Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-07
FIFTEEN YEARS FOR BUCKLEY
Penitentiary Sentence Promptly Imposed on
One Of Two 0aptives,
HE AND BERRY CAUGHT At LOUISVILLE
ut was whisky Done It," Pleads
Buckley to- Judge sutton In
Excavation of His
Crime.

James ]. Buckley and John Berry, two
of the four prisoners who escaped from
the county Jail Thursday night. were ar
rested at Louisville Monday and after they
had made two desperate attempts to escape
from jail they were brought to Omaha In
shackles by Deputy Sheriff Haze and
Jailer Stryker. Buckley, who had been
convicted of holding up an Albright saloon,
was hustled over to Judge Sutton's court
room as soon as they arrived and SEN
fenced to fifteen years in the penitentiary
after making long plea for clemency.
The fact the men were finally delivered
over to the Omaha officers may be at
tributed to good luck or poor judgment on
the part of the prisoners. They were first
arrested at Louisville Monday morning for
being drunk. but after being held until
early afternoon were released. They were
rearrestcd after Marshal Johnson had dis
covered they had tried to break out of the
jail and it was after their second arrest
the Louisville official began to think he
had captured big game.
At l o'clock Tuesday morning Berry
made an attempt to escape and was
stopped only by the bullets from the gun
of an assistant in the Jail He requested
Marshal johnson to let him go to a closet
and the marshal let him out Of the cell.
Berry watched his chance and dealt the
marshal blow the side OF the jaw
that felIed him to the floor The marshal
drew his gun, but it caught in his pocket
and threw the cylinder of the frame out.
young man he had assisting him in the
Jail came to his rescue and fired three
shots after Berry who was making run
for liberty. one OF the shots went within
fru Of ayl he.
rendered.
Omaha Officers Get word.
The Omaha authorities were notified OF
the arrest about midnight Monday night
and from the description it was decided the
men were Buckley and Berry and the two
men from here were sent to Louisville on a
freight train.
The men were first arrested by Marshal
Johnson. They were in a saloon and had
been drinking heavily. He locked them up,
but let them go about o'clock After
they had gone he found they had almost
succeeded in prying loose the iron frame OF
the Jail window The two men took train
for Plattsmouth but al the train passed
the gravel pit near town they changed their
minds and jumped off. They went back 70
the saloon they were arrested in in the
morning and Johnson nabbed them again
They were kept all night and then turned
over to the sherif's assistants and brought
back to Omaha on Burlington train
reaching Omaha about 1890.
Reporters were not allowed to talk tc
them, but they made a short statement tc
Captain Haze on the way back to the city
They said after the escape they went tc
Shelly. where they bought some liquor
They then went to South Omaha, bought
some more liquor, and spent the night
there. At this point in their statements
| they stopped talking. 1t was rumored thoy
had given a tip as to the whereabouts OF
| O Brien, the only one of the quartet now a
| liberty, but this was denied by CAPITA IL
Haze At the Jail Berry was given his blu,
suit again and Buckley was held In tn,
office until Judge Sutton was ready for him
Buckley Denies Guilt. 60.
Attorney Cooper appeared before Judg,
| Sutton for Buckley and made a motion TO
"a new trial, which was promptly overruleC
by Judge Sutton. When the Judge asked
! Buckley If he had anything to say VIII,
| sentence should not be pronounced upoI
him, the prisoner stood up in front of tn,
judges bench and made a long plea HI
denied having anything to do with tn,
holdup and said the story of Healey. tn
victim, was a pack of lies" While h
was talking he shifted about uneasily
standing first on one foot and then on an
other, keeping his head down nearly al
the time.
1T was whisky that done it, Judge" h
said at the close of his plea II can't keeI
from drinking and when 1 drink l can
tell what / am doing"
Mr.. Cooper told the court Buckley be
longed to a good family in the east AM
had a mother and sister living who wer
highly respectable people. AS Buckley
5S years old he urged leniency.
Il have made a careful inquiry as I
your past life, said Judge Sutton i'm an
nouncing the sentence, land | have bee
informed that you are one OF the mos
dangerous criminals ever tried In this state
! may have been misinformed, but l hay
been told you have been confined in mum
Der OF penitentiaries in different states an
that you hold life of very little value.
everyone were like you this country woul
be bowling wilderness of crime"
No Help from Outside.
Judge Sutton asked Buckley about I'll
Jail delivery and the latter denied the