The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-01-22
CROOKS SMASH
PRISON VAN
TIL, G R } lip flooring and
Nah. doCd he r Escape
ALL FAf3 jill RECORDS
Seven Other Prisoners In Convey
anes FAN 10 Improve Opportunity
70 eape--Darso Not Make outcry
Fer Fear Of Bodily inlury-~Pollee.
man Makes Vain Chase For Men

man Makes Vain Chase Fer Men
Boston. Jan 90 Tearing a hole in
the wooden flooring 81 the police court
van with steel Jimmy. while they
were being taken TO the Charles street
jail and dropping through It TO the
street, three gunner. noted for their
daring hurglaries made good their
escape
Seven other prisoners, herded into
the oIdiashi0ned conveyance, not
only refused 10 take the chance for
liberty. but shouted through the
yentilators in an attempt 10 attract
the attention Of Court Officer Twom-
biey and Driver Bresnahan
The three who escaped are Charles
Ronan, known 20 the police AZ Raj
iies Roman who was formerly an
express detective George A, Ward
known as Kid Francis, and VIII
liam II Jones, recorded In the rogues
gallery as Casey Jones
They were arrested In raid on
the lodging house at Cos Shawmut
avenue Roman and Ward were found
asleep with loaded automatic pistols
under their pillows Jones was To-
Gated later. with similar weapon In
his pocket The guns were part Of
the loot OF recent burglary in
hardware store in Kennebunk. Me
Other stolen property found in their
possession Indicated that they had
been involved in three burglaries In
Boston
The three men were arraigned in
the city police court before Judge Ely
Jones was held in $500 for the grand
jury, and the other two in $1,000 for
hearings in the same court Jan %
In default of bail they were all or
dered committed to the Charles street
Jail, pending trial and they we're
placed In the court van in the Somer-
set street enclosure
The jimmy the police believe. had
been passed to them by somebody
while they were being led through the
corridors OF the courthouse
The men were searched twice at
headquarters This search was SO
thorough that unset diamonds were
discovered in the Innings Of their
coats The police say il is impos
sible that they could have had an in
strument concealed on their persons |
that would have enabled them to rip |
up the floor OF the van so quickly
AS soon as the van started tie three
desperate prisoners began TO tear up
the flooring, working with silent |
speed lest the van reach the jail be-
fore they finished The other prison
ers dared not 10 make an cutlery dur
ing this time for fear Of bodily harm.
When the three burglars dropped
on the pavement in South Russell
street, they were seen from dis
lance by Patrolman Casey, who
started in pursuit as the men fled
down Blossom street, but was I'M
able to overcome the lead they had.
and watched them disappear into the
yards,
After the wagon had passed South
Russell street both Bresnahan and
Twombley heard considerable noise in
the van being made by the prisoners.
they paid no attention to the matter
and il was not until after the van had
reached the jail yard that they learned
he cause of the disturbance.
The other prisoners who refused to
AXE the chance OF escape had been
in an effort TO tell the officer
md driver that three prisoners had
made their escape