New-York tribune., 1920-10-20
Fleeing Felons
Camp in Wood
Near Danbury
Two Escaped Convicts Elude
Groups of Pursuers as
They Race Through Con-
necticut in Automobile
Inquire Way to Boston
Police of Vermont, Pennsyl-
vania and Canada Asked to
Hunt Sing Sing Runaways

Word was received at both sing
Sing and New York Police Headquar-
ters yesterday that George Stivers and
Marcus Bassett, two convicts who es-
capcd Saturday night from the state
prison, had spent Tuesday night IN
patch of woods five miles north OF Dan,
bury, Conn. Although New York and
Connecticut detectives, reinforced by
armed guards from Wingdale, hurried
to the spot the men were not captured
Early in the afternoon Police Captain
Daniel W. Bradley, of Danbury, noti-
fed Warden Lawes at Sing Sing and
officials of nearby cities that the two
men had just whizzed through Danbury
in the direction of Pembroke, Conn:
They had stopped him, he said, and
asked the direction to New London and
Providence, but when told they were
going in the wrong direction they put
on more power and continued north.
1t then occurred to him, he added,
that they were the escaped convlcts.
Fugitives Ask Way to Boston
After hearing this Warden Lawes
hurried to Pembroke by auto. An hour
later word was received from Frank
Carlson, Superintendent of Highways
at Pembroke, that the two men had
stopped him on the outskirts Of the
town and inquired the quickest way to
Boston. Told to retrace their steps, he
said, they darted ahead again.
later report said the two men,
clipping along in a green automobile,
had passed through New Fairfield,
Conn, and were headed for the state
line.
According to Charles Kellogg, resi-
dent, the men passed his home and
n .
they should take. Suddenly they
stopped. he said, and started back in
the direction of Danbury. He added
If they were to turn to the right on the
first road leading out of New Fairtie Id
their course would then be in direct
line with Providence.
Trail Of the fugitives was again
picked up near Sherman, Conn, when
it was discovered they had camped for
few hours on a portion of the summer
estate of Big Bill' Edwards at Green
Pond. The embers of fire were visi-
BILE and a portion of the Connecticut
license plate, stolen during their wild
fight Sunday morning, was found on
the lawn.
Warden Lawes sent messages to
Rhode Island and Massachusetts cities
TO be on the lookout
Several States Notified
Other messages were sent to points
in northern New York, Vermont,
Canada and Pennsylvania, and later
word was received from Winnipeg that
officials there had taken up the search
in the belief that the fugitives. plent-
fully supplied with money as they are,
might try to reach that point by train
During the day Warden Lawes was
Informed that New York State Con-
stabulary, though urged to join in the
man hunt, failed to respond, saying
hat as it was rainy night they
couldn't go out. This was vigorously
denied later, it being explained that
only one member of the constabulary
was on duty at Brewster, and the mes
sage was not deleverd to him until
late Sunday
1t was announced that prison officials
will conduct an inquiry to ascertain
why either man was permitted access
to the key room, which is strictly
against the rules. Another subject of
inquiry will be the taking by Keeper
Webster Of his revolver inside the
walls, which is strictly prohibited by
the regulations.
Officials secuted the idea that the es-
cape of Stivers and Bassett was the re
suit of collusion with bank messengers
arrested in connection with the $5,000,-
600 Wall Street bond plot last spring
rumor earlier in the day was to the
effect that certain bond sWindlers now
under arrest had boasted that q man
named Stivers would be liberated
through political pull if he was ar
rested.