New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-10-13
Tough Toney," Bowery Bad Man,
Dead, toRestin OsborneF amily Lot
Former Warden Paws Debt of Gratitude to E Convict Who
Once Escaped Sing Sing and Returned
Voluntarily to Aid The Boss


/ After that Tony was one OF Osborne's
most loyal supporters in the prison.
When Osborne's fortunes we're in the,
ascendant Tony was in high feather.
When, in the long, hard fight in the
Westminster courts and in Albany
things looked dark, the world was black
to him.
One Of these black moods hit him
on the night Of January 1916, and
early reXt morning it vas found ne
had escaped from the prison. He left,
low, because Osborne had left Sing
Sing to defend himself in the courts.
He did not believe the warden was
coming back.
Warden His Only Father.
'He was the only father ever had"
SO the note said in substance.
Discovery that Tony had damned"
created CONSERVATION in the prison.
of Osborne to man, feared for the
edo OF his escape .,n Mr.. Osbo,r:'
case. then in the courts. Twas, they
agreed, black eye Cor prison reform
and reflection on DR.. George 8.
Kirchwey, who was temporarily filling
Mr.. Qsbornc's place. .-.
This was the feeling. too, of Os-
borne's friends among the ex-convicts
OIL the outside. To them the word was
flashed that Tony must be found and
sent back. For the first time in the
criminal history of New York, eX-con-
vi:ts and convicts we're seeking to re-
turn to prison man who had success
fully negotiated a getaway.
Two of the former found Tony in
tenement not far from the Municipal
BSildlng. He had new clothing. several
hundred dollars and a big touring car
was at his disposal. These he got from
friends in Harlan. He also had-but
of tat later.
The two ex-convicts. Dick Richards
and Harry Bolaskey. secretary valet to
Mr.. Osborne. told him he should 60
back.
Told Guards to Stay OF
Early that evening I met him in the
Grand Central Station by appointment.
Together VIC passed prison guards, who
had been sent out to find him and were
returning to report failure. They did
self known.
"1'm going back" he said, "and you
want to keep your hands eff"
Soon after his return to the prison
Governor Whitman granted him
full pardon, partly in recognition Of
his voluntary return and the good eff
feet it had had upon prisoners gen
orally, and because he was found to
have tuberculosis. He had, as it we're.
made escapes unpopular in the best
prison circles and done much to sus-
tain discipline. and it was felt that
he had e4kned chance to win back
his health outside prison walls or at
least die a. free man.
Now that nc Is dead, part of the
story of his escape that was kept Sc
cret by the few Of his friends who
shared it at the time can be told.
In addition to the money he had on
him when located, he also had two
revolvcrs, one an enormous navy
weapon fitted with Maxim silenccr.
the other a police gun. He procured
the si!enccr the better to destroy
public official whom he blamed for
Osborne's troubles and former prison
official whom he accused Of trcachery
to "the boss
at don't make any difference with
me-" nc said. I'm willing to take
the chair. But before they crown me
III take those two. 1]l get one of
them, anyway"
That he would have killed one if not
both had he not been convinced this
would have injured his idol none who
knew him doubted.