New-York tribune., 1908-04-09
GET ESCAPED CONVICT
POLICE CORNER LASALA.
Back to Sing Sing after Desperate
Chase-HO1C He Got Ont.


Joseph Lasala. who escaped from Sing Sing
prison Monday and was reported 10 have
strolled through the corridors Of Police Head
quarters in Manhattan to show his disregard OF
the police on Tuesday, was captured in the rear
yard of No 142 Milford street. Brooklyn yester-
day. Lasala, despite his boast that he would
never be taken alive. caught by Mounted
Patrolmen Walter Howey and Clement Nc
Laughlin. of the Liberty avenue station, after
he had Ieaped fourteen fences and used trolley
car in an effort TO escape.
The policemen were the rear platform of a
Liberty avenue car, returning from an inspection
at Prospect Park When the car reached Berrt-
man street a stranger sprang aboard and told
the policemen that the escaped convict was
standing on the corner. AS the officers left the
car LasaIa jumped on to the front platform, and
the car went ahead at full speed. Mclaughlin
and Howey, hampered by their leather leggings,
spurs and heavy uniforms, were being outdis-
tanced. when a passenger pulled the bellrope.
LasaIa first ordered the motorman 10 put on full
speed. and when he refused jumped from the
platform and started across lots and rear yards,
with Howey close at his heels.
Both policemen fred shots over the fleeing
mans head in an effort to stop him. While
Howey was hurdling fences Mclaughlin ran
through Milford street 10 Glenmore avenue to
head Lasala off, but his presence was unneces-
sary. for fence eighteen feet high effectively
ssoptsss7 the ex-conviot and Howey held him at
bay with his drawn revolver.
He was taken TO the Liberty avenue station
and later to Police Headquarters in Brooklyn,
where a letter addressed 10 a woman in Chicago,
who is supposed to be Lasala's wife. was found
in his pockets According TO the letter, he was
going TO Chicago in a few days. He Is said to
ba av-ayy rev Th q u being
chased
IasaIa was sentenced to an indetermtnate SEN
tence of not less than eleven years and four
months nor more than fourteen years and eight
months by Justice Bowling in this city last De
cember for highway robbery.
LasaIa's capture is understood 70 have been
due to the efforts Of stool" TO whom De-
tective vachris. chief OF the Italian detective
squad in Brooklyn, gave a picture and a de-
scription Of the convict. Yesterday afternoon
the stool saw man whom he thought was
Lasala enter a saloon at Liberty and Belmont
avenues. He let the police know, and when the
suspected person was finally captured it was
found that the STOOLS" guess had been right.
When LasaIa was searched the only weapon
found on him was crudely formed bit Of brass
which he carried in a leather sheath. At Po-
lice Headquarters he first permitted
hearty supper.
It'll probably be long time before get
another meal like that he said. MANY fell
low at Sing Sing would be glad to give $50
for it"
He explained to the detectives how he escaped
his tale being in brief follows:
It was one of a squad of prisoners who were
taken to supper at 20 Sunday afternoon
past the blacksmiths shop. managed to slip
out Of the line as We reached the door and into
foE= fzLr In
the shop found coat and vest owned by In
structor Butler put them on also found a
couple of planks. which I put out the window
near the wall. I slid down on them. and then
placed them against the wall and scaled II with
their aid
when I at last reached the top Of the wall
discovered that was only about seven feet from
guardhouse I lay fat on MY face several
minutes Then. seeing that the guard was not
looking in my direction, I dropped down outside
a distance Of about twenty feet. and landed in
heap of sand.
Z hurried 10 the river where I found a boat
tied I cut the rope with piece of brass which
I had sharpened as a knife and got in. For
time drifted about until I could wrench a seat
loose The seat used as a paddle and man
aged TO propel the boat with IL against the
strong tide 1 finally got TO a dock at Tarry-
station and boarded a train for New York.
had some money which had hidden from the
officials at the Jail, and with IT paid my way.
u left the train at 12Jth street, Manhattan.
From there went TO No. 229 East 125th street.
where friends lived, in hopes of getting word to
my wife, who lives with my baby boy, two years
old, at No. 81 East Houston street. 1t was TO
see them again that I took the trouble to escape.
I met them. on Tuesday came 10 Brooklyn TO
raise money among my friends in Brownsville to
take me to Chicago. A few hours longer and I
would have got away"
Lasala said that he had been unjustly con-
victed OF highway robbery. The only time that
he had been arrested before was for intoxica-
ton Asked If he thought Sing Sing officials
would be glad 10 him. he replied that he ex-
pected they would heat welcome all over hts
head" He said he hoped he would not be mt
into the cooler" he understood that most ~
those who were so treated either became hug
house" or invalids
When discovered Lasala was disguised with
blue goggles. II was reported that he had ar
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