The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-12
Break for Freedom Down Five
Floors and Over Twelve
Foot Wall in the
Jail Yard.
fay Tne AssoeIated Preasl


ner, two-gun man, sentenced TO be
hanged next Thursday for murder, and
two other notorious criminals today
escaped from the county jail. fghting
their way past half a dozen guards,
most OF whom were beaten into un-
consciousness by the desperadoes in
their flight.
Starting IN the fourth floor "bull
pen," where the prisoners were exercis-
ing at IL o'clock this morning. The
break for freedom led down five floors
through the basement, into the Jail
yard and oyer a 12-foot wall to a
street where an automobile was con-
hscated. The driver. q pistol poled
into his face was told to drive like
hell"
A few minutes later the machine
crashed into telephone pole but the
bandits continued their flight. O'Con-
nor Communicated another car, and
when last seen the murdere. who has
been characterized by the police as
Chicago's most desperate gun man, was
headed toward the southside under
world, armed for battle. Two other
prisoners who attempted to escape !
with the trio were captured in the jail
grounds.
The escape, carried out in broad day
light, was the most sensational in
this pas-t OF tho country in many years
and apparently was carefully planned
in advance. 1t was successful despite
the fact that several jailcrs refused to
heed the threat OF O'Connors pistol +
and risIxed their lives in trying to OBJ
struct his dash for liberty.
The two men who escaped with
O'Connor were Edward Darrow, who
is charged with 100000 robbery, and
James LaPorte, alleged to have been
implicated in 100000 robbery. oCon-
nor has been in trouble with the police :
on many occasions, but his apparent |
immunity from conviction earned him
the title Of Lucky Tommy"
Last spring half q dozen detectives
went to O'Connor's house to question |
him about a crime. While they were /
there Policeman Patrick ONeill was /
shot to death and o'Connor. later con-
victed Of the murder, escaped despite I
the presences OF half a dozen officers, |
most of whom were suspended for
their apparent negligence
After several weeks, Tommy's pro- |
verbal luck failed. for he was cap
tured in st. Paul Mimi, brought back
seventy-fve prisoners were exercising
In the bull pen, when oConnor and his i
pals made their break. David Strauss
was the only guard In the room at the !
time. One OF the men, according to /
Strauss suddenly whispered something 20
O'Connor The i've prisoners in the Jail I
break jumped on Strauss. O'Connor draw
ing a revolver which had been smuggled /
to him. A sack was placed over Strauss
head and he was beaten into unconscious
ness, o'Connor repeatedly brought down
the butt Of the pistol on the guards /
head.
hearing tho commotion, two other
guards rushed into the bull pen. o'Connor
ordered them 70 throw up their hands, /
but they refused and sprang forward. |
Apparently afraid that the sound OF /
shooting would bring SO many guards I
that escape would be impossible. O'con-
nor did not fire, the guards were beaten
into Inconsistencies. One of the guards
had the keys 20 the Jail and these were
taken from him.
The fve men dashed for the freight /
elevator but ran into an assistant jailer
Pointing the pistol at him, O'Connor /
shouted; stand back, or I'll blow you /
to hell !" the jailer sprang at O'Connor. /
but the criminal hurled him to the floor
and continued his flight
Down TO the basement. past two more
guards. the bandits fed and then started T
20 scale the 12-foot walls surroundsGg the
Jail.
Here two OF the prisoners tripped and
were captured at the foot OF the wall I
but o'Connor and the other two got over
safely.
Robert +. Grove. states attorney im-
mediateiy began personal investigation /
of O'Connors' escape and Chief Of Police /
Fitzmorris assumed personal charge OF
the chase. Scores of policemen, armed .
with shotguns were placed on the mur-
dercr's trail and TO each OF them Chief
Fitzmorris gave these instructions: tThe +
only way to get rid OF murderers like ,
OConnor is to put them in the morgue. 4
Shoot to kin and aim straight"
The supreme court recently refused to Z
reprieve OConnor and a few days ago
held that II had no jurisdiction to ordes
4 stay Of execution pending an appeal to
federal courts.
O'Conuor was IN court yesterday over /
certain legal matters and il is believed ,
that his escape may have been planned
then
III o'Connor is captured before nexti
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