Pueblo chieftain., 1921-12-12
CHlCACO'S MOST
DARING BANDIT
BREAKS PRISON
Tommy o'Connor, Sen.
) fenced To Hang Thurs
day Makes Escape

Chicago, ILL.,. Dec. 11.-fBy Tho Asso-
gun man, sentenced to be hanged
Thursday for murder and two other
notorious criminals today escaped from
the county jail, fighting their way
past half dozen guards. most OF
whom were beaten into unconscious
ness.
Starting in the fourth floor bull
pen" where the prisoners were eXer-
cising at II o'clock this morning the
break for freedom led down five floors
thru the basement into the jail yard
and over a 12-foot wall to a street
where an automobile was confiscated
and the driver threatened with a pis-
tol and told to drive Ike hell" Then
shortly afterward the machine crashed
into telephone pole. but the bandits
kept going. o'Connor Communicated
another car and when last seen the
murderer who has been characterized
by the police as "Chicago's most des-
perate gunman'' was headed toward
the South Side. armed for battle.
The others went on afoot.
The escape. in broad daylight ap-
parently was carefully planned Sew
eral iailers risised their lives In trying
to stop o'Cornor. The other two who
escaped were Edward Darrow. charged
with a $4,000 robbery and James La
Porte. alleged to have been implica ted
In $4,000 robbery. o'Connor had
been in trouble with the police on
many occasions but his apparent inn
munity from conviction earned him
the title of Lucky Tommy"
Last spring Detectives went to his
house to question him. While there
Policeman Patrick O'Neii was shot to
death and OConnor later. convicted
for murder, escaped. eteE.
After several weeks he was captured
in ST. Paul, brought back here. con-
yicted and sentenced TO hang Thurs
day.
Sevcnty-five prisoners were e1ercis-
Ing on the fourth floor bull pen toda y
when O'Connor and his pals made
their break. Besides the three who got
away, two safebiowers and Eunmen
tried 10 escape. but were captured.
David Strauss WIS the only guard in
the room. The five prisoners suddenly
Jumped on Strauss. o'Connor drawing
revolver which had been smugsled
to him. ~ -
A sack was placed over Strauss head
and he was bcatens' into unconscious
ness.
"a ward jefferson and Charles Moore
guards. rushed into the bull pen. o.
Conner ordered thsm to throw up
their hands but they sprung for the
N1uIufTFT. " blA dfAA'TNpn On
tho head with the pistol. The other
prisoners beat Moore into unconscious
nsss.
Wrestling the Jail keys from reffer-
non. the five ds shed for tho freight
elevator. They ran into Frank I>or-
decki. an assistant jailer. Pointing the
pistol at kordacLi, oConnor shouted:
stand back or IN blow you to
Hem"
Kordecli however rprsnS at o'Con-
nor but the criminal hurled him TO the
floor.
Down to the basement. past two
more guards. the bandits fled and then
started to scale tn. i2-foot jail wall.
Two were captured there.
Robert +. Grove, stste's- attorney
Immediately began a personal inves,i-
cation and chief Of police Charles
Fitzmorrls assumed charge OF tho
cha-~. His instructions were:
shoot TO XIII and aim straight"
oCcnnor was in court yesterday
over certain legal matters and It is be-
Ieved the escape may have been
planned then.
Darling Dave Tommys brother.
was questioned by tho police tonight.
lie was In court and talked 10 Tommy
yesterday.