The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-22
ESCAPED CONVICT Is
DOWNED IN STREET
Detective. Who Once Lost
Crook With 81 Year Term
Ahead. Makes Capture.
no CHANCE TO USE 4 GUN

John Leroy Gaskins holdup man.
burglar and general crook. with "A record
OF having escaped from a half dozen or
more jails, will go back to Aubur to
work out his ihirty-one year term. in
terrupted by escape March 81 this year.
At the same time Detective John Shea
OF headquarters will have paid off .
an escape from the Toinbs
Few noticed last night the young
man with slouch hat and glasses turn
the corner OF Howard and Centre
streets. a block from headquarters.
They did notice. however. when q Sec
ond later a s,ocky mar catapulted HIM
self out OF a dark hallway on to the
back of the first young man. got "A
half nelson with one hand and a
strange hold with the other and bore
his victim to the sidewalk.
Before more than fifteen or twenty
persons had come up the man on top
had won a hollow victory. produced a
pair OF nippers and had his man under
control. Then they got up.
rs you. johnny said the victim
without any particular heat. IT'S a
good thing for o. YOU saw mo first.
You said something was the reply
as the man with the handouts drew a
large revolver from the hip pocket of
the prisoner. Come on :"
AGED 2s. but Old In Crime.
At Police Headquarters. where Gas
klns was greeted az an old friend. n
short biography was compiled for him
II. 10 Dsalxs . 500 -. IL I..e 1A In i1D xns,a
to the police Of nearly all large cities.
In New York he made a speciality Of
United Cigar Stores. jewelry stores and
pedestrians.
Gaskins was caught In Chatham
Square a little more than three years
ago OH a burglary charge. one day as
Detective Shea was taking his man from
the Tombs TO the Crimina Court Build
ing Gaskins broke away and made his
escape. .Shea was fined a half days
pay az A result.
taskins turned up as a prisoner in
Brooklyn in october. 1914. charged with
robbing a jewelry store. He was taken
from the police station to Raymond
street handcuffed 10 a prisoner named
Wallen. He went inside with the line.
but suddenly stepped out with Wallen
and approached the door. saving "All
right one man out
Thus posing as 4 detective eScorting
"a prisoner to court. Gaskins walked out
Of Raymond street into freedom. Out
side he got rid of his end OF the hand
GUNS. hut Wallen was not so success
full. Wallen was picked up In Manhat-
tan later that morning because he had
Inadvertently allowed one end Of the
iron TO peep from his pocket where he
had his manacled hand.
Sentenced 70 Years ia Auburn.
The police caught Gask!ns several
months later and one of the Judges Of
the County Court In Kings gave him
,hirty-one years As an old offender.
which took him to Auburn. lie c~-
capped from Auburn on March 81.
At Headquarters after Gsskins had
been duste'l IF and registered. he was
asked about the Auburn escape
Il was a ear inspector up there. ="
he explained. Il looked over the freight
cars that came in. One day I found
n nice hon ear and put myself away
in IL. They hauled tho ear out. and |
stayed in L Tor two days. Then I came
on 10 New York"
In addition 70 the big revolver and
plenty OF cartridges there was found
In GaskiiS's pocket the badge Of a rail
way mail agent Of the post office.
where did YOU get that Gask,ns
was asked.
Nothing Going. was the answer. IF
I'd tell you, some one els" would GO,
into trouble
'iask!ns Wi, probably 60 back to
Auburn THIS morning. He said he Is
not worrying about the charge Of VIC.
latiug tn. sullivan law. as he will not,
have TO face that for a long, long time.