The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-31
FROM
JAIL; CHASED
BY WARDEN
Caught in Saloon, Incen-
diary Makes Break, but
Bullet Hats Him.

Nicholas o'Connell, who spent sew
eral terms in the county Jail during the
past two years, and who was awaiting
trial on a charge of arson, tired of
the surroundings of the institution, on
Monday afternoon made good his es-
ape from the Jail yard, where he was
at work with other TRUSTEES" He was
missed at $3.50, the hour for the f"trus-
ties to leave the yard to eat, and
Warden Charles A. Steadman. who
first missed O'Connell. sent Keepers
Coyne n sutcliffe out on a hunt for
him.
They visited that section in the vi
cinity of the Market street depot known
as "Murderers' Row" and the bend"
but were unable to find any trace of
the fugitive. When they returned to
the Jail at Z o'clock the warden, who
knew O'Connell for the past four years,
set out after him with Keeper Robert
S. Ward, and one of the first places
they visited was Patrick J. Cummings
saloon at 131 West street, where IT was
known O'Connell visited off n on
when not in jail.
When the officials marched into the
place they found O'Connell seated at a
ldDlc Will u SCilOO1lCI u bCCh 10
front of him and apparently under the
influence of liquor. AS the warden n
his subordinate did not have handouts
with them, the warden grabbed II fu-
gitive by the arm, and when he did SO
O'Connell remarked, You needn't grab
me, warden; I'll go along"
The trio left the place and boarded
the first Kinney street trolley which
sac. -..- .,1-A - wade 10 QaI1nnnf
avenue, where they alighted to transfer
on a Clifton venue trolley, which
would take them to New street, where
the Jail is located. When they got off
the warden was the first, O'Connell
next, with Mr.. Ward in the rear.
With the twinkling of IN eye the
prisoner again darted for liberty, fol-
lowed by his erstwhile captors. O'Con-
nell darted around the front Of a troll
ley which was in motion, followed by
Ward, while the warden rushed around
the rear to head him off. O'Connell,
although about so years old, displayed
plenty of activity and soon had n ham
dicap of about fifty feet on the jail
officials. Ward drew a revolver and
first shouted that he would shoot but
the fugitive took no stock in 1t, and
NfdIu pOilCd Nv 1Ii56CA phAtOA O
the revolver skyward.
O'Connell halted at sound of the
shot and was in the act of removing
his coat In search of a bullet wound
when Steadman and Ward bounced on
him. He pretended that he was shot,
but both knew hat such was not the
case.
"What the HI did you want to shoot
me for?" be asked. BY this time a crowd
had gathered, but at the same time n
trolley bound in the direction OF the jail
came along and the three boarded 1t and
0'Connell did not get another chance to
break away
Sheriff Sommer on hearing of the af-
fair. conducted a personal Investigation
and was satisfied with the explanation
given by Warden SteadmaD.
When seen today Mr.. Steadman was
frank and admitted that he made O'Connell
n trusty. II have known O'Connell for
about -four years, and since, l became
warden I had him here hve times. and l
trusted him. said he. He came here on
June 4 last to await a trial for arson,
and on Monday I thought 1t time for me
To allow him to get a breath of fresh
air. and | allowed him to work about the
yard. He came in with the others at noon
for dinner, but when he failed to appear
Mt $50 on Investigating we found that ne
had P1eaDeu. lie SeCuItu IL siOlN oNiNA
used In the boiler-room, which, by the
way. is not screened as 1t should be, and
he put it against the wall and dropped
outside and dashed for liberty. | knew
his weakness for drink and from his vis-
TORS and conversation they had I thought
l would be able to find him.
The warden said he would prefer a
charge of breaking Jail against OConnell.
The police and others are inclined to be-
lieve that O'Connell is somewhat deranged.
His last arrest was caused when he was
detected by the police at the -Four Cor
ners setting fire to a cigar store on the
southwest corner of Market and Broad
streets. A short time before that he was
seen emerging from a cellar of a dwelling
in Montgomery street where a blaze was
discovered n few minutes later. At that
time he was also arrested ms two children
pointed him out to Chief Kiersted and the
police. On another occasion OConnell de-
stroyed the foundation OF several houses
which were being constructed in Clinton
place with a orowbar, claiming that the
work was non-union.
OConnell claims that he returned to the
jail Monday after making his escape, but
this the jail officials deny.
II rang the bell at the gate twice. said
O'Connell, but you wouldn't let me in
When he was landed back in the Jail the
warden placed him in solitary confinement.
The record book shows that O'Connell
was admitted to the jail May 81. 1906. for
thirty days on a charge Of malicious mis-
chief, this being the destruction of the
brick walls. On December q the same
year he was committed for five days on q
charge of being drunk and disorderly. On
March 8 last he had a similar sentence for
the same ~offense, and the following month,
April q, the time Of his episode in Mont
gomery street, he served thirty days. With
Il -r-nlr offnr h. MA r~4ooaal H. 80.
back again.