officer made a
spring at him. and Dougherty darted
to the other door and jumped out
Unfortunately he landed in the arms
Of the other officer.
Dougherty. in company with the
rest Of the gang, was taken to the po-
lice station and when he was searched
a 32-calibre Harrington & Richardson
revolver, box Of cartridges and ra-
zor were found upon him.
Dougherty gave the name OF Dill
lon," and would never have been
known had it not been that one of
his companions gave him away
AS soon as the authorities learned
who their prisoner was, they sent
him to Harrisburg, preferring charges
against him Of train-robbing, threat
ening to murder officers, and carrying
concealed deadly weapons
In the Harrisburg Jail was Deputy
Warden Boozer, who is also a justice
of the peace. Upon being satisfied
that 'Dillon" was the man wanted in
Delaware, he Immediately notified the
authorities here. and Detective WitsI
was despatched after him late Sunday
light, in company with Chief Warden
Bowers, Of New Castle jail,
HAD MUCH TROUBLE
The officers secured their prisoner
After much trouble, the Pennsylvania
authorities being under the impress
sion that a reward was offered foi
him. Detective Witsil explained tha
the reward Of s1OO, although the Har
risburg authorities thought it wai
$3.50, was offered by Sheriff Finn
whose term of office had now expired
and therefore could not be claimed.
After much delay, and upon tn,
payment of a sum of over $50, tn,
amount due the county for costs
Dougherty was released and brough
to Wilmington, arriving at z o'clocl
Saturday night. He was turned over L
: Warden Bowers, who took him to New
Castle Jail.
On his way down Dougherty con
{ versed freely with Detective Witsil
He said that Chief Warden Peirc
Gould unknowingly gave hin
him the revolver he had a
the time Of his escape. It was con
cealed in a package of Arbuckle'
I coffee, which had been sent I
= him, and was unloaded. He receives
no cartridges at the time, but the
were thrown over the prison wall an
laid in the yard twenty days befor
= he got them. Jimmy Mitchelrs revol
! yer was given to him in a basket Q
potatoes
The escape was prearranged. Dough
erty was to go first and Mitchell wa
+ to follow. He denied swapping a re