New-York tribune., 1901-02-03
BOYS BREAK JAIL.
POLICE THINK JIMMY WAS HIDDEN IN
PIE PASSED TO PRISONERS
FROM OUTSIDE.

Charles Gurke and Edward Stanley, two boy
prisoners. escaped from the Yonkers jail yes
terday morning, and up to a late hour last night
had not been captured. although the police or
this city and all surrounding points are en-
deavoring to find them. The boys forced their
escape with the dexterity and daring OF old
criminals, and got away without exciting sus-
piciOn Policeman Jere Lyons. while patrolling
along Woodwurth-ave. was attracted by the iron
bars that guard one Of the windows in the
Juvenile prison. These had been moved from
their bearings. Upon reaching the police sta
tion he addressed Sergeant Wilcox, who was on
duty. saying. Sergeant, the bars have been
broken in one of the Juvenile prison windows"
Investigation led to the discovery of the es-
cape, and word was sent out to all the police
men on post alarms being also sent to New
York. Mount Vernon and Tarrytown. No trace
of the fugitves could be found.
The boys were arrested on Thursday on suspi-
cion of having robbed ten prepaid gas meters in
the Lake flats. in Riverdale-ave. They admitted
to Judge Kellogg in court Friday that they
had committed the thefts. and acknowledged
that they had been sent to the West Chester
Protectory on several occasions. Judge Desgrey
committed them to the House of Refuge on
Randalrs Island. The Juvenile prison in which
they placed is situated off the platoon room
on the ground floor. II is reached by few steps
and faces Wells-ave. The prison consists of two
rooms running parallel The boys were placed
in the southerly room, which is directly below
the court clerks Office. There two small
windows in the room, about 10 by "a inches In
size These overlook the entrance to the court
room on the Woodworth-ave side, which is
about twenty feet below. That the boys were
aided by a confederate in their escape seems
beyond doubt An examination OF the window
from which they escaped showed that Il blunt
instrument, in the nature OF a jimmy was used
No implement of that character was found on
the boys when they were arrested on Friday
afternoon large number OF the young pris-
oners' friends were seen in the vicinity Of the
Jail, and a citizen discovered pie being passed
up to Stanley and Gurke. 1t is believed by the
police that the implement which the youngsters
used TO effect their escape was hidden in the
pie.
The three iron bars run perpend!cuarly, and
are held in position by heavy cTOssbars OF iron
each side of the window with long spikes. ON the
outside Of the crossbars was a heavy wooden
coping. and outside of the coping was a thick
wire screen. The bars coping and screen were
all forced out. leaving an opening of about
foot square between the outer edge OF the
window sill and the displaced barriers The
boys probably slipped out feet first and then
dropped TO the flag sidewalk. a distance OF over
twenty feet II was impossible for them 10
look before they dropped. There We're no evil
dences 70 show that they were injured by the
fall. The finding OF the two blankets whlch
made up their bed clothing is taken proof
by the police that the boys did not attempt 70
improvise n rope by which to let themselves
down. John Carey, the dOorman who was on
duty, declares that he visited the boys at 0:-u
O'Clock yesterday morning, and that Gurke was
chair Fifty minutes later they escaped. The
police learned last night that the boys had
boarded a Mount Vernon car. and had trans
ferred at Central-aye Tor this city.