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VOLUME 34 NUMBER ‘285tmnmmm — — - iMipNOTORIOUS HELD FOR MADE HIS GETAWAYBEINGKILLEREXECUTIONChief of Police Asserts JailersWere In League With Gunman—Four Guards Dis-armedCHICAGO. Dec'. 12 — 'Lucky”Tommy OU’onner, gunman and killer was to have been led to the death cell in Cook county jail, there to await his hanging Thursday morning for the killing of a policeman, but instead was leading the combined force of 3.000 police and deputies a merry chase after a sensational escape from the Jail. Four jail guards were overpowered by O’Conner and four other prisoners escaped, but O’Conner's reputation as a killer suffered when he failed to use a revolver whigh had been smuggled to him.The Jail break was characterized by Chief of Police Fitmorris as a frame-up between O’Conner and the Jail of-cials” and the chief ordered liis men to bring in O’Conner dead or alive. Searching parties were alsostarted by State’s Attorney RobertCrowe and Sheriff Peters. The sheriff suspended three guards and also offered a reward of $500 for O’Conner sapprehension.Jail Guard David Straus, “Darling |Dave” O’Connor and several prisoners , were to be questioned again today. \ Straits was quizzed at length, but fail-] ed to satisfy the prosecutor and was removed to an outlying polcie station. All jail rules were violated in handling the prisoners according to a member of the states attorney’s of-f.Hundreds of reports have been received by the police of O’Connor's hid.] ing place, but no direct trace of thefugitive or his two companions, Ed-!ward 1 arrow * •■•ft ms md Jan lt;La Porte, convicted robber, has been]obtained. • „ •' IfAssisted Front OutsideIn investigating reports of plans to | assist in the escape of O’Connor, jailj officials say they learned that on Saturday night a man drove an automo-1 bile to the side of the jail and paced up and down for three hours. It also i developed that O’Connor had picked the able confederates and each rendered excellent service. Darrov, awaiting trial for a $50,000 robbery, knew the interior of the jail. I^a Porte convicted of a $30,000 robbery, was aware of the positions of the guards, and Sponagel. a convicted “tea store” bandit was picked because of his mas* •f¥e frame su«i strength. I?? XThe most generally accepted theory to explain O’Connor s possession of the revolver is at the last minute he obtained it from some other prisoner in the bull pen” who would be less carefully watched. The prisoners had just been released from their individual cells to mingle in the morning exercise period when the rush for libertywas stgrtip^f- W'l *• -1 I * * *O’Connor whipped out a gun and shoved it into Straus’ ribs. Darrow who was standing just inside the gate took the key from Straus’ hand. TheAVC.- lt;% \* ■lt;:£%'A4metcMI MilSATMO*TOIiDAT and F begn n ance tfilmsresultand fitwo. 00film t street we re said 1 changseparfentialThemostlowedwateh and C sprealt; plosiohad r The pliedOklal Com p Texas Inc., tion, i o n s, Comp Okother req u eDal lasaid i _Hlw aeros-guard was carried inside, bound and ing a gagged, O’Connor forcing the other; groun prisoners to the end of the cell blockin the meantime. X.. . v ' • .O'Connor. Darrow, La Porte, Sponagel and McDermott then ran out of cell block down the stairs to the third floor. There they found two guards who were also subdued by O’Connor with the gun. Both were taken back upstairs, trussed and gagge d and thrown into the cell just vacated byO’Connor. , •' v* IUsed An Elevator /The quintet used a freight elevator j in getting to the basement where they forced a guard who was watching j some trusties” clean the kitchen, to j part with *h is keys. These opened ajdoor leading into an alley in the rear; of the jail. O’Connor, Darrow, La j Porte and Sponagel were forced to : climb a shed and drop into anoilic- j alley before their way to liberty secured. Sponagel, a heavy built man, broke his ankle when he dropped to the ground. McDermott and a num-j *r of other prisoners tried to escape, j but they w ere stopped by other guards who had in the meantime siezed rifles, i Four automobiles were commandeer- j ed by O’Connor and two of them were w recked. The first driver in his j *^anxiety to comply w ith the wishes of I ° 1 the trio killed” his engine before | going a block. O’Connor boarded an-1 ‘ c other car and flourished his revolver; ,and demanded speed. His companions • •deserted him when he jumped after ® the machine hit the curbing. The next ° machine crashed into a building. p O’Connor was uninjured. The last car seized by the gunman contained two girls and a man and the police have not been able to f*r.lt;2 any trace of tbem.Investigation began immediately af, ter the escape and a dozen prisoners were placed in solitary confinement. j Sponagel was found in the alley with .his ankle broken and was carried back 1 1 to jail. He was to have been taken to Joliet penitentiary today to begin serving his sentem e.KJHassandin taceothevicired tlof 3thatChaitoovicirlocaavaiOD1
Newspaper Details
Abilene Daily Reporter
Abilene, Texas, US
Mon, Dec 12, 1921
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
DC, USA 18 Jan 2019
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