New-York tribune., 1913-07-27
Clement KOOrS Came Here and
Married After Escape at
Frankfort, Ky.
THEN WIFE GOT IN T0MBS
Coin He Tossed Forbade Sui.
eide, He Says - Woman
Calls Him Demented
by Worry.
tBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]


Frankfort, KY, July 26.-Tired Of lifes
troubles, Clement H. Koors, who escaped
from the Frankfort Reformatory on Sep.
tember 6, 1892, walked into Warden
Wells's office yesterday and gave him
self up. Dusty records were hauled down
from the stacks in the storeroom, and
Identification marks were found TO cor
roborate Koors's statements with a sigh
of relief he donned the second grade pris-
oner's garb. The twenty-one-year fugitive
is now ffty-fye years old.
Koors told a dramatic story Of his
wanderings over the United States and
Mexico. In December, 1881, he shot and
killed Henry II. Bruins, in Covington. for
beating his wife, who was Koorss sister.
The following September he was sentenced
to life Imprisonment and brought to
Frankfort. In the course Of the next ten
years he became a trusty, and I'm 1892
was employed in the warehouse outside
the walls.
Hearing that his sister, for whom he
had shot his brother-in-law, was I'm trouble
tember 6, 1892, he hid behind a barricade
Of chairs until the prisoners were marched
out Then he changed his prison garb
for a suit he had secured for the purpose,
put on pair Of goggles and walked
down the street past the prison gate and
remained hidden along the river while
guards searched all around for him.
Koors said that since his escape he had
lived at No. 315 West 27th street, New
York, calling himself George Berger, his
rQthers maiden name He met woman
whom, he says, he married 10 save from
degradation. she conducted a roomlng
house, while he worked at the trade OF
harness maker, learned in prison. The
rooming house was raided by the police
and his wife was taken 10 the Tombs ten
days ago
The husband went TO visit the prisoner
and while at the Tombs, according 10 his
story. he tossed a dime TO decide his fate
The coin directed him back 10 prison, in
stead Of suicide. He pawned his furni-
ture for railroad fare back 10 Frankfort
Mrs. Berger. worried and tired look
ing woman. answered the doorbell at the
basement of No. 3l5 West 9th street yes
terday.
my husband has been sick for more
than a year and unable to work. Worry
has unbalanced his mind she said. II
he told that story to the warden in
Frankfort il was the hallucinatiOn Of a
crazy man. The doctors said he had
nervous disease. He couldn't use his
hands.
when we were married, fifteen years
ago. Mr.. Berger was a leather worker,
and a better man at his trade wasn't TO
be found. He was a good husband and
we lived happily until two years ago
when this trouble came on him. A spe-
cialist told him that his nerves were bad
and that half his troubles were imaginary
But he could not see it that way. He
worried more and more and grew worse
and worse.
Il was Obliged to open a boarding house
here. Then came the trouble with the
police. I was innocent OF the charge they
brought against me- Last Monday Mr.
Berger came 10 see ME in the Tomos'
That was the last l saw of him.
Ibid he ever tell me that he had been
In trouble? No. sir. In the first place ne
was a man with a very sensitive disposi-
ton and as gentle as a child. He was the
last man you'd ever thing OF killing an
other. no matter what motive he mishi
have"
The caretaker of the apartment Wom-
an OF middle age. corroborated Mrs Ber'
gers account Of Berger's enfeebled mlna
She said he was as helpless as a chlId
while Mrs Berger was in trouble.
Mrs. Berger gave the name Of Lotus
Burgess when she was arrested ana
taken TO the West 37th street police sta'
ton on July IL. She was convicted IN ths
Court Of Special Sessions on July u anu
fined $50 Her fine was paid on Friday
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