New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-28
IS SHOT IN LEG
Prisoner Jumps from Court Win
dow and OFF Bridge of Signs.
STOPPED AFTER A CHASE
Grand Jury to Investigate Condi-
tions Which Enabled Him
to Make the Attempt.

A grand Jury investigation OF the at
tempted escape yesterday of Joseph Hall,
a prisoner. who was awaiting arrangement
in General Sessions, will be directed to-day
by Judge Grain. before whom Hall was to
plead The grand jury will be asked TO
fix the responsibility for the conditions
under which Hall was able TO get out Of
custody. and under which he probably
would have succeeded in his break for lih-
erty but for the presence near by Of sew
eral detectives and policemen called to the
Criminal Courts Building on business.
The attempt was spectacular in the ex-
IRENE Hall was indicted on charge Of
assault for shooting at the bartender Of
an Eleventh avenue saloon who had re-
fused to give him free liquor. He was
taken from the Tombs over the Bridge Of
Signs 10 the Criminal Courts Building
shortly before 10 o'clock with several other
prisoners, who were also on the calendar
for pleading.
AS a rule. these prisoners are kept con-
fined in a pen on the floor below the
courtroom. each one being taken MP as his
name IS called by the clerk q Part j,
where all pleadings take place. To eXpe-
dite matters the attendants I'm charge Of
the prisoners some times take them all
UP TO jury room adjoining the court
room. This was the case yesterday.
one of the windows OF the jury room
opens upon the roof Of the Bridge Of Signs,
which connects the Tombs with the court
building Painters have been at work on
the bridge for several days, and heir scat
fold was swung on the east. Cr Centre
.Ig, ,-fart-
OF the prisoners In the jury room Of Part J..
Hall observed these things, and also that
rope dropped from one end of the scat
fold TO the street. Watching his oppor-
tunity and waiting until the policeman at
the door OF the room and the court at
tendants who conduct prisoners into the
| courtroom were not watching Hall leaped
TO the window sill and down upon the roof
| Of the bridge.
The attention of Policeman Bulger, VINO
| was on guard al the jury room door. was
attracted 10 the window by the connection
among the prisoners on that side Of the
| room caused by Halls unexpected exit
Running over. he saw the escaping man
reach the end Of the scaffold and grasp the
! dangling rope.
|
into the air and called to Hall to stop.
The latter never Needed the demand but
| slipping over the side of the scaffold and
! twisting his legs around the rope slid
downward to the street Bulger again
called to him and fired another shot.
The two shots attracted the attention of
every one in the building and In the street,
including half a dozen detectives and uni
| formed policemen. who We're IN Franklin
| street on their way TO court
| They saw Hall reach the sidewalk. hest
| tate a moment. look toward Centre street,
/ then toward Lafayette street, at the other
| end Of the block. and finally run along the
Tombs wall in the latter direction. Realiz-
| ing that the man was a prisoner who had
escaped. the detectives drew their revoiyers
| and called TO him to stop.
Hall was deaf to their commands and
sped on toward the corner. Bullets began
70 patter around him on the stone wall.
The officers were firing to halt him, it was
plain. rather than TO hit him. as at no
! time while in Franklin street was he more
than thirty yards from them.
Turning the corner Hall dashed across
| Lafayette street in the direction OF the
| Merchants Association Building, on the
west side Of Lafayette street, with three
| Of the detectives at his heels.
The many pedestrians in the street made
the kind of firing that was possible IN
Franklin street with the Tombs wall Tor
a background. out Of the question. and one
of the detectives. taking careful aim.
brought Hall down with bullet in his leg.
TO a priest who asked why ne had tried
to escape in the face Of such evident OBJ
stacles. Hall replied that he wished he
! had been killed. An ambulance was sum-
moned from Bellevue Hospital. and Hall
/ was taken there. The wound was pro-
nounced not serious. and he will be ar
raigned as soon as he is able to appear.
! Hall is twenty-seven years old, and lived
before his arrest at 40. 81 West 37th
! street.