Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-16
TWISTED IRON BARS
Three Alleged Burglars
Escape From Custody.
LEFT THE WORKHOUSE
AN EARLY MORNING EVENT
WHICH CAUSED A SENSATION.
A Saw Was Used, but Where It Was
Obtained is I'm
LEFT THE WORKHOUSE


escape from the workhouse of the three
men who were heavily armed when Detect
i've Lynch of Buffalo and Detective McNa-
NEE arrested them.
What is the use of the detectives arrest
ing these men if they are permitted to go
away in this manner" Maj. Sylvester ask
ed when he heard of their escape.
The men who escaped gave their names as
Frank Bennett, William Adams and Mi
chael Murphy, and the police alege that
they are professional burglars. They es-
capped about 3 o'clock this morning by saw
ing and twisting an iron bar and reaching
the street by using a scroll towel which
they tied to the iron grating. From the end
of the towel the men had to jump a dis
lance of perhaps ten or fifteen feet. No
farewell message was left by the men, who
were serving a six months sentence for
having concealed weapons. Had the police
not used every precautionary measure pos
sible to insure the safe keeping of the men
they would not pay so much attention to
their sudden departure. Knowing the char
acter of the men and thinking they would
possibly make an effort to escape the police
authorities requested Intendent Stout
enburgh to have a close watch kept over
them acquisitions were being prepared for
the men by the Buffalo, n. Y, authorities,
where they are wanted to answer a charge
of burglary, and Adams is wanted in Chica-
go for alleged assault and attempted rob-
berry of Mrs. Theresa Dugan Detective
Lynch returned home Saturday for the pur-
pose of getting a requiSition for the men,
and Capt Boardman assured him that ne
would find the men here upon his return. 1t
was expected that he would reach here last
night, but this morning he had not arrived.
Heavily Armed.
At the time the fugitives were arrested
the authorities knew nothing concerning
their identity. They were seen in the VI
cinity of Iowa Circle and their actions in
dictated to the two detectives that they
were there for no good purpose. After
shadowing them for more than an hour the
officers concluded they would arrest them
on suspicion. Each detective grabbed a
man and Detective McNamee, turning his
prisoner over to a citizen, grabbed the third
member of the trio, who proved to be
Adams. He was not armed when placed
under arrest. but the officer afterward
found his revolver where he had thrown it.
The prisoners had about s15 and few arti-
Giles of little value on them. AS soon
they reached headquarters they were pho
tographed and copies of their picture were
sent to the various cities for Identified ton.
1t took but a short time for the police to
learn from Chicago that the man who gave
his name as William Adams was known
there as George and Edward Lee. while
Michael Murphy was known as John Dan
authorities had no record concerning Ben
nett. Adams, they informed the local de-
tectiVes, Is wanted by them to answer for
the alleged attempt to rob Mrs. Dugan Of
money she had just drawn from bank.
IF you don't want him." wrote the Chi
cago authorities, hold him for US
1t dawned upon Detective Lynch that the
men might be wanted in his city for an
alleged burglary committed in that city.
Samples of shirts taken at the time the
burglary was committed in Buffalo were
sent here, and they proved to be of the
pattern Of the garments worn by Adams
and Murphy.
The prisoners were taken before Judge
Bundy and arraigned on charges Of con-
cealed weapons.
Sent Down for Six Months.
Each of the trio said guilty" In response
to the usual question, and Mr.. Pugh, assist
ant city solicitor, called Judge Bundys
attention to the case. He explained that
the prisoners were supposed to be burglars,
and as is the case with such people they
would probably commit murder rather than
be captured for a midnight visit to the
house of a victim. 1t was a case he sue-
gested, In which sentence of absolute i'm
prisonment should be imposed. The court
agreed with him and committed them tn
the workhouse for a period Of six months
Then 1t was that the police took a hand
In the matter and asked Mr.. Stoutenburgh
TO nave the men closely guarded.
They might as we'll be put In a naner
box, was Capt. Boardman's comment.
Mr.. Stoutenburgh promised to have the
men guarded, and said he would have them
when they were wanted. The detectives
were much interested in the prisoners
that they visited them in prison and also
reminded the officials that the trio would
not remain IN the building If they had the
silghtest chance to get away. After being
given baths and prison clothes the men
nan n ~
floor, from where escape would be much
easier than from the upper floor Their
treatment was the same as that Of other
with the exception that they were
not permitted to leave their cell at any
time. 1t was found by the prison physician
mat these important prisoners We're suffer-
ing from skin disease, and he directed
that none Of the other prisoners be allowed
to come in contact with them
They were thus quarantined." Mr. Stou-
tenburgh remarked to a Star reporter this
morning.
The Mystery Of the Saw.
1t was possible for other prisoners to
speak to them in passing their cells. and
there was nothing to prevent a saw being
passed to them. The other prisoners had
been warned to keep away from them how
ever, and If any of them conversed with the
strangers or assisted them in any wav II
was during the absence of the guard How
they managed to get the saw is not known
and 1t is possible that 1t was given to them
by somebody from the outside The fact
remains that they got a saw and cut the
bar. making an opening trif1e less than
eight inches wide. This opening was made
near the head Of the iron bed. and one of
the occupants of the cell might easily have
worked upon the bar without attracting at
tention They wore striped clothing when
they left the prison and carried their hats
with them 1t was about $50 o'clock when
the Waterman missed the men and the long
towel was found suspended from the cell
window. Breakfast is served the prisoners
shortly after o'clock, those who are to go
out TO work being served first. When their
breakfasts were taken to their cell It was
found that there were no men in the APART
ment. Then the police were appealed to.
The three fugitives had been gone nearly
four hours when the information was tele-
phoned to the several police stations, and
nobody had an idea in wnat direction thew
had gone. 1t is believed that they were as
sisted by men on the outside, who furnish
ed them change OF clothing, although thew
may depend upon another crime to obtain
new clothes. The time the men escaped is
fixed by one Of the prisoners who heard the
noise they made, but who did not inform
the guard that something out Of the ordi-
nary was taking place.
MI. Stoutenburgh's Statement.
In conversation with a Star reporter Mr..
stoutenburgh said he had done ali he could
o. I@A