New-York tribune., 1922-02-04
Boldly in Death
Cell, Foiled in
Plan to Escape
Saws Concealed in Shoes
Given Him by His Sister
Found by Warden on a
Tip by Fellow Prisoner
To Die Week of March l3
Youthful Negro Slayer I'm
moved at Sentence and
Mother Bids Him Pray

Luther Boldly, the youthful negro
murderer Of Detective Sergcants
Buckley and Miller, is in a cell in the
old death house at Sing Sing. under
sentence to die in the electric chair
m the week Of March 49, He reached
there last night. just twenty days
after the double killing, after day
marked by frustrated attempt to es-
cape by means of saws smuggled into
the Tombs by his sister
Up to the last moment. when Boldly
took his place as the twenty-sixth
murderer awaiting execution, the
shrewd mind Of the youthful desperate
was kcenly alert 20 every possibility
Of cheating justice. His eleventh hour
attempt at escape came to naught
through betrayal by fellow prisoner
n the Tombs
Two small but extremely strong and
well tempered hack saw blades we're
struggled into his cell in the soles of
pair Of patent leather pumps which
his sister brought him together with
other clothing. Having extracted the
useful tools, Boldly contemptuously
tossed the now useless shoes to a fell
low prisoner, and thus in careless
moment destroyed the last chance he
had Of making a break for freedom
Prisoner Warns Warden
The other prisoner. noting tclltale
marks on the shoes, Informed the war
den. search Of RoGdy's cell was
made Immediately. and the saws were
found back of the plumbing They
were coNhscatci and extra precautions
were provided at once to guard the
negro murderer.
Shortly after this Boldly was taken
scross TIE Bridge Of Sighs into the
court room where Supreme Court JUS
nee Waeservogel had presided over his
trial. Not single relative of the con
Victed SLAYER was in the court room
Yhen Boldly was arraiened, but outside
upon bench nursing the sorrow that
had over'aken her was his aged
mother.
inside tie court room the crowd sat
gripDed in an atmospherc of tensity
which became surcha~eed as though
with electricity when Justice Wasser-
yogel rose. The latter was abou: to
condemn a fellow being TO death Tor the
-rst time since his elevation to The
bench and his pale face clearly showed
his emotion.
In front o. him stood Boldly, sur
rounded bv ruard :. in direct CHARGE of
Sheriff Percy +. Naele who stood be
hind him. towering above the prisoner.
OF all Tic persons in the court the only
one apparently uncanGerned in the dra- =
n.atlc scene was Boddv himself
fr.l l.. n,ol.
SCARED face when William T. Penny.
the veteran clerk Of tts court, turne j
90 linn ard IN accustomed tones
said; Luther Boldly, what have YOU
now 10 say as f. why sentence o. death
should not be imposed upon YOU"
Judge Reads Sentence
Tho uccro remained silent. and then
Justice Wasservogel, in monotone.
read tho sentence as follows:
The judgment of the court is that
you. Luther Boldly. for the murder in
the first degree Of Francis J. Buckley,
whereof you are convicted, be and you
cby are. sentenced to the punish
mont o. death. and it is ordered that
within ten days after this days ses-
sion Of court the Sheriff of the County
Of New York deliver you. together with
the warrant &C this court, to the agent
State Of New York, at Sing Sing, where
you shall be kept in solitary contine-
rlent until the week beginning Monday,
the 18th day OF March, 1922, and upon
some day within the week 50 appointed
the said agent and warden.of the state
prison Of the State Of New York, at
Sing Sing, Is commanded to do cxecu-
non upon you. Luther Boldly, in the
mode and manner prescribed by the
l.. Of St..t f<.{ No,.lx'
Boldly was Immediately taken to the
Sheriff Office, and his mother, now
dry-eyed, followed meekly in TIE pro-
cession. Later as she caught up she
asked rim; Luther have YOU been
prayi1c7"
con that's all right, ma; don't you
wolry about ME, he rep1ea lightly and
| smiled.
Later as ne was brough: out to be
taken across the Bridge of Signs, his
mother got chance again ana sad
Luther, YOU better be praying"
That vas her farewell.
Lunch Bought for Him
Shortly after that Boldly was taken
to tho Grand Central in patrol
wagon, hardcutfed tc Deputy Sheriff
Larry Rooney. Two other deputies,
and Sheriff Naglc were in the rarty.
soddy declared he was hungry. and
Sheriff Nagie purchased some sand
wiehes and cigar for hin.
Upon arrival at Sing Sing his first
remark was When do eat?' He had
dinner of beef stew, bread and cof-
fee. He gave his pedigree in the
prison office. and he was then sur
rendered to Pr ncipal Keeper Thomas
Mclnerney. He was given bath, and
placed in prison attire, after which he
was taken into cell in the old part
OF the death house. The twenty-three
cells in the new part are all occupied,
as are two others in the old house.
Il feel easier now" was the only
comment he would make, after he had
been incarcerated
New Harlem Fire Boxes