Pennsylvania Escapes

For his part in the killing of five Democratic marchers in a 1934 election eve parade at Kalayres, Pa., that mining town's Republican Boss Joseph J. Bruno, onetime county detective, was sentenced to three life terms in prison (TIME, Nov. 19, 1934). Since his last trial, Boss Bruno has been confined in Pottsville's county jail, awaiting removal to Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. One morning last week he asked to be permitted to visit a dentist, was motored downtown by a guard named Guy Irving. Finding the dentist's curb occupied, amiable Guard Irving said he told the murderer to go into the office alone, drove on to park his car. When he returned, Boss Bruno was gone. Four hours passed before he reported the escape to the jail warden. Guard Irving explained that he had been searching Pottsville's business district for the prisoner. Outraged, Pennsylvania's Attorney General Charles J. Margiotti sped to Pottsville for an investigation among Boss Bruno's old political friends. Arrested were Guard Irving, the jail warden, his deputy, Boss Bruno's daughter.

Meantime in Duquesne, another case of lax guardianship presented itself to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's attention. Martin Sullivan, a 70-year-old Duquesne policeman who rouged his cheeks, penciled his eyebrows, dyed his hair and capped a bald spot with a toupee held on by a string under his chin, always liked to have little girls accompany him on his beat, carrying his nightstick. Four years ago he married one of them, aged 15. She lately deserted him. Last week in Duquesne he was taken to court on a charge of having raped another girl, aged 12. On the way back to jail he asked Constable Thomas Gallagher if he might leave him for a few minutes to visit his son. The constable agreed.

Marching to the home of his estranged wife, Policeman Sullivan drew his service revolver, shot her father and mother dead. Reloading, he proceeded three blocks to the home of the girl he was accused of raping, killed her mother and brother. Then he rejoined Constable Gallagher, downed a drink with him, asked to be taken to the home of the social worker who had brought the rape charge against him. When she answered the door, he fired a fifth fatal shot, handed his gun to Gallagher. When Gallagher and Sullivan finally reached their destination, police jailed the accommodating constable too.

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