Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-12-12

To-Day ana the authorities
have about abandoned
hope of carrying out his
execution next Thursday Five thous-
and policemen, many armed with
rifles, riot guns and tear bombs,
searched thru the night and morning
for the most feared slayer, but found
no trace of O'Connor nor his COM
panions.
\ Chief Fitzmorris threatened to sus-
pend any officer who attempted to
take O'Connor alive. The chief said
O'Connor was literally showed out Of
Jail by some official on the inside"
The chief of police OF Detroit report
cd ihat one OF ,n meu n fleeing
in a stolen auta here answered D Goa
nor's description Tho RIO abandoned
the auto after it had been wrecked.
The car was identified by its license
| tdsts as ono -LJ.L dL kincaId, ill
Chicago, Dec. 12.-"Lucky' Tommy
O'Connor, gunman and killer was to
have been led today to the death cell
in the Cook county Jail there to await
his hanging on Thursday morning for
the killing of policeman, but instead
IO'Connor was leading the combined
force OF 1900 police and deputies a
merry chase after a sensational escape
from the Jail. Four Jail guards were
overpowered by O'Connor and four
other prisoners, but OConnor's repu-
tation as killer suffered when he
failed to use a revolver which had
been smuggled to him. The Jail
break was characterized by Chief of
Police Fitzmorris as "frameup" be-
tween OConnor and the jail officials
and the chief ordered his men to
bring O'Connor in dead not alive.
Searching inquiries were also started
by States Attorney Robert Grove and
Sheriff Chas. Peters. The sheriff sus-
pended three guards and also offered
a reward of $4,000 for O'Connors ap-
Iprehension Jail Guard David Strauss,
Darling Dave" O'Connor, the gun.
mans brother and several prisoners
were to be questioned again today.
Strauss was quizzed at length, but
failed to satisfy the prosecutors and
was removed to an outlying police
station All Jail rules were violated
in handling the prisoners according to
a member of the states attorneys Of
fee.
Trace Down Many Ciews.
Hundres of reports have been
| received by the police of O'Connor's
hiding place but no direct trace Of
) the fugitive or his companions Edwin
Darrow his cellmate and James La
porte, convicted robber, has been OBJ
tained
In investigating reports OF plans to
: assist in the escape Of O'Connor, Jail
officials said they learned that on
= Saturday night man drove an auto
mobile to the side of the jail and
paced up and down the street for
three hours. II also developed that
O'Connor had picked three able con-
federates and each rendered excellent
service. Darrow awaiting trial for
$50 900 robbery knew the interior OF
the Jail. LaPorte, convicted Of a $780,
600 robbery was aware of the posi-
tions of the guards and SponageL
convicted tea store bandit was picked
because Of his massive frame ana
strength. O'Connor and his particular
crOnies in the cell block were: Dar-
row. IaPorte, Chas McDermott and
Clarence Sponagel all except McDer-
mott being convicted robbers The
men were talking and laughing when
Guard Strauss opened the cell doors
and allowed them into the bull pen
for daily exercise. When Strauss
opened the outer gate to allow two
prisoners to return from the hospital
he was seized by Sponagel and choked
" so that he could make no outcry.
The prisoners had Just been released
from their individual cells to mingle
in the morning exercise period when
. the rush for liberty was started.
} O'Connor whipped out a revolver and
= showed il into Strauss ribs. arrow,
who was standing just inside the gate
took the key from Strauss hand. The
guard was carried inside, bound and
gagged, O'Connor forcing the other
! prisoners to the end of the cell block
in the meantime, and then thrown
into a cell. OConnor, Darrow, La
Porte. Sponagel and McDermOtt then
ran out of the cell block down the
stairs to the third floor. There they
: found two guards who were also sub
= dued by O'Connor with the revolver.
Both were taken back up stairs and
r trussed and gagged and thrown into
e the cell. Just vacated by O'Connor.
g Lower Selves On Elevator.
e The quintet used a freight elevator
: in getting to the basement where
: they forced a guard who vas watch
:, ing some trustees" clean the kitchen
n to part with his keys. These opened
: a door leading into an alley in the
; rear of the Jail, O'Connor. Darrow,
. La Portland Sponagel were forced 10
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