Evening journal., 1912-12-17
HOSPITAL FOR
INSANE FAILS
TO HOLD HIM
GOrdy, Sent There for Medical
Treatment Instead Of to
WOrkhOuSe, Escapes
WAS ACCUSED ON A
HIGHWAY ROBBERY CHARGE

The police are searching for John
4. Gordy. who. accused OF highway
robbery, has escaped from the State
Hospital for the Insane at Farnhurst
where he was committed Search also
is being made for Robert Session.
who made getaway at the same
time and was, according to the au
thorities at the hospital aided by
Gordy
Gordy is a son of John G. Gordy OF
No. 22O Walnut street this city. and
was committed TO the Hospital on
September % of this year, following
an investigation by the Attorney
Generals Office Of the charge OF high
way robbery against him. AZ that
time it was delcared the man was OF
unsound mind
Gordy was arrested following the
rohbing OF George Conrad, an aged
man OF No. South Franklin street.
who while at work as porter at
Todd's Cut shops one night last sum-
mer was held up-it was alleged by
/ Gordy and Prince Ice. colored, at the
point of a gun and relieved of bis
money and watch AT the time il was
charged GOrdy scraped the cuticle
from COnrads nose with the muzzle
of the revolver. He was arrested by
Sergeant Wardlo and after a hearing
In City Court was held under $1,000
bail for the Court of General Ses-
slons. Leo was held for the same
court While Gordy was sent TO the
Insane hospital. Lee was sentenced
on September rs TO serve two years
in the Workhouse and he also recciv-
ed twenty lashes. He is confined
there al present
Following the commitment of
Gordy to the Hospital It was report
ed that he had been seen several
times IN this city These reports were
! denied az the hospital. however. hui
; notwithstanding the deniais II be-
1 came known yesterday that Cord,
, had escaped from the Institution oi
I. hc n.ornine of FRIDAY, november 2.
: and this was verified by DR. W. NJ
lHancker the euperintendont who
I stated that Gordy had secured false
keys in some manner and waited
! until a heavy fog set In and at
} o'clock la the morning cautiously un.
- locked the door OF his cell on The
I second floor Of the institution. Ia
j then released Session, who had beer
an inmate for some time and TO-
] gether they went through q window
/ opening on a fire escape and fed.
While the alarm was given by other
r inmates. the two men got away in th'
a fog. The police were notified as were
A the authorities in other cities but th'
q men have not been located
4 In speaking of the case. Dr
! Hancker said This institution is no
equipped for caring for criminal in
. sane, and in my next report 10 thu
p trustees will refer TO this case
r When asked about Gordy's menta
s condition. DR. Hancker said "H
v never was insane and should not havi
been committed here
a When Attorney General Andrew c
h Gray was spoken TO about the Cord
case, he said ne did not recall il. ant
b. added that the usual method pursue
4 IN such cases was to have the appll
q cation for a commission to examine
4 defendant made by the warden an
h the workhouse physician. After thi
a was done, the case is referred 10
jury which returns a verdict of nc
guilty owing 10 insanity and the coui
then orders commitment to the insan
hospital.
Y Attorney General Gray did not kno'
| what method was pursued in th
Gordy commitment Gordy had bee
arrested before ON charge {
n larceny. but was freed
n The record Of the Court of Generi
\ Sessions shpws that Gordy entered
y plea Of insanity. which the State a,
n cepted. after Lee had been sentences
e MRS. RrMFoRp no ENrERTAIN.