New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-04
DOORMAN A sCAPEGOAT.
SHARP BLAMED FOR ESCAPE OF PRISONERS
FROM CELLS WITH FAULTY LOCKS

SHARP BLAMED FOR ESCAPE OF PRISONERS
FROM CELLS WITH FAULTY LOCKS.
Nicolo Tocci. Of the Italian twins who stabbed
and killed young Christopher Herman on Saturday
night and escaped early on Sunday morning from
the prison of the police station in West Forty
seventh-st. arraigned in the Harlem Court
yesterday morning by Patrolman George Speers Of
the Central Park squad Speers caught him prowl-
ing In the Park before the police in West Forty
seventh-st knew that the prisoner had escaped.
At the Harlem Court Nicolo was turned over TO the
custody Of Detectives Convey and sheehan. Of the
West Forty-seventh-st. police station. They ar
raigned him in the West Side Court on a charge Of
homicide and Magistrate Mott remanded him to
await a Cororer's action Subsequently he was
committed 20 the Tombs.
The police are still hunting for Nicolos twin
brother, SaveniO
Captain Thomas. Of the West Forty-seventh-st.
police station appeared at Police Headquarters
yesterday morning and made charges against the
doorman. Edgar Sharp. who on duty al the
station when the Tocci brothers made their pc
police captain easily make a scapegoat Of a
doorman in such a case. Inspector Thompson also
made charges against the doorman. His charge Is
for making a false report.
Il Is the duty Of the doorman 10 make an in
spection OF the cells every half hour At 54J n.
on Sunday Sharp reported 10 the sergeant AT the
police station that everything was all right. At
2:55 "A. Nicolo Tocci arrested IN Central
prisoners their liffiuR the
door OF their cell that the bolt slipped the
lock It appears that the cell door had been inse-
cure for long time. but that fact did not bother
the police until two prisoners walked out Then
there was the defective lock on the door Of the
corridor 20 be accounted for and the ladder ready
for the Of the escaped men In getting over the
prison wall
When Captain Titus was IN charge Of the West
Forty-seycnth-st. police station he made requsi-
tioa for new lock for the corridor door The lock
was broken When Captain Thomas was placed In
charge he also reported the broken lock. and re-
quested that the complaint should receive imme-
date attention 1t Is said that there will be a rigid
investigation into this That this lock should not
have been attended TO before. after acquisitions
made by two commanding officers. It * said at
Police Headquarters will be matter for eXpana-
tons the part OF some II is also said that
a result OF the escape OF the two men charged
with murder there will be careful examination Of
the cells OF all the precinct prisons in this city.
II is said that others are In reprehensible con-
dition. The fact that the iron door OF the cell
could be lifted up and allow prisoners 10 walk out
was not known before. Two cell doors In this
prison had been used in the prison Of the old
Broa lway squad building In Twenty-ninth-st. near
Broadway They did not AZ because OF differ
ence in the size OF the doors and the size OF the
framework Of the cells space being ieft between
the top Of the doors and the edge OF the upper
Captain Thomas said that when the doorman
went on his trips OF inspection he saw the hats
and the shoes Of the prisoners on the floor OF the
cell but aid not see the men. He could hardly
have seen them II they asleep on the boards.
as the place is dark he supposed that the mer,
were in the cell from the fact Of their hats ana
coats being there This explanation. II Is SAID. ""
not avail him. -, -.
Captain Thomas added that the report that the
Toccis were in the same cell s not true. They
were in adjoining cells. he says This is taken as
an indication that the doors 90 not III on el'he'
cell. ,, sAa-
chief Devery said that II any one besides ShaI
was 10 blame he would be punished The Ch me-
ssid there was a poor performance Of duty on ths
part OF the doorman. and he should De punlsheu
FOR his derelicton The Chief gave orders Tor an IN,
snecton 81 the doors 20 all the cells In the various
nrecincts He said II would not 90 70 nave sHs
more prisoners escape from police sAuonA