The New York herald., 1922-01-18
Prisoner a Trusty Serving
Time After Fleeing From
GuardhOuse in Germany.
WEARS GARB OF CONVICT
Buttermilk Channel Guarded
to Prevent His Swimming
to Brooklyn.

Harold Stern. %. son of a Boston
police matron and deserter from the
American Army of Occupation, escaped
yesterday from Fort Jay. Governors
Island, taking with him two 5caliher
army automatics.
The escape, which was Stern's Sec
ond, and the first from the island in
fsve years, was discovered soon after
o'clock. Within an hour every nook
and corner of the island was being
searched by the members of the in
fantry. Police of botL New York and
Boston have been asked to aid in the
search
Although he had escaped from a
guard house in Germany more than
year ago and was recaptured only
when he tried to reenter the United
States three months ago, Stern was
trusty at Castle William prison on the
island. He was last seen at noon
when he Checked in" for lunch. His
movements between 12:45 and 4:l5
p. M. have not been accounted for.
During this interval he was supposed
to have been painting the quarters Oh
Major I. l. Samuelson, prison officer.
within 200 yards from the guardhouse.
Az far as the army authorities have
becfiD able to ascertain Stern did not
"a back to the Majors quarters after
luncheon.
one Pistol ont of order.
The army pistols which the military
had been III
4 desk in Major Samuelsons room. One
IA understood to have been somewhat
out of order but the other was in per-
feet condition. The disappearance OF
Stern and the weapons simultaneously
led army officers to warn the police
that the prisoner will put up hgnt
II cornered.
stern weighs 100 pounds. is feet and
sN inches in height, has dark brown
hair. gray protruding eyes and a ruddy
COMPLEXION. At noon he wore O. Fatigue
s,,It. which consists OF overalls and
1umper. on the back of which was
stamped the letter "P" with his prison
number AS prisoner he was un'
usually quic. and the type who Is not
inclined to take others into his con-
Adence. say those who had opportunity
10 observe him. For this reason the
authorities on the island are proceeding
on the belief that ne acteo aiohe IN tie
escape.
How Stern got off the island is
mystery. 1t was first thought he might
possibly have stolen an officers uni
form but a checkup was made and
none was found missing. There was no
record OF Stern having received any
visitors in the three months he was
imprisoned on the island. which clint
mated the possibility that some one
could have smuggIed civilian clothing
to him. These facts caused a redoubling
OF the search on the island after night
fall. The officers felt that unless a
confederate had been waiting off the
island in a launch, Stern might possibly
be seeking an opportunity to swim
across Buttermilk Channel to Brook
lyn, a short quarter of mile.
Faces Added Fifteen Years.
~ Details concerning Stern's escapade
On Germany could not be obtained. IL
was the impression of Sergeant James
skinne. head night guard at the prison,
that he had about nine months more
to serve Of year sentence for his Ger
many escape. II he is rearrested now
he faces possible fifteen year sentence
stern will fight IL he is cornersd.
said Sergeant Skinne. "He did not take
those guns with him for nothing. / wish
the Major would send me to Boston
He'd come back on his legs or in box. .