New Britain herald., 1929-02-05
BRENNAN'S Slayer
DESCRIBES ESCAPE
Piolo Says BE Made Sing Sing
Getaway IN Heavy Poe

Elizabeth, N. J., Feb. NeThe
slayer Of Bill Brennan. heavyweight
pugtlist, was in jail today after hav-
ing been = fugitive from Sing Sing
prison for two years.
Joseph Piolo, who disappeared
mysteriously from prison on the
night of March :. 1897 was arrested
here last night a. = Suspicious char
acter. Detectives took him into Gus
tody after watching his movements
for more than = week. Their sus-
picions had been aroused by the sus-
poets apparent prosperity, with no
visible means OF support.
When approached in Z cafe he
said he was James Lavelle Of 500
Broadway. Newark. Detectives said
they found a pistol in his pocket. An
automobile he had been driving waa
registered In Union county under a
fictitious name. Police said his iden-
tity as the escaped convict was e.
tablished through police records.
He said that under cover OF Q
heavy fog he slipped out Of his cell
carrying his mattress with him.
making his way to the top OF the
wall with the mattress. He said he
held it before him and leaped into
the Hudson river.
Swimming a distance. OF about
three city blocks. he climbed ashore
and was away before the siren on
the prison sounded warning a pris-
oner had escaped.
Prison authorities when notined
of the capture immediate sent oni-
GERS to confirm the identity and 10
claim the prisoner.
Pioli was indicted with four others
for murder in connection with the
shooting to death of Brennan in the
former boxers cabaret In New York
city In July, 1924. He pleaded
guilty to manslaughter in the first
degree in October of the same year
and was sentenced to Sing Sing for
20 years.
Escape Is Kept Secret
On the night of February ;, 1927
.PioN and another convict, George
Walmale, were reported missing
from the prison. For several days
prison authorities refused to admit
they had escaped, maintaining that
the prisoners were hiding within the
walls Of Sing Sing.
In April of the same year a man
surrendered to police OF San Diego,
/, Cal, saying he was Pioli and asking
to be locked up because he feared
he would commit another crime. He
was unable. however to convince
Sing Sing authorities he was the es-
capped convict and later changed his
story, claiming to be Joseph Ferri.
He was released. "
Bill Brennan, Chicago pugilist.
who at one time was q contender
for the heavyweight championship,
retired from the ring in 1923 after
being knocked out by Luis Firpo.
Jack Dempsey knocked him out
twice, once in six rounds In 1913
and in IL rounds in 1920.
After quitting the fight game,
Brennan became proprietor OF =
cabaret known as Tia Juana in up
per New York city. On the night
of July Is. 1924, Brennan was IN
his establishment when five men en-
tered and opened fire on him.
AS Brennan fell, James Cullen, 4
state trooper, went to his assistance
end was shot, dying later from the
wound Two men said to be men,
ters Of the gang. James Hughes and
frank Rossi. we're arrested immed-
lately after the shooting. Pioli was
taken later.
The killing of Brennan was be-
lieyed to have been the outcome OF
a quarrel between the former fighter
and Pioli, who had been elected
from the cafe by Brennan for using
abusive language to a woman.
pioli was under indictment for the
Staying of his brother, Santos, when
arrested for the Brennan killing.