The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-03
WILL GET GAFFNEY,
BUT SET NO DATE
Police Busy and Confident as
They Hunt Slippery Con-
victed Slayer.
BEST SHOTS IN THE POSSE
Clues, If Any, as to Where
abouts Now Being Guarded
Carefully.

"well get him eventually-no fear OF
that-but, Of course, the sooner the bet
ter"
That was the comment last night oil
Inspector John Cray. commanding the
detective bureau, on the case OF Vincent
Gaffney. now a fugitive for nearly two
months and who successfully eluded de-
tectives on two occasions since he made
his sensational escape from the Centre
street prison.
And that about tells everything the
police knew last night about Gaffneys
whereabouts. II the detectives or the
of1cials at headquarters knew any more
they carefully concealed the fact. In.
spector Cray was not any too well
pleased yesterday when he learned that
news OF the police search for Gaffney In
Long Island City and Astoria had be-
come public.
1T may have headed him somewhere
else. but We, are continuing the search
along unusually active lines" he said.
Police Keep Clues secret.
The Inspector would not say what
new clues, II any. the police had OBJ
tained yesterday regarding Gaffney' s
movements since he eluded a Gordon of
detectives and uniformed police early
last Wednesday morning after they had
him all but trapped in an apartment in
West 11sth street. where he had gone to
meet his sweetheart.
Gaffney is under twenty year SEN
tence for homicide for a killing result
ing from a gang fight In which he par
ticipated. He had been sent to Sing
Sing, but was brought back to the
Tombs on technicality concerned with
another case. While an inmate there
last June he escaped by series Of dar-
ing leaps from the seventh tier floor to
the street below.
That escape was regarded as one of
the most sensational in the history OF
the Tombs prison. Later the same day
he eluded detectives when they encoun-
tered him In the Tenderloin district and
was not seen by the police again until
last wednesday morning. when he was
surrounded in the apartment in lIsth
street. .4
When the police entered CARNEY was
IN mis- underwear. He dived through \
rear window. dropped from a fire escape
and. SO far as the police we're concerned
disappeared from the neighborhood.
Reported In Long Island.
sixty or seventy detectives were de-
spatched to the scene. as we'll as a num-
Der or uniformed men. and il was be-
iieved that Gaffney could get nowhere
and would be arrested within few
hours. Instead. late Thursday night a
Tip came that impressed the police suffi-
clentiy that score or more detectives
were sent In automobiles to Long Island.
where CARNEY was said to have been
seen.
If he was, the police are not among
those who saw him. The search was
being continued last night, both in the
Astoria section ana in the locality where
Carney was last seen, and where the
police think he may seek refuge. They
have orders to get Gaffney" which
means In police parance dead or alive. -
The fugitive Is regarded by the police
as bad man. He Is quick with a
gun and has demonstrated that he does
not hesitate to use one. When they en-
counter him the detectives expect to find
him armed and for this rea son three or
four OF the best and quickest shots In
the department are engaged in the
search.
Meantime Inspector cray IL continuing
his investigation Of the circumstances or
Gaffney's escape last Wednesday morn
ing. He has Intercepted the detectives
who were on the scene and will examine
the uniformed men to-day.
From what I have been able to learn
so far, believe there was negligence OIL
the part of the officers in not covering
the fire escape. don't exnect to have
TO change that opinion" the inspector
said yesterday,