The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-12
O'C0N
ESCAPES IN
JAIL BREAK
Gunman, Under Death
Sentence, Makes Clean
Getaway.

Chicago. Dec. 12.-The chief
of police of Detroit, Mich, tele-
graphed Chicago police today
that one of the three men seen
fleeing in a stolen automobile
there, answered 0'COnnOr's de-
scriPtiOn.
Chicago, Dec. 12.-'Lucky' Tom
nv O'Connor, gunman and killer,
was to have been led to the death
cell today in Cook county jail, to
await his execution, Thursday
morning, for the killing of police
man. but instead O'Connor was
leading the combined force of 5000
policemen and deputies a merry
chase, after a sensational escape
from the Jail
Four Jail guards were overpow-
cred by O'Connor and four other
prisoners, but O'ConnOr's reputa-
ton as a killer suffered when he
failed to use a revolver, which had
been smuggled to him.
"FEameup," Says Chief.
The jail-break was characterized
bv Chief of Police FitZn1orriS as a
"frameup between O'COnnor and
the Jail officials" and the chief or
dered his men to bring O'Connor in
dead, not alive.
Searching inquiries were also
started by States Attorney Robert
Grove and Sheriff Charles Peters.
The sheriff suspended three guards
and also offered reward of $500
for O'Connor's apprehension.
Jail Guard David Strauss, "Darl-
ing Dave" O'Connor, the gunman' 5
brother, and several prisoners were
to be questioned again today.
Strauss was quizzed at length, but
failed to satisfy the prosecutor and
was removed to an outlying station.
All Jail rules were violated in
handling the prisoners, according
/ to a member of the states attor-
ney's Office
No Trace Found.
/ Hundreds of reports have been
received by the police of O'Connor' S
hiding place, but no direct trace OF
| the fugitive or his two compan-
ions, Edwin Darrow. his cell-mate,
and James LaPorte, convicted rob-
Der, has been obtained.
In investigation of reports OF
plans to assist in the escape OF
| O'Connor, Jail officials said that
they learned that on Saturday night
| a man drove an automobile to the
side of the Jail and paced up and
down the street for three hours. 1t
also developed that O'Connor had
picked three able confederates, and
each rendered excellent services.
| DarroW, awaiting trial for S60,-
| 900 robbery, knew the interior OF
the jail; LaPorte, convicted of a
$50, 900 robbery, was aware of the
positions of the guards, and Spon-
| agel, a convicted tea store" bandit
was picked because of his massive
! frame and strength.
How They Did It
O'Connor and his particular
cronies in the cell block were Oar
row. LaPorte, Charles McDermott
and Clarence Sponagel, all except
! McDermott being convicted rob
bers. The men were talking and
laughing when Guard Strauss op-
ened the cell doors and allowed
them into the bull pen for theil
daily exercise. When Strauss op'
ened the outer gate, to allow two
prisoners to return from the hospi
tai, he was seized by SponageI anC
choked so that he could make NJ
outcry. The prisoners had jus
been released from their individual
cells to mingle in the morning ex
ercise period when the rush TO
| liberty was started. O'Conno
whipped out a revolver and showed
it into Strause's ribs. Darrow, WHIT
was standing just inside the gate
took the key from Strauss hand
The guard was carried inside
bound and gagged. O'Connor fore
ing the other prisoners to the 9th
er end of the cell block in th'
meantime, and they were thel
thrown into a cell.
Throw Guards in Cell.
O'Connor, Darrow, LaPorte
SponageI and McDermott then raI