The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1909-03-04

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 iail.break.
ing exploit in company with Bucky
Greenfield was against him. Green.
field got away safely to Mexico. and
as there was no extra 1ition 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 II
would have been far better for Phipps
had he not broken jail Then there
was the episode of Billy Callaghan IL
Sandwich Jail which had much to dc
with influencing public opinion in the
County of Essex at the lime of the
Phipps trial
Callaghan belonged to Detroit. lie
came of respectable family, and In
his younger days was dry goods
clerk, but became professional burg.
lar and desperate crook. He and
burglar named Kennedy were being
held in Sandwich Jail and on March
16 they made dash for liberty
George OCallghan Leech, the old
governor of the Jail, tried to intercept
the escaping prisoners, and Billy Cal
laghan drew revolver which had
been struggled 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 Blinky
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 aud
hanged. Kennedy got away.
In the meantime Callaghan, after
killing Gov. Leech of Sandwich jail.
had disappeared completely. Murray
sent out circulars offering 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
witch 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, H., 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 fellow
! prisoner:
Il wonder If these cops know who
| am? They offer reward for me In
Canada" The prisoner reported the
conversation, Rice was questioned ant
confessed he was Bill Callaghan. Their
Murray was sent for.
The detective was shown to the
cell occupied by the supposed Callag
han. 1t was a gloomy hole, but ever
in the semi-darkness a single glanc,
at the inmate convinced Murray tina
he was not the murderer of the Sand
witch Jail governor Turnkey Smitl
also shared his opinion. The prisone
was ordered to step into a better ligh
and Murray looked at him closely.
NO" said the detective, he is no
Callaghan. This is Jim Leayitt o
New York. Jim, l have seen you a
Billy Browns in Bleecker street, an,
at The Aliens
The prisoner laughed, and admitte,
that Murray's statement was correct
Murray returned to Toronto withou
Callaghan whom he next heard of i
Mexico. 1t was later reported tina
Callaghan was drowned in Sout
America. but however that may hav
been, he was never captured.
Between Greenfield and Callagha
the fate of Luke Phipps was sealed
The murder of Gov. O'Callaghan Leec
enraged the people of Essex count.
and when Phipps. who had escape
from the same Jail, came up for tris
some months after the Leech killing
public opinion was against him. II
was found guilty of murder, hanged 1
Sandwich Jail in November. 1884, an
buried near the grave where he ha
once sought refuge and lay hide
from the eyes of his hunters for tn
space of night and a day.
DOWNRIGHT 1909 by w q. Chapmap.l