ESCAPE FROM PRISON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23352, 18 November 1937, Page 11

ESCAPE FROM PRISON

AMERICAN KIDNAPPERS GUARD BOUND AND GAGGED NEW YORK, Nov. 16. (Received Nov. 17, at 5.5 p.m.) Three members of the gang which kidnapped John O’Connell, jun., at Albany, New York, m 1933 escaped early this morning from the penitentiary, utilising a pistol apparently smuggled in to force the guard to unlock the cell and escort them to the yard, where they took the keys from a second guard, who was then bound and gagged and thrown into the rear seat of his motor, in which he had just arrived at work. ’ The convicts— namely, John Oiey, Percy Geary and Harold Crowley—drove from the prison three miles to the centre of the city, where they transferred to another motor and drove off. The trussed guard extricated himself and ran to police headquarters. A patrol was established in all highways of Central New York, and the alarm broadcast in eight States. . M Guards were assigned to Mr O’Connell’s home, as they fear an attempt at vengeance. A guard said the convicts mentioned a submachine gun, but he did not see an, The broadcast emphasises that the fugitives were armed and were dangerous. Before the escape to the yard the convicts bound and gagged the matron. It was discovered that the bars of Geary’s cell were previously sawn and stuck together with gum. , T ~ . The Department of Justice has posted a reward of 2000 dollars for each of the fugitives and has instructed G-men to shoot to kill on sight. .... Mr O’Connell was politically prominent, and the kidnapping caused a sensation.