The sun., 1900-10-22
INSANE CRIMINALS ESCAPE.
sERIOIS REVOLT ~ THE MATTEA-
WAN STATE HOSPITAL,
Each Keeper Attacked by Three Prisoners
and Oyerpowered-ThcIrk KEYS Were Taken
and Twenty Of the Prisoners Esca aped-AlI.
However, We're Recaptured Except seven.


and the big penal institution wls thrown into
II state Of chaos for several hours
In $500 the hospital was built to accommodate
600 criminals About year ago it reached
IT. limit. and since then the transfers have
been unusually heavy. especially from the
Elmirn Keiormatory The census Of tho
hospital Tonight showed 1852 patients
So crowded were wards that many of the
attendants were compelled 10 sleep
| outside the institution. Patient occupied their
cots. and even the Railways we're Choked with
cots to accommodate the increasing reputation
Six months ago DR. II r. Allison. the medical
superintendent reque-ted all wardens 20 cease
the tran-i ers ts there we're then over SIX hundred
patients at the hospital. St they came and
they had to be provided with quarters some-
whore. 10 relieve thi- unusual condition
state hospital waS ordered built and 1t Is now
under course Of construction az Dannemora
The patients were treated 20 wssl M Matteawan
that they feared being transferred TO the new
institution and their grumbling could be heard
at every hand during the past few months
II was this fear OF transfer and perhaps strIcter
discipline that prompted the outbreak to- night.
The leader Of the ln-urrection was Patrick
GeogheGun, wife murderer OF New York city.
During the ast few weeks every action Of this
criminal has been Closely watched and the hos
pitHl authorities became Cognizant OF tho move
rnent that was growing TO make break for
liberty. The Isolated ward, were full 80 Geo
ehegan could not be put under restraint en-
tirely Every time he was caught chatting
to convict hs was transferred Thus he
planted the seed OF discomfort that tonight
resulted In the escape OF seven desperate and
Insane criminals
Just after supper tonight the eighty pa
tient4 in the ward known as No. SOUTH be-
Caf inai tai ahnr
gave the four attendants in charge Of the ward
Messrs Doyle, Maher. Clark and Stack. un-
usual trouble Head Attendant Kelly made
ht' usual rounds at o2O O'Clock and he scented
trouble in the commotion He warned tho
attendants TO employ great care and
tod them he did not like the actions
of several Of the most desperate men in the
ward Kelly left the ward. locking the door be-
hind him. He had hardly reached the adj joining
ward when he heard soufTie. He rushed back to
the ward. and as he opened the door he was
pouncei upon by an angry mob. The eighty
men had risen and overpowere1 the four at
tendants. There was pitched battle. In which
the desperate Geogehegan issued orders as q
General would to his army.
The attendants at the asylum we're not al
owed to carry weapons or clubs, so their re-
sistance was only slight. Doyle was gagged
and dragged TO the bathroom OF the ward.
The keys were taken from his pocket and he
lay on the floor nsensible. His head was
cut The other attendants and Kelly we're
also overpo wered and badly beaten with chairs
and bowls. the latter being stolen from the
mess room In anticipation OF the fracas
The crazy mob rushed through the corridor,
he ded by GeoRhesan. TO the door which opened
into the large courtyard. He had akey 10 open
that door too and In a moment me fifty OF more
Wb M m 10 tIa dag olt In tha
dark yard.
In the meantime. a general alarm had been
sounded and many attendants rushed to the
scene. GeOghegan led the way 10 the i4-foot
fence at the north end Of the building and the
mob began to scale It, The force Of reserve
attendants succeeded In keeping many Of the
Older men from getting over the fence Many
we're dragged down in their efforts to climb.
one assisted the other a. much as possible TO
set away Over twenty convictS were dragged
from the fence and seven got over It before
be- ng caught and vanished In the thick woods.
The night was dark and IL could not be seen
in what direction the men went. Fifty atten-
dants were despatched In every direction to
head them on but they had not been apprehend-
ed up to midnight, Three Of the men reached
Dutchoss Junction, about four miles from the
hospital. aud there stole rowboat. goingSto
the west shore Of the Hudson, undoubtedly near
Cornwall.
This j. the largest escape from any institu-
tiuu IN tie State In many years On the night
of April 10. 1895, the Matteawan State Hospital
thrown in an uproar 10y the escape Of five
Curti, Perry 1e train robber. who
Ferrys Rsys we're GSyH' broyshp IN from the ens ous
side He went through the root and slid down
Gipe TO the ground Win him were 0'Don-
subsequently captured Perry being the last,
Tho descriptions OF the men who escaped arc
Peter Foster, colored. aged 2S. He stands
s feet inches aud weighs 1855 pounds.
lie was sentenced in New York o Oct I, 1893,
Rnformatory. he was received AZ the Mat
teawan Hospital on Aug Is, 1879. Foster has
a surly disposition and was always considered
James Clark, aged 20 He stands feet 8
,TS TsshS New % yS2S y2ESnd dn Clark vas Isos "o Inr
robbery In the third degree He was committed
70 Auburn Prison Tor Ave years and vas bIoYghs
Patrick deoe6esan. aged 80 stands fees
" SsW %" York SSf on sept t s FOR % NSS ses
the offence being his second Of grand larceny.
c e ws was S MeaWan w SHs n So
10 lsa5, and on Aug 80, 1897, ESCAPED with
Muriock, lie was cspturei in New York o9
dian ani in all the shows at the State hospital
nche. and weighs rs? pounds F3vnn was
committed from Westchester county on Sept.
L. 1875, for burglary in the third degree. Hs
was Transferred from the Elmira Refomatory.
where he was serving hvcyear sentence.
to Matteawan on March 5, 1900. He is hatter
by occupation and has blue eyes His home
Is in New York city.
I inches and weighs lla pounds. IIe sem
fenced on Nav 20 ls9a. for grand larceny in
New York ,ity for ten year, and COM
Il itted 10 the Elmira Reformatory. on June
ESQ. Mccarthy was transferred to Matteawan.
He has no ocCupation.
Patrick Murphy, aged "a He is an eleq-
trician by trade. Murphy weighs ia pounds
and stands Q feet and s inch. He WAS
known rs a court patient, that IS was so In
sane that he was never tried Murphy COM
mittsd murder In New York city and on May
/. 1890. was sent TO the Natteawan State
Hospital from the Torbs fle has blue eyes
and Is quite insane at times
William j. Johnson, aged 20, weighs IeaS
pounds and stands 9, feet 4 inch Sentenced
for FIVE ycarS. grand larceny, from Sooharis
county. Oct u Is0s. Tram erred to Matteawan
March 80, 1870. from Elmra. J. n most tTeacher~
ous man. He has brother who Is an Alderman
In Albany. Another brother Fred kapp,
fought Gus Ruhli1 not long ago and was knocked
ont in half a minute. johnson IL a wool has
nnisher by occupation and has been In crime
all his life.