The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-04-10
FIGHT
FOR FREEDOM
Negro Murderer G Condemned
to Die on Friday Shot
Two Keepers Last
Night One Pos
sibly Fatally.
PRISON IN AN UpROAR
Desperate Man Keeps the Po-
lice at Bay till knocked
Insensible-His ooun-
sci to Argue His
Case to-day.
PRISON IN AN upROAR
Especial to erie Jersey city Ssxs'.1

PATERSON April 10. 1905Arthur
Laster, the negro murderer. VINO IS SEN
fenced to be hanged next Friday for tie
murder Of Max WoIlenberg. made dea-
perate attempt last night to escape from
jail. He shot two Of the death wateA
keepers, one perhaps fatally, il making
the attempt, and kept the jaif inmates
in a state of panic for three-quarters Of
an hour before being subdued.
James Sutton was one Of the night
death watch, who is probably fatally
wounded. Two bullets pierced his left
lung and the other entered the head oyer
the left eye. He was taken to St 5o
seph's Hospital, where, il was stated To-
day, there was only faint hope for bis
recovery. 4.
James Crooks, the other keepeR was
shot in the aeshy part Of the arm. while
attempting to rescue Sutton. The wonnd
is not sonsidered serious.
After wounding the keepers. Lasfsr
kept the jail officials aud police who
we're called at bay with two more shots
left in his revolver. In their efforts e
forces him 70 surrender the police fFsd
several shots at him, but their aim was
bad and the bullets went wide Of tReiE
mark.
A few days ago a death watch WIS
placed upon Laster as well as upon q
man named Miller, also under sentence
Of death. Crooks and Sutton had the
night watch. Sutton was assigned e
Miller and Crooks to Laster. The negro
seemed to take his fate philosophically
and chafted with the keepers at al times.
Sutton was talking to Miller. who was
making preparations 70 retire for the
night, and Crooks was at the cell door Of
Laster whe9 I.aster asked 70 be taken
down the corridor. Crooks unlocked The
cell door and starred down toward The
sinks. He had taken only a few steps
when he turned to see LasteE beating 8
Sutton.oyer the head with 4 cudgel aaasie
by wrapping the iron braces Of the bed
withsstrips torn from the bedelothes. Sat
ton tried to draw a revolver, but blow
across the wrist made him drop it. Tie
negro seized him. threw him into tue
cell he had Just left and then shot lin
with the revolver he had dropped.
Crooks was shot in the right arsa as
he came through the cell door ana shs
negro shot twice more before The TWO
keepers managed 10 set out of ths ssll
and through the corridor. One d ihs
shots struck Sutton over the Tgb I've
and two hit him N the breast.
The escaping keepers threw slle cor
rilor door 70 and locked it. The shots
and the calls for beIp had throws he
place into an uproar Reserve IS e.
men and keepers ran in, only ID he
ietied BY Laster. who had Two SLOTS
left in his revolver
Go gel Sheriff Bergen. IN talS fo
him. but not 10 my one else Won't
hurt him. yelled faster re dsliea
those outside the corridor to akaos. ana
suck his head from The cen aeoE 4
couple Of shots were taken ID him. hsi1
The bullets missed the man ana dat
tened against the masonry Of tie cell
Laster tossed the bullets baek ana
advised the men shooting to trx ag n.
Finally Policemen Perry ana lanes
Miller decided to make d rush f0r fhs
nlan. The corridor door was opened and
they made the DASH Laster fred anR
missed. Perry. who jumped upon hirn.
grappled with him and broug7lt down Is
revolver on the negros head. Miller
sailed h and between fEle pasr fIsey soon
had all the fight taken out ef lssn and
Knocked him insensible.
Isasters counsel. Ward & aIeGinuess.
can assign no reason except insanity far
lsasser's attempt III escape. They wehs
e plead for him to-day before The Court
pf Paraons al Trentnil.
I.aster went into Wol!enbere,s stars
on June 30 last and attempted Il, over;
awe tile proprietor al ( & l,ls;tyl a
HIM Wofleaberg Esisossz4f sIiS ;lS.si3x 81,
t!le sfsesf alssi 2ailel f0r fja police
K.ssssf} s;sak d. A tie breast s1ill 81 I'LL.
SEa2e EAEs.tsi 1liS .Fi1s jI5Sl 81 f..k<s SI,o4
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