Year: 1879




TWO BIAcKwELL's ISLAND coNvIcTs ovERpowER
DRUNKEN KEEPER, cAPsIzE THEIR BOAT


AND GAIN THE NEW YORK SHORE.


The example set by the convicts Gillespie and
O'Brien. who. with the aid of some friends effected
their escape from Blackwell's Island ON Sunday.
was not lost those they left behind At eleven
O'Clock. yesterday forenoon. two prisoners named
John Coe and Michael Burns, rowing patrol boat
No. in charge of Keeper Patrick Gaffney. and when
of Seventy eighth street made for the landing
powered the keeper. capszed the boat and escaped.
Gafney arrested soon after by officer Janvrn,
of the Twenty-third precinct. who conveyed him to
the Harlem Police Court. where examination took
place. The officer preferred charge of drunkenness
against him and also of completely in
the escape Of the prisoners. He was remanded for
further examination. The escaped prisoners had
citizens clothes under their convict garb and threw
of the latter when they reached the shore.


HERALD reporter called Warden Fox last
evening, but could obtain no definite information
from him in regard to their escape He said
he had nothing positive to communicates.
further than that the boat found
capsized the New York shore. at the foot of Sew
enty-eighth street, and was brought back to the
island. By whom the discovery was made he could
not tell. as Gafrney had returned to report the





prisoners. but referred the reporter to the
books in the office of the Pententary.
Gafney's carbine was found the boat. on
the shore. and brought back. When asked what
action he had taken in the matter the Warden said
he had suspended Gafney. and that an investigation
would be held by tho Commissioners Of Charities
and Correction both in his and in that of Kelly
In answer to the question whether he had OBJ tanned
any clew to the whereabouts Of the missing con-
victs the Warden replied that his men had traced
O'Brien to one of his haunts in the Fourteenth
ward and had actually discovered him in an alley.
but he lodged his pursuers and escaped.


ITO what do you attribute these frequent escapesY
the reporter asked.


This system Of employing convicts instead Of
paid laborers to the boats is all wrong, the
reply. "and while it is continued there must be
escapes. have always been opposed to it. and
guess after while. the authorities will begin to
coincide with my views on that point"


What punishment do you inhict on recaptured
1--WE make them carry the ball and chain If their
good conduct will be denied them"


'You do not use the paddleY'


'Oh no Gaughing). except the paddle in the boats;
and it seems just now that some Of the boys have
used it to their own advantage.


KEEPERS CULpABIILTY.


Mr.. Fox explained that the keepers divided
into two watches Of twelve hours each. In this
Gaffney on the day watch commencing at six in
TX,
two prisoners under his charge to patrol
the river till six in the evening excepting of course.
iocksmith and bell hanger. He resides at No. 227
West Forty seventh street. and was appointed keeper
the 10th of March last. The escape of the pris
while in his charge is in the opinion of the
Warden without shadow Of Justification.
and the latter even went so far as to
only connived at the escape but aided
in it. The fact that the prisoners were dressed in
citzens clothes over which the convict dress hung
loosely. without being detected reported by him
s considered very suspicious circumstances In
with responsible charge yesterday morning.


Uoo Of the @ s Ts1y
was sentenced in the Court of General Sessions
the l4th of last February to one years imprison-
other prisoner. Michael Burns. is thirty-six
years of age, boatman and resident Of Brook
petit larceny this being his third term on the Island
He is by far the more desperate man OF the two.
Gaffney states that it was Burns who first struck
him, although he exhibits no wounds or marks from
blows. The deliberate dofn2 of the prison dress
the shore must have been witnessed by several per-
sons, and yet up to late hour last night there
no Glow to the whereabouts of the fugitives.


THE PROPOSED INVESTIGATION.


The investigation before the Commissioners of
Charities and Correction has been set down for Thurs
day morning at ton o'clock. Kelly, the keeper who
statement Yesterday before the Commissioners and
prayed for an extension OF time for tho holding
of the investigation. so that he may be able to
recapture tho prisoners. Commissioner Brennan
did not attach much importance to the escape the
culprits all "short term men, and their
sentences had nearly expired. No effort will be
spared to the arrest Of the six men who
planned carried ont the escape of Gillespie and
O'Brien, they not only to be held amenable
for aiding and abetting the escape of convcts but
also for assault, with intent to kill, the keeper
Kelly. who narrowly escaped drowning when tho
boat capsiZed.


Gaffney will have another examination to-day.
when he is expected to make statement For the
present he is held on the charge of carrying re-
yolyer This is the second instance within week
in which keeper of Blsckwelrs Island has been held
that charge