Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-05-17

convicts under the most appalling circumstances. um,v
be well to state, that the cells are in one solid block, en-
trely covered by an outer building, between which and
the cells, is q large area, where 'the sentry walks his
lonely round in the night season, the prisoners being
locked in about shutdown. Very soon after the guard
had been relieved, and somewhat before midnight, a con-
Wet, whose name is Teller, and whose cell Is near the
Southeast corner OF the block, commenced boring Oh the
inside OF his door, directly against the lock with II bit
which he had conrived TO convey TO his cell and sccreto
at dinner time or during the afternoon. Having made
a mole ABOUT TWO inches IN diameter, he succeeded
in pushing back the bolt with a wire; and as soon as
Hoskins had passed OH his round, Teller went to a
cell occupied by Caesar Reynolds, a black. who hand
ed through the small grated opening near the tos
OF his door, a skeleton key, with which Teller unlock
ed C@sar's door. They then followed Hoskins silently
ana at a distance, until they came to another accomplice,
whose cell they unlocked and with whom they continued
to follow directly on after the guard, till they came to a
fourth. They immediately released him, and the four then
noiselessly traverSed the entire circuit OF the area. keepinp
the same distance behind MIR. Hoskins and SO managing
their internai plot as TO be unsupported by him, till thew
came to a nth, whose cell they opened, and whom they
threatened viii, violence unless he would instantly ioin
tnem: Fearing The consequences he refused and they
lett him, as the guard bad walked more than half way
round again.
Two of the villains armed with a steel bar Is inches
long aud one thick, then proceeded on at a quicker pace
after Mr.. Hoskins, while the other two, taking the samo
direction, repaired TO Crsar's cell, near the north west
corner OF the block, where they waited till Mr.. Hoskins
had approached TO within - or IL eet,-the then step
ped out in front OF him. Alarmed at their sudden and UNI
expected appearance, he halted and enquired what they
were about, when one OF the two in his rear struck him
WIN great violence ON the top OF his head and broke his
skull. As he Tell he exclaimed /" don't kill me- and a sti-
heu cry oil murder was heard, one Of the monsters having
sprung upon him and covered his mouth with his hand
The unfortunate guard probably survived but a few mo-
ments, and alter the monsters had deliberately felt his
pulse and aseertained his death, they advanced 10 a small
iron door, through which the provisions of the prisoners
are passed to them from the kitchen, and with another
skeleton Key attempted to open it. Fortunately one of
the wards OF the key was broken OIL in the attempt,
aud as they found it impossible to turn the bolt with
the remaining portion, they endeavored TO pry the door
open or TO break II with the steel bar. This they could
not do. The female apartment is separated from the male
by a thick stone wall, aud the entrance from the latter il
secured by a massive iron-clad door. During the attack
upon tioSkins and the efforts to escape which Immediate
ly followed, the noise was heard by a female convict, who
IN a most praise"orthy manner, called out to the matron.
mat The prisoners were loose aud attempting 10 effect an
entrance into the female apartment. She succeeded i'm
awakening the matron, who instantly repaired TO the door
and drawing the slide perceived four convict, at liberty in
the area aud working at the small door leading into the
cook room. Without loss OF time she reached the yard wall
anu went round on that TO the guard room. Teller mean
nlenadlng The area, Initiating the deceased in his walk
and cries. The deception was complete. AS soon as the
warden aud guards were notified Of passing events thew
rushed into the area and fastened 10 the scene. The lib
Grated convicts, how ever, soon got wind of this movement
~ instantly made Tor their cells. One of them, a black,
oy me name oil Johnson, was locked i'll by Teller, and
Iesar required The same favor, but Teller told him to take
care ol himself. They awaited the approach of the guard
without moion-contessed the whole, except the wiIGul
murder, and declared tia. ii was not their intention TO have
HiHea Hoskins, but only to have disabled him. The four
murderers ae now in irons in their cells.
Cesar was sentenced some three or four years ago for
tor four years ouly and his sentence would
have expired in one year-ihe third, a white man by the
name oil ReyDold, Tor fourteen years, and Teller for fifteen.
lei'er Is the same individual " no came from New York
to this city in August, 1890, aud very alroitly passed off a
large number OF bills on the Union Bank altered from ones
" 'ehs' carrying his speculations a little too far, he was
arrested and convicted. While in this city, he called him
sell John Scott, and after his release from Sing Sing, in the
ialter part Of 1929, he went in New York by the name of
William Y. Evans. His real name is William Teller.
very soon after his commitment to our State Prison, he at
tempted TO cut of his right hand in order to free himself
from future labor, but did notsucceed. lie was consider
CD one Of the most daring ana finished s~coundrels, who in
tested the City of New York.
An inquest was held over the body on Wednesday, and
the deceased was declared by the jury to have boen will
iully murdered.
Mr.. Iioskins was formerly from Sin,sbury-was about
o. years OF age, and somewhat deaf-Iimes.