The New York herald., 1921-12-12
MURDERER AND TWO
PALS DOWN GUARDS,
ESCAPE CHICAGO JAIL
Tommy O'Connor, Doomed
to Die Thursday, Leads
Daylight Flight.
Uses SMUGGLED GUN
Trio Rush From rs Prison
ers, Descend Five Flights,
Scale II Foot Wall.
STEAL TWO AUTOMOBILES
Shoot to Kill and Aim
Straight Is Order to PO-
lice Sent on Trail.
STEAL TWO AUTOMOBILES

CHICAGO, Dec. II (Associated Press).
Tommy OConnor, a two gun man,
sentenced to be hanged next Thurs
day for murder, and two other noto-
rious criminals escaped from the
county Jail here to-day, fighting their
way past half dozen guards, most of
whom were beaten into unconscious
ness by the desperadoes in their dash
for liberty.
Starting in the fourth floor bull
pen.' where the prisoners were exer-
cising, at IL o'clock his morning, the
break for freedom led down five floors.
through the basement, into the Jail
yard and over a twelve foot wall to a
street, where an automobile was con-
flscated. The driver, a pistol poked at
his face, was told to drive like hell"
few minutes later the machine
crashed into a telephone pole, but the
bandits continued their fight. O'Con-
nor commandeered another car, and
when last seen the murderer, who has
been characterized by the police as
Chicago's most desperate gunman, was
headed toward the South Side under
world, armed for battle. Two other
prisoners who attempted to escape
with the trio were captured in the jail
grounds.
Escape Carefully Planned.
The escape. carried out in broad day
light was the most sensational In this
part OF the country I'm many years and
apparently was planned carefully. II
was successful despite the fact that
several jailers refused to heed the
threat of O'Connor's pistol and risked
their lives in trying to obstruct his
dash.
The two men who escaped with
O'Counor We're Edward Darrow.
charged with a $4,000 robbery, and
James La Porte, accused Of having
been implicated In a $4,000 robbery.
OConnor had been in trouble with the
police on many occasions. but his ap-
parent immunity fron. conviction
earned him the title CT Lucky Tommy"
a half dozen detectives went to
OConnor's house last spring &c question
him about a crime. While they were
there Policeman Patrick O'Neill was
shot TO death and O'Connor. later con-
victed of the murder, escaped despite
the presence OF the officers, most OF
whom were suspended for their ap-
parent negligence.
After several weeks Tommy's pro-
verbal luck failed. for nc was captured
in st. Paul. brought back here. con-
victed and sentenced TO be hanged.
Sevcnty-five prisoners were exercising
In the bull pen when O'Connor and HIS
pals made their break. David Strauss
was the only guard In the room at the
time. One or the men, according to
Strauss, suddenly whispered something
20 OConnor. The five prisoners in the
jail break simultaneously jumped on
Strauss. OConnor drawing n revolver
which had been smuggled to him. A
sack was placed over Strausss head
and he was beaten into unconsclousness
O'Connor repeatedly brought down the
butt of the pistol on the guards head.
Hearing the commotion, two other
guards rushed into the bull pen. O'Con-
nor ordered them to throw UP their
hands. but they refused and sprang
forward. Apparently afraid that the
sound of shooting would bring so many
guards that escape would be impossible.
O'Connor did not fre. The guards wero
beaten into unconsciousness.
One OF the guards had the keys of
the Jail and these were taken from
him.
The five men dashed for the freight
elevator, but ran into an. assistant
TALLER Pointing the revolver at him.
O'Connor shouted: "Stand back or I'll
blow you to hell"
Another Jailer Is FciIcd.
The jailcr sprang at O'Connor, but
the criminal felled him and continued
his fight.
Down to the basement. past two more
guards. the bandits fed and then start
ed to scale the 12 foot wall surround
ing the Jail. Here two Of the prisoners
tripped and were captured at the foot
OF the wall. but O'Connor and the two
others got over safely.
Robert Il. Grove, States Attorney,
Immediately began personal invesu-
cation OF OConnor's escape and Charles
iTitzmorris. Chief OF Police, assumed
personal charge OF the chase. Scores
OF policemen. armed with shotguns,
we're placed on the nurderer's trail, and
TO each of them Chief Fitzmorris gave
these Instructions
The only way to get rid of muir
derers like O'Connor Is TO put them
in the morgue. Shoot 10 kill and
aim straight.
The Supreme Court recently refused
to reprieve OConnor and few days
ago held that It had no Jurisdiction to
order q stay of execution pending an
appeal TO Federal courts
OConner was In court yesterday over
certain legal matters, and II Is believed
the escape may have been planned then
If OConnor Is captured before next
Thursday his hanging Will take place
as scheduled, according TO William Scott
Stewart, Assistant States Attorney. II
he IS captured after that time the court
will be compelled 20 fix another date
for hanging Mr. stewart said. Chief OF