The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-16
SAHEl'Z is CAUGHT
coy SNEAK THIEF WHO BROKE
JAIL UNDER ARREST AT
ST. JOSEPH
WILL BE RETURNED FOR TRIAL
He Succeeded in Escaping From
Central Station and Fled to Chi
cagO-Was Employed as Il Mes
senger and Used His Uniform for
Petty Thfeving.

After eluding justice for six weeks,
George Sametz, the messenger boy. who
broke Jail at the central police station on
Sunday, March g. was captured yesterday
in St. Joseph, Mo- The police depart
ment have received a letter from Chief
Detective Hanney, of st. Joseph, stating
that the juvenile thief is under arrest,
and asking what disposition the st. Paul
officers wish to make of their case
against him. Steps were Immediately
taken to have Sametz brought back for
trial. He was arrested on the charge of
petit larceny in st. Joseph, and accom-
panying the letter to the st. Paul depart
ment was a picture of the boy, taken
there, which identified him at once. He
was arrested under the name of George
Davis, alias Charles Harris. alias Phil
Geanzler. alias Tom Davis, alias Charles
Johnson, and is wanted. on the charge of
forgery by the Omaha detectives
After breaking Jail in ST. Paul, the
youthful criminal made for Chicago, and
was seen at different points along the
line. Efforts were made to capture him,
but he succeeded in eluding the officers,
and for three weeks nothing had been
heard Of him. He went to st. Joseph
chicago, ana Is supposed TO nave
operated there as a sneak thief
SametZ was formerly a messenger boy
in st. Paul. and on March s. while en-
ployed in that capacity, improved an
GRAND taking him to the boarding house
of Mrs. M. V. Friend, 254 East Tenth
street, to do a little work for himself
lie stole a pocketbook containing SIS and
was arrested for the offense the next day
The boy was taken to the central DO
station in, coll TosJ@
Harris, however, allowed Sametz the
freedom of the corridor, with the consent
OF the officers on duty, and in this move
gave the prisoner his chance to get away
His daring nature was evidenced by the
risk which he took in effecting his es-
cape. Late in the afternoon he took
stout stick, which he found In the cor
ridor. and, climbing up to the top of the
cage, undertook to pry open a window
The sash was fastened and a half an
hour of work was necessary before it
at last gay way. Using the stick for
lever and the edge Of the cell tier for a
fulcrum. he raised the window inch by
inch until it at last gave him room
enough to crawl through
Slipping down into the easement
Sametz crawled out on the ledge, taking
his cap and overcat with him Cautious
ly picking his way along the ledge he
came to the end and dropped down to
a fence and then to the ground. He was
seen in his attempt by woman who
lived near by, and she at once reported
to the police. Half dozen officers were
sitting inside the station chatting while
the escape was in progress, but by the
time they received word it was too late
to catch the prisoner. He made good his
chance to get out of the city and had not
been heard from definitely until the
Information of his arrest came yesterday
Sametz Is said by the police to be one
OF the shrewdest young criminals they
have had to deal with He was known
as the Messenger S...zak, and was In
re - iii of robbing houses by dressing
as a messenger boy and proving around
until he found an unguarded entrance.
He will be returned for trial on the
charge against him, and Is expected here
In custody Of an officer next "Wednesday