Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-02-25


made such daring escape.
There were several circumstances
that weighed heavily against Phipps'
chances of escaping death on the gal
lows. In the first place his jail-break.
ing exploit in company with Bucky
Greenfield was against him. Green.
field got away safely to Mexico, and
as there was no extradition treaty be-
tween Canada and the former country
at that time covering his offense, he
was never brought back Doubtless
Greenfield meant well by his cell-mate
when he planned their escape, but 1t
would have been far better for Phipps
had he not broken Jail. Then there
was the episode of Billy Callaghan in
Sandwich Jail which had much to do
with influencing public opinion in the
County of Essex at the time of the
Phipps trial.
Callaghan belonged to Detroit. He
came Of a respectable family, and in
his younger days was a dry goods
clerk, but became professional burg.
lar and desperate crook He and a
burglar named Kennedy were being
held in Sandwich Jail and on March
16 they made dash for liberty.
George O'Callghan Leech, the old
governor of the Jail, tried to intercept
the escaping prisoners, and Billy Cal.
laghan drew revolver which had
been smuggled into his cell, shot and
killed the governor and escaped with
Kennedy. Callaghan got safely away
out Of the country but Kennedy was
caught and sent to Kingston peniten-
tiary for seven years.
While there Kennedy became pals
with another convict named Bltnky
Morgan who was serving five years
for manslaughter. Shortly after be.
coming acquainted the pair broke out
Of Kingston penitentiary. Morgan was
traced to Reno. Ohio, by a detective
named Hoolihan and in the fight that
occurred when they met the officer
was killed. Morgan escaped after
Staying Hoolihan but was run down
In Alpena, Mich, where he shot the
sheriff and wounded another man. He
was captured, taken to Cleveland and
hanged. Kennedy got away.
In the meantime Callaghan, after
killing Gov. Leech of Sandwich jail,
had disappeared completely. Murray
sent out circulars offering a reward
for his arrest and finally received a
telegram from the police of Hannibal.
Mo-. which read:
Come at once. Callaghan in jail.
acknowledges identity"
Murray wired back: "Will come, but
do not believe 1t is Callaghan. He
would not acknowledge identity"
He prepared the necessary extradi.
ton papers and went to Hannibal, TAX
ing with him Turnkey Smith of Sand.
wich Jail, who knew Callaghan well.
Arriving at their destination they were
informed by the police that two
crooks, known as Joe Rice. and John
Carr, had burglarized Banker Patter.
sons house in Barry. ILL.,, making him
get out OF bed, open up his safe and
turn over the contents, besides taking
his gold-mounted revolver. They had
been caught in Hannibal and Rice had
the stolen revolver. On the way to
the Jail Rice whispered with Carr, and
in the Jail he had said to a fellow
prisoner:
Il wonder If these cops know who
am? They offer a reward for me in
Canada" The prisoner reported the
conversation, Rice was questioned and
confessed he was Bill Callaghan. Then
Murray was sent for.
The detective was shown to the
cell occupied by the supposed Callag-
han. 1t was gloomy hole, but even
in the semi-darkness single glance
at the inmate convinced Murray that
he was not the murderer of the Sand.
witch Jail governor. Turnkey Smith
also shared his opinion. The prisoner
was ordered to step into a better light
and Murray looked at him closely.
NO." said the detective, "he is not
Callaghan. This Is Jim Leavitt Of
New York. Jim, have seen you at
Billy Browns in Blocker street, and
at The Aliens"
The prisoner laughed, and admitted
that Murray's statement was correct.
Murray returned 70 Toronto without
Callaghan whom Ne next heard of in
Mexico. 1t was later reported that
Callaghan was drowned in South
America, but however that may have
been, he was never captured.
Between Greenfield and Callaghan
the fate of Luke Phipps was sealed.
The murder of Gov. O'Callaghan Leech
enraged the people of Essex county.
and when Phipps. who had escaped
from the same Jail. came up for trial
some months Sster the Leech killing,
public opinion was against him. He
was found guilty of murder. hanged in
Sandwich jail in November, 1884, and
buried near the grave where he had
once sought refuge and lay hidden
from the eyes of his hunters for the
space of a night and a day.
Copyright 1909, by w. q. Chapman)
Copyright In Great Brittany