Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-11-11
Payer by Rev. Prof. Jones.


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Monroe Edwards Last Attempt to Escape.
Monroe Edwards is certainly one Of the mos, in
genious and jcx,erous rogucs ,hu, conn>
ned within the walls Of prison. His recent at.
temp, to escape from Sing Sing was well arranged
but most desperate plan, and involved the lives Of
his fellow prisoners. The plan was disclosed to
the keepers by some Of the prisoners who had been
engaged in the conspiracy.
He had two correspondents in New York, known
to be police officers who left letters for Edwards al
window designated by his putting coil Of wire
in i, which they could feel a, night The consr.
rhtors TO fire the prison, and in the confusion
which would be created the parties on the outside
would come in If TO assist, and carry of the
,icts TO slnop which 10 br in Toppan Bay for
that purpose. They were to be landed in Rock.
land county, where they would ate, horses and
make their way off, Tho time was arranged by
leaving grlins Of wheat and corn in of the win
dows-each grain Of corn to signify week and
tho wheat dsv. They were then 10 wait till the
first Sou'hwes, wind was blowing, thst when the
coopers' shops, which ara low wooden buildings.
and which it WAS intended to fire, were burning
the wind would blow the flames directly on the roof
Of the Chapel and Hospital, wind scattered the
corn and foiled the attempt.
They next determined to FIRE The prison. on the
first dsy of Son,hwcs, wind, and seize the sloop
which belongs to the prison, and after crossing the
bay with her, sink her and mike their way iuto the
/ II
| have il, came from New York, and in the afternoon
high Southwest wind was blowing. Fearing
that attempt would I've made tha, night an extra
guard was put on, and three kegs Of powder car
ricd into the chapel, that lift should catch fire tt
would be blown up and communication thus cut Off
from the hospital and prison. The sex convicts
were also orranced that their beds could he rolled
| off from ncri a, moments warning. Friday
| night passed over, and oil had remained quiet and
in The morning Edwards was brough, into the kee-
I'r's room, where he made confe sion Of his ac>
compIices, They informed him taut they knew
n that he was surrounded with spies and could
not escape.
Finding every thing thus al ctually discovered
and all his plans foied, Edwards began 10 beg most
pi'eously for mercy. He was reminded, however
that it evident that he intended to sacrifice the
life Of any person who should olIrr to stop him, and
when he had laid plans which would have resulted
in the ce tain destruction of some ten more SICK
men, was S, thoroughly worthy ofpunishmcnt, and
but for one thing he would as i, WAS escape that
This was that few days ago a gentleman from
Louisiana, while on visit to the prison, saw Ed
wards and stated that he knew ha mother A.; thn
she had been left an Independent fortune; but b,
the vIlainy of her son she was now reduced TO ab
solute want.
= On hearing tlis Let remark, Edwards covere
his face with his hands, and bowing his head a
the tears came to his ewes, he said 'Mr Lynds,
! deserve TO die | know do As hi- was the frs
exhibition of feeling be had seen on the part of Ed
wards, he determined to what effect this woul
have on h., future conduct. lie was ecc1Idingl
e allowed to escape without punishment, and il h
really has any feeling, the nbrance of his mt
=. thers suIcrings brought on by his own villain,
e will cause him many nights of sleepless remorse.
T. This second attempt Of Edwards planne
i with an ncueness worthy of he man ; ana but (,
= the fac, that all around him ready to bcray ev
ry movement there ia every probability that /
! would yet accomplish his ends"