New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11
PatrOlmen on Strike
Duty Catch 2 Near
West Side Prison.
GUARD BEATEN
WITH PITCHER
Sixteen in Cell Spurn
Way to Freedom-Aid
Wounded Man.

After binding William !. Jackson
head keeper, with red pepper beating
him into unconsciousness with an
agate water pitcher and Wrestling ms
ring Of keys from him, four prisoners
made n dash for liberty last night from
the West Side prison, in Fiity-third
Street. between Eighth and Ninth Ave
nues.
Two OF the fugitives were captured
less than a block away after several
shots had been fired by patrolmen as
signed TO strike duty. The other two
escaped. Sixteen other prisoners who
had the way to freedom opened to
them BY what the police believe was
we'll laid plot refused 70 take advan-
tage Of the opportunity.
Jackson, who was alone on the nrsI @
foor OF the prison. was called 10 the
door rhortly before O'Clock by man
uho handed him n basket OF fruit Tor
William Bov,cs. Of AS West Forty
first Street, who is charged with being
n narcotic addict.
Several Teeth Knocked Out.
After examining the basket to see
that il contained nothing unlawful.
the head keeper opened the barred
door leading 70 the large room in
u.hich twenty prisoners were belnG
hoid vending further examination.
As he handed the basket 70 Bowlcs.
the prisonqr dashed the contents OF
a bag OF red pepper in his eyes. al
The same time striking him IN the
month with his fist and knocking out
several teeth. The keeper attempted
IA pull the door shut. but was pre-
vented By a prisoner VINO placed ms
foot in the opening.
A. Jackson. unable 20 sec. tried 70
fight back, three other prisoners SCI
upon him. They we're Charles wal
lev. colorcd. Of 229 West SiNty-nrst
street. arrested a n drug FIctim'
Frederick Herman. of 6 Am 'terdan
Avenue arrested on q similar charge
and Harold Frederick, OF Bleeoker
Street hotel awaiting trial for al
legged burglary.
Men Take Keepers Keys.
The keeper could not te Il which man
struck him with the pitcher. but the
blow felled him. As he lay on the
floor tn. men continued 10 KICK ano
beat him while one Of them tired 70
wrest the key ring from his grip. he
held on unit, nearly all the shln was
torn from the fingers and palm OF one
hand before finally letting go.
Rovles obtained the KEYS, opened the
street door and the other three fol-
lowed Patrolmen Fay and Baucuars
were on strike duty outside the Inter
borough power mouse sub-statlon across
tho street from the prison when bowleS,
and VALLEY came out. Bucuars notieed
tho hatless men putting on their coats
as they hurried down the steps. MS
suspic;ony we're aroused when the two
s,ood andecided which way TO 90.
The negro ran for several hundred
feet and stopped with hands upraised
as Raucuars, with drawn revolver, came
nm 20 him. Bowles. followed by Her,
man and Frederick, started TOWARD
Eighth Avenue, with Fav IN pursuit;
AS he neared the avenue Fay hred
three shots at the fugitives and BoWles
slowed down.
Two Escape in Crowd.
Tho policeman struck MN across 'nV
legs with his night stick, causing nm
10 fall. and kept on after the other two
But by this time they had lodged IN
and out among the crowds, making II
impossible for Fay TO use his gun
Fearing Bowlcs would get away. he ran
back and marched him 10 the prison
One Of the sixteen prisoners VINO re-
mained in the cellroom went 10 Jack
sons aid, while another rang the large
gong. which gave the first intimatlon OF
the escape 20 John Grubert and william
Newman, the other keepers, upstairs.
Newman telephoned to Police Head
quarters, and three minutes later strike
reserves. who arrived in two automo-
biles from the West Forty-seventh
Street station, scattered in pursuit oil
the fugitiyes.
Jackson, although in serious condi'
tion because Of the viciousness OF the
attack. refused 20 leave his post. al
frat IL was thought his skull had been
fractured. but the surgeon discovered
/, was only scalp wound. Charges OF
felonious assault we're preferred
against Bowles and VALLEY by the head