The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-06
Didn't Recognize SChasffsT, a
Fugitive From Sing Sing.
SEVEN MONTHS IN NEW YORK.
Even When Rsansstsd The SIeuths Failed
10 Identify Him RecagaIl.d When Hs
Was Sent 10 Prison on a Nav Charge

Sing Sing, Aug 6-"Talk about the New
York police the finest in the world-nlt."
said Otto Schseffer. 1.-The Mouse, yes
terday in Sing Sing. whence he had es-
capped last January.
Sentenced under another name last
Tuesday, By Judge Newburger 10 two
years and three months. nobody recog-
nized him till he was inside Sing Sing
again.
From the time OF my escape l was In
New York City nearly every day" said
schseffer. / met the police day after day.
Even when they arrested me IL didn't
dawn on them that there was reward
on my head"
At the time Schaeffer broke Jail re-
ward was offered by Warden Johnson for
his arrest. Photographs of Schaeffer
were sent broadcast. His picture was
posted in every police station-hous and
the slouths at Police Headquarters were
all told to be on the lookout for Schaef-
fer
1T will be two weeks tomorrow" said
Schaeffer, since | was arrested by a po-
lieeman from the Eldridge street station.
| had been working In the o. X. Bakery,
at Monrone and Jackson streets. was ac-
cused OF having stolen something. or
course / am innocent. The policeman
took me TO the Eldridge street station.
THE first man l saw was the sergeant
behind the desk. He had me once before.
The next morning / was taken 10 Police
Headquarters, where / had once spent six
days. and stood up i'm the back room.
Capt. Titus called upon every detective TO
have a look at me. They did.
II. n l. n
not changed In years. remember Hayes,
Peterson. Clarke. Mcmahon. Price. Train
er and whatever their names may be.
1 grinned at them while they looked me
over
We don't know him. they told Capt.
Titus. Then they took me back to the
station house and then 10 court. ! saw
three policemen there whom knew.
They paid no attention me. Then /
was sent 10 the Tombs l recognized
some OF the keepers. Policemen were
coming and going, but not one recog-
nized me.
Late Tuesday / was arraigned before
Judge Newberger. There was Clerk Cow
ing. i knew him but he did not know me.
Then there was Assistant District At
torney O'Connor. He had me once before
lie did not recognize me either. / want
ed 20 plead 10 petit larceny but Mr.
- CVAhei AbAh Att Jhhe' NVNiNH
stand for Il. He said I was pleading like
a Baxter street barker. Then came the
Judge whom / recognized al once.
&" Have you ever been arrested before?'
asked the Judge
Never IN all my life.' I replied
Judge ] said 4 never saw the inside of
prison before
The Judge believed me and let me off
easy. Then they handcuffed me and
brought me here.
II had scarcely got into the clerks Of
five when Principal Keeper Connaughton
stepped up and said to me
Hello, Schaeffer! So that is the way
YOU come back
"Connaughton was the first man TO rec
ognizc me. But az for the New York po-
lice. they are a great lot.
About three weeks ago one Saturday
night. | was seated on the stoop al the
northeast corner OF the Bowery and
Broome street continued Scheffer
Twenty or thirty Central Office detec-
tives and precinct men passed
"A pal OF mine came along and said
'You'l be arrested IL you don't get away
II bet him $40 I could stay there all
night without being pincbed. At I'm the
morning my pal got tired waiting aud
paid the $40. Ever so many Central Of
flee men passed while was { the corner.
and ! made no effort 10 hide or disguise
myself"