Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-07-18
Escaped Prisoner Force Captured
and Returned to Emporium Jail
Yesterday Morning.

Last Saturday afternoon, about four
o'clock, Alva Force, better known as
''Jack the Ripper" hailing from Lock
Haven, who was committed to jail for
robbing the depot at Driftwood, man
aged to crawl through the small open
ing in the jail door and made his es-
cape. Sheriff Swope telegraphed all
over the country, giving description
Of the prisoner, and on Tuesday re-
ceived a telegram from the chief of
police at Philadelphia informing him
that Force was there, locked up, await
ing his pleasure. Deputy Sheriff Hemp
hill left on Buffalo Flyer Tuesday
noon and returned to Emporium on
Flyer, Wednesday morning with
the culprit. This was wonderfully
quick time, although Harry is known
for his quick work when he gets after
his man.
The following account of the capture
we copy from Tuesdays Philadelphia
| North America:
A detected young man sat in his sell
i'll the police station at Tenth and
Thompson streets last night, looking
at the picture of a pretty girl, the only
thing which might give him comfort
in his cheerless position. He has been
prosecuted by jealous rivals, he says,
because this girl favored him. He was
sent to jail, but escaped; came to
Philadelphia, incautiously celebrated
| his return to freedom, was pursued
through the streets and captured by
the police; then, just as he was about
! to be released was recognized Us the
Jail breaker and locked up. No wond-
er he was detected.
This youth of many adventures is
Albert Force, of Lock Haven, Pa. He
is 10 years old. Edna Lamb, the pretty
girl, is IS; but the story of the Lock
Haven idyl may follow the story ofthe
unhappy finale in Philadelphia
CROWD CRIES "sToP THIEF"
Young Mr.. Force came into public
notice yesterday afternoon near
Twelfth street and Girard avenue,
when he fled up the avenue halfa
block in front OF a crowd. Cries of
"stop thiefW were raised, altogethed
without. reason, however, and Police
man Anderson joined the chase and
captured the fugitive. Leading the
| pursuers was William Armstrong, of
1915 Rush street. Anderson took his
! prisoner by the arm and ordered Arm
strong to follow them to the police
station.
Armstrong told his story with some
difficulty. He had met the prisoner in
a saloon, he said, and had Joined him
in several drinks. Then they passed
to other resorts, where the stranger
| continued to buy refreshments liber-
ally. In communicative moment he
showed Armstrong, that person said,
a scar which he declared was made by
a detectives bullet.
Altogether Armstrong was so inter-
ested in his new acquaintance that he
refused to consent to part from him.
The stranger insisted, even to the
point of running. Whereupon Arm
strong gave chase, and the arrest re-
suited.
| RECOGNIZES \ JAIL BREAKER.
As both men were under the infu-
ence of liquor Sergeant Schaeffer had a
hard time in getting the story accu-
rately. And when he did he did not
know what to do. Armstrong could
not make definite charge, and the
prisoner, who said his name was
Earnest Ryan, asked pointedly why he
was being datained. Schaeffer was
just about to release him, when he
recalled that young man named
Force, whose description seemed to fit
Ryan, had escaped from Jail in Empo-
rum, Pa. So he ordered the men put
in separate cells. and then questioned
the suspect, who soon admitted that
he was the fugitive.
81 left jail in Emporium last Satur-
day." he said, ''and will not go back
alive. | was bad boy in Lock Haven,
but | never did the things they said /
did.
''Some men there were jealous of me
because Edna Lamb was in love with
me They tried to get her to shake
me, but she wouldn't do it. Here is
her picture. She is great girl.
WHY RYAN LEFT TOWN.
'T got into trouble when sold
bicycle for man for $50 and then got
drunk and lost the money. He was
going to have me arrested, and left
town. While was away the freight
station was broken into and robbed
and was arrested. But had nothing
to do with it, was sent to the jail at
Emporium"
"Why did you break Jail you We're
innocent 2" was asked.
81 didn't break jail" said Force.
''The cell was fixed so [ could get
| hn o,,t