New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-17
Captured in Barn Wea1,,
Uniform of Keeper H.
Had Felled
Took Guards Revolve,
Fled from Tombs While W..
ing Trial; Later Mad.
Bomb at Clinton

Auburn, y. Y, April l6.-Rsy,ss,
Forsbrey, burglar, murderer and -
breaker, walked out Of Auburn ,yi,,.
to-day in a keepers uniform and ~.
a revolver in his pocket. A few ho,.
later he was captured covering !,
farmers hayioft. He had no W,,,..
and offered no resistance.
George Wi.dener, whose farm isn.,,
Auburn, noticed this evening that ~
dog was most reluctant 20 enter y,
barn alone and, when inside with \,
master. whined and shifted anxiop,i,
at the ladder leading 20 the Ia
knowing Of Forsbroy's escape, he sur.
moned guards. who dug the despen5
out OF the hay.
In making his escape. For,b,,,
knocked a keeper senseless viii
club. beat him, stripped him a.;
trussed him up in his Office, When. !,
donned the uniform at his leisure.
Despite his successful break IN,
the Tombs Prison in New York, b
later desperate efforts at ClinN
Prison and at Auburn and his repga
ton, Forsbrey recently had receive
some favors. On his plea 10 James Y
Carter. State Superintendent Of Pr,
ons, last January, Forsbrey was y
leased from solitary confinement sni
shared the privilege OF exercise in d.
yard.
At first he was kept under stric. 81,
veillance. but his altered demeanor. a
his health improved under the change
treatment, disarmed suspicion.
Acid. saws and bombs, such as figured
in his previous prison breaking effort,
played no part in his escape. On Il,
surface it seems 10 be a matter Of lu.,
and alertness. Forsbrey seized ure
the one moment when opportunity va
ripe.
Overcomes Aged Keeper
He was working at the west end q
the yard of the mems prison, near
passage 70 the women's prison. "
one was in sight save John Bets,
aged keeper. Forsbrey approached Il,
old man and, II is believed, seized IN
keepers billy before making his pres
ence known.
As the old man Strengthened up &
face his questioner, Forsbrey brosgi
the billy down with ruthless force isE
behind his car. Belts dropped. Hi
assailant dragged him to the empty
yard Office.
There he stripped the keeper Of hs
uniform and dashed him in his char
Belts suffered several broken ribs AZ.
bruises of the head. Before any o.,
noticed the telltale trail left BY To,
keepers dragging heels in the y,n
dust, Forsbury had donned his vi.
form, thrust the revolver in hsnti
pocket. and With cap jammed over hu
eyes and keys swing jauntlly. strole
through the women's prison. where ta
face was not familiar 70 guards or prs
oners, and out the front gate.
II was 3:35 p. m. when Forsbrg
walked out of Auburn Prison, AZ;
within a short time the alarm va
sounded. Prison and city we're sesrths
without avail and the news was sprn
broadcast.
Escaped from Tombs
When Forsbrey. charged with murds
and assault, escaped from the Tors
on September ?, 1912, he hid for tire
weeks before he was discovered lesdll
a model life in a Bronx fiat. He Va
given a tweniy-year sentence IN Auoun
on his plea Of guilty Of murder 10 p"
second degree, and an assault ehar
was pending against him. lie beg
his sentence on November 20, 1911!
When sent 10 Clinton Prison, whe
brides itself on tanning incorrlgaa
Forsbrev shocked Clinton by mar
featuring a dynamite bomb IN MS esi-
and although he spent most OF DIS ul'
there in SOLITARY" managed 70 con-
within an ace of escaping by loo'e.ns
the bars Of his cell. Since he hs: oe,
at Auburn, an Internal contrlyssa
filled with gasolene was found ID "
possession.
His escape from the Tombs "" y
most as much a matter OF luck
latest endeayor. lie discovered ~
the grating Of his isolated cell ;.
never been cemented, and JUST ~
pened TO push Il out. n
Margaret Ryan, who smuggleo
and saws 70 Forsbrey while he w
the Tombs and sought TO take hef en
life for love of him, has visited Au';n
since he has been confined here.
auiries are being made TO CISCO
whether she has been here reesnu'
The police said yesterday ths; - ~
garet Ryan had been arrested on ~.
3 and, although at liberty, was ''''
surveillance.