KIDNAPPING GANG BREAKS GAOL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 46, 17 November 1937, Page 5

KIDNAPPING GANG BREAKS GAOL

— Presa Aasn.-

Smuggled Pistol Used to Subdue Guard G-MEN ORDERED TO SHOOT ON SIGHT

(By Telesranh

-3opvrlh,lit. )

(Received 17, 10.50 a.m.) SYRACUSE (New York), Nov. 16. Three members of the gang who kidnapped John O'Connell, jun., at Albany, New York, in 1933 eseaped early this morning from the penitentiary, utilising a pistol which had apparently been 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 Oley, Percy Geary and Harold Crowley — djove from the prison three miles to the -centre of the city, Wbere they transferred to another motor and drove off. The trussed guard extricated himself and ran to police headquarters. A patrol has been established on all highways in central New York. An alaTm bas been broadcast in eigbt States. Guards have been assigned to Mr. O'Connell 's home because of the fear of an attempt at vqngeance. The guard said that the convicts mentioned a "tommy" gun, but he did not see any. The broadcast emphasises that the fugitives are armed and dangerous. Before their escape to the yard, the convicts bound and gagged the matron, It has been discovered that the bars of Geary 's cell had pTeviously been sawn and then stuck together with gum. The Department of Justice has posted a reward of 2000 dollars for each of the fugitives and has ipstructed G-men to shoot to kill on sight. Mr. O'Connell is politically promin•ent. His kidnapping caused the biggest sensation in years.