MYSTERIOUS GAOL ESCAPE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18103, 11 February 1922, Page 2 (Supplement)

MYSTERIOUS GAOL ESCAPE

CELL BARS SAWN THROUGH.

DOORS LOCKED AND POLICE NEAR.

William Hoffman, alias Edward Russell, who escaped from the Ohio state ponitontiatry in May, 1919, sawed his way to freedom on a recent morning from the West Chicago avenue police station.

The escape is regarded as mysterious by the polico. It is perfectly clear how Hoffman got ouit of his cell; one of the bars had been sawed through. But after effecting his release from tho small cell, the polico say, the prisoner was no nearer freedom than before, as he had only let himself into the "bull pen."

The door of the " bull pen" was locked, according to Daniel Hogan, the lock-up keepor. There are no windows through which a man could get out.

The only possible exits from tho " bull pen" are doors. Ono of these is in the front of tho station, and to get to it Hoffman would have been compelled to walk past the desk sergeant. It is not thought lie could have gono out this way without. J)cing seen. The other door is at tho side of tho station. Any ono passing out that way would have to walk through tJie liarn, where tho waggon men were sitting. The waggon men say they saw or heard no one going out that way.

I An investigation of the escape was started immediately by Captain Matthew Zimmer. Lockup Keeper Hogan, questioned before the captain's arrival, stated vehemently that he had locked thevdoor to the " bull pen." With this Vloor locked, he said, ho thought it was impossible for Hoffman to get out. The escape, ho said, was mado about 4 o'clook in the morning. In chcoking up on the prisoners, the lockup keeper discovered the sawed bar with soap shavings lying on the floor under it.

When Captain Zinimor arrived at the station, he called Hogan in for questioning. The captain said later that Hogan had made a statement, but refused to djvulgo any part of it.

"I will make an investigation of this case personally, and when I am (through I'll make a report to the chief, and that's all,' Captain Zimmer said. Hoffman was arrested by a policeman, who had stopped Hoffman and was not satisfied with the answers lie gave. At the station a jimmy, a flashlight, and a loaded revolver were found in Hoffman's possession. When be learned he was to be taken to tho bureau of identification Hoffman admitted he had escaped from the Ohio state penitentiary.