New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-25
ESCAPES FROM T0lIBS.
ROPE THROWN PRISONER.
Scales Tzcenty-Foot U7aH and Rides
41cay 7cith 4cc0m plicc8.

BY climbing up rope which had been thrown
to him from the outside of the 20-foot wall sur
rounding the Tombs prison. Frank Snyder.
tusty,' escaped at dusk last night and, upon
reaching the street. ran 10 an awaiting express
wagon. where he was covered with blankets and
then driven away.
Snyder selected the time for getting away
when the score of keepers were changing their
posts, and from appearances the plans were
made days ago. This is the first escape from
the new prison, which has been occupied for five
years.
Snyder, who is twenty-five years old and who
lived at No 621 East 10th street, was ar
raiened in the Yorkve court on July before
Magistrate Walsh and sentenced to the work.
house for three months for breaking up the
furniture in the rooms of Mary Smith, at No
800 Avenue c. He was n truck driver. and at
his arraignment in court many friends appeared
in his behalf
While in the prison previous 10 being sent to
the island. Warden Flynn requested that Snyder
be allowed to remain in the prison and act as a
''trusty." This was granted and Snyder was put
night work. which required him 10 make
himself useful to the keepers.
one Of his Jobs TO fill an ice cooler near
the warden's office. This done usually about
o'clock. Last night, however, Snyder did not
start TO do this until a few minutes before I.
He always took the cooler into the yard, at the
Franklin street side.
Nicholas Jones. night warden, was in charge
and at o'clock the keepers changed from the
day 10 the night shift. This happened while Sny-
der was in the yard. few minutes after Gle
change had taken place Jones noticed that Shy-
der had not returned from the ward he sent
keeper there and the "trusty" could not be
found Then the alarm given and all keep
ers started out to look for the fugitive
In the mean time Snyder had gone into the
yard and from under the Bridge of Sighs two
men threw long rope which was attached 10
the railing on the franklin street side over the
wall of tho prison. Snyder climbed up the rope,
and upon reaching the top of the wall climbed
down Here the two men met him. ana Wlthout
n moments hesitation they made dash toward
= covered express wagon at the corner OF Laiay-
cite and Franklin street. Near the corner they
nassed Tony Galazo ten years old. The boy
I,-os about 10 cry out when Snyder grabbed nm
and said
Don't sntch on us
Then he darted toward the express "aEoi
~. t,,, etood on the corner watching him Joe
Nelson and Tom Beckley. two boxers anu
Thomas Martin. Of No 401 Pearl street also a s'Y
the escape The men leaped INTO .Iie ~ -
wagon and snyder was covered with oIahAe.s
7,te, Tho drivers whipped up the horses ana the
r.ogoD disappeared down Lafayette street
-be keepers found tho rope attached 70 the
raring warden Jones sent the keepers tilr"uSt n I,
the prison and found that ''e Fe''''''''7
prlsonors we're in their cells
y.ror.irp the escape a crowd gathered aoou'
.ba v,ous and many wild rurnors we're clrcuia'el.
/ ora ~ them was that Harry Thaw hao eo'
/ a,,,av by, the aid OF automobile
The Police Department was Informed OF the m
4 sscane and a general alarm was sent OUT tor Ihe
r,,,s,,v man commissioner Coggey or 'he De
rart,nent of Corrections said that he would ne
gin an investigation at once
The escape of Snyder from the Iomhs mas no
raraIIeI IN the prison annals Of New YORK out
:, racaIIs the escape of William j. Sharkey'
murderer from the old Tombs in 1915. ohlF tie
woman who was alleged TO have aided III ms
escape knew where Sharkey went when on tha'
dov nearly thirty-fve years ago. he left the
prison disguised in clothing she brought 1or MIN
/ Tho crime for which Sharkey was sentenced
N ne hanged was committed on September IL
1879 in a saloon at No. 2SS Hudson street lie
u,as a prisoner in the Tombs at the same time
tba+ .Iohn ScanneI who later became FIRE COM
missioner was a prisoner charged Wnth the
murder OF Thomas Donohue.
Sharkev was visited on November p, 1873, hy
. Maggie Jourdan and another woman soon
afterward the supposedly Maggie Jourdan was
seen leaving the Tombs, but In reality II was
Sharlev He made his escape in broad day
light and that was the last heard Of him until
Maggie Jourdan was brought back 70 TINS CITY
I Fron1 Cuba after she had been brutalIy as
/ sa,,lted bv the man she said 10 have given
| bis freedom Maggie Jourdan Is now the Whe
/ of Augustus Pitou the playwright.