Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-26

pals used to point with pride to the fact
that ne wore bigger hat than any states
man in America-eight and quarter
While much of Leary's life had been
spent in deeds of violence, he had shown on
occasions such splendid bravery, and even
heroism, as almost atoned for his crimes.
There are few soldiers who would not be
proud of LearyS record on The battlefield.
He was among the first to respond to his
country's call in our own civil war, being
volunteer in the LIST Kentucky Regiment
under Col. Guthrie and he was good sol
der from the time of his enlistment up
to the moment of his honorable discharge.
The ablest lawyers were now secured in
his defense, and by every possible method
of legal obstruction they kept alive a con-
troversy in the New York courts until the
early days of May, 1879 Meanwhile Leary
reposed in Ludlow street jail, where he en-
joyed all the privileges ever accorded to
prisoners. In return he paid the warden
the substantial sum of $50 week; and it
was evident that, whether he had or had
not been concerned in the Northampton rob-
berry. he had in some way obtained album
dant money. He visited constantly by
his wife.
On the afternoon of May Z Mrs. Leary
called at about O'Clock with Butch Me-
Carthy, and the three Were alone in Learys
room until nearly o'clock. After that
Leary strolled around the prison Enclosure,
and at a quarter past ten Keeper Wendell,
who had charge of the first tier, in which
Leary's room was located saw him going
upstairs from the second to the third tier
Although in this Leary was going directly
away from his own room there was nothing
to excite surprise, for Leary had been
customed to use the bath room on the third
tier quarter of an hour later Wendell
started on his rounds, according to the
prison rule, to see that each one of the men
.,,aIx, 1rnl cd fnt.f Iz
night When he came to Learys room he
was a little surprised to find him still abb
sent, but supposed he would be there short
ly But after waiting few minutes and
finding Leary still absent the keeper be-
came alarmed and began a search. He first
went to the bath room, and, not finding
Leary there, searched in other places, high
and low Then he returned to the bath
room and there made a discovery which
filed him with CONSERVATION. He saw in
the brick wall, what at first had escaped
his attention, gaping hole, large enough
to allow the passage OF mans body inc
hole opened into a tunnel tia. seemed to
lead downward. The alarm was at once
given, and it soon appeared that the keep
ers fears were only too well founded.
Red Leary had escaped.
1t was found that the tunnel from the
bath room led into room on the NTH
floor of q tenement house at 10 Ludlow
street. adjoining the jail. The wall of the
house added to the wall OF the jail made 4
H
solid masonry which had been cut through.
In the three rooms that had been rented
in the house by Learys friends were
found abundant evidences of the work.
Leary, after his escape. fed to Europe,
but was afterward arrested in Brooklyn by
Robert Pinkerton and three of his men,
who sheld him up in a sleigh at the cor
ner of 21th street and 4th avenue. Brook
lyn: and before Leary could make use of
a large revolver which he had on his per-
son. the horse was grabbed by the head
and pulled to standstill and Leary was
dragged out of the sleigh and handcufed.
He was taken Immediately to Northampton
and put in jail there.
Some time previous to this the Plnkertons
had located Conroy, who had also es-
capped from Ludlow street Jail, in Phila-
delphia; and Immediately on the arrest
of Leary, Robert Pinkerton sent one OF
his detectives from New York to Phila-
delphia who was fortunate enough to ar
rest Conroy at one of his resorts on the
same night, and he was also delivered in
jail in Northampton.
Some months. previous to this the Pin
kertons had also arrested Thomas Doty,
another member of the band and lodged
him In the Northampton jail.
In the meantime, Scott and Dunlap. now
in state prison, had made confession as
against Leary, the holder Of the securities:
and when Leary was brought TO Northamp-
ton they wrote him o letter, notifying him |
that unless the securities were handed |
over to their proper owners. they would