The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-10
MURDERER SHOOTS KEEPERS.
HE rs TO BE HANGED IN PATER-
son NEXT FRIDAY.
Makes a Desperate Fight With an Iron Bar
Exposes His Head and Tells Keepers
to shoOt-They shoot and He Picks
Up the Bullets and Passes Them Back.

Exposes His Head and Tells Keepers
to shoOt-They shoot and He Picks
tip the Bullets and Passes Them Back
PATERSON, N. j., April e.-Arthur Laster
the young mulatto murderer, who IS sem
fenced to be hanged next Friday for the
killing Of Max Wollenberg, Main street
merchant, shot two death watch keepers
in an effort TO escape tonight and before
being subdued kept the jail in state Of
panic for three-quarters Of en- hour.
James Sutton, one OF the keepers, was
shot over the left eye and twice In the
breast. Ho was removed to st. Joseph's
Hospital, where il was given out late to-
night that the wounds wero not dangerous.
James Crooks, the other keeper, was
shot in he'heshy part Of the arm. Laster
was finally overpowered by Reserve Officers
William Parry and James Miller, but not
until he and they had exchanged several
shots. The attempt to escape took place
shortly after O'Clock, about one hour
after the night death watch had taken
their places. The two keepers are in
charge Of Laster and Mill er, the latter also
a murderer who Is TO be hanged next
on Friday.
Keeper Sutton was reading a paper and
talking through the bars TO Miller. who was
making preparations 10 60 to bed, Laster
asked Keeper Crooks 10 take him to the
closet, and he accordingly unlocked the
young mulatto's cell door and turned 10
lead the way unsuspectingly, as Laster up
TO this time had proved a model prisoner
and acted as though he we're submitting
to the inevitable.
Crooks had not gone five feet before he
heard Sutton yell. He turned and raw
Laster striking his fellow keeper over the
head with a bar wrapped in a cloth, SUIT
ton was dazed but managed to rise and
draw his revolver. Baster seized him
about tho waist, forced him into his cell
and struck him over the arm, knocking the
revolver from his hand.
The negro grabbed him and shot him
over the right eve and then shot Keeper
Crooks in the right arm as he came through
the cell door, disabling his pistol arm.
Sutton was shot twice in the breast be-
fore he and Crooks managed TO get away
from the negro.
By this time the Jail was in an uproar,
Sheriff Bergen, who lives In the Jail, was
not at home and the police reserves were
sent for. When the reserves arrived Laster
was loose in his cell with that and the part
Of the corridor previously occupied by
the death watch at his command.
The reserves went 10 the end Of the locked
corridor and tried TO conoiliate the muir
derer. To all overtures 10 surrender he
said:
Let Sheriff Bergen come. won't touch
him. III be kind to him. But the first
policeman TO come through that door I'll
shoot him like dog q
Then he began to taunt Officer Perry
and his fellow olficers They had about
twenty feet TO 60 before they reached
the murderer's cell and he still had two
shots in the revolver. He stuck his head
through his cell door twice and shouted
Take a shot" The police plugged twice.
Picking up the bullets that hattened against
the wall he threw them along the corridor
aud said derisively: There they are; |
don't want them
Perry at last made a dash Laster shot,
but missed, and Perry graPpled with him
He pounded the negro upon the head with
his revolver and with the aid Of Officers
Miller and OBrien soon had him beaten
into subsection. He was found to be badly
battered up and Ia now under the doctors
care, but will survive for the hanging
Friday.
Upon investigation Of Lasters cell after
ward it was found that the bar which he
used on Keeper Sutton had been made
from three iron braces that had been re-
moved from his cot. Wrapped with part
Of the bed clothing the braces made pow
erful weapon.
LAster's counsel, Ward a McGinness,
could assign no reason except insanity for
Laster's attempt at escape. They we're 10
plead for him tomorrow before the Court
Of Pardons at Trenton.
Laster went into Wolenberg's store on
June 80 last and attempted to overawe the
proprietor by pointing a pistol at him,
Wollenberg followed the negro 10 the street
and called for the police. Laster shot
him in the breast, and in the chase through
the principal streets that followed shot an
iceman in the jaw. He was captured at
a farmers house In Preakness where he
had asked for job. His friends in New
ark gave him financial assistance at his
81,