New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-04-07
E.cape and Di.covery OF Monroe Edwards:

an alarm was given in the ing-Sing State Prison
that the celebrated forger Monroe Edrards had
rushed GU, of the workshop in which he was en-
had for some days been pretending to be (if not
really sick, and had therefore been excused from
labor, visiting the Hospital and receiving medicine
and then lying down on his workbench, and
apparently laboring under great pain and de-
preston of spirits. On Tuesday, he began to
write letter stating that he was innocent, had
become tired of his degraded condition, and should
speedily destroy himself. This was taken from
him by Keeper, Gas was doubtless intended.)
The next day, at quarter before six, the Keeper
saw him going, as usual, towards the Hospital,
and took little notice of the circumstance. Very
soon, however, one Of the convcts came in great
haste to the Keeper, saying that Edwards had run
towards the river and jumped off the dock. He
added that he pursued him and reached pole to-
wards him, but Edwards refused to seize it, and
Immediately sunk The Keeper directed the con-
vict to inquire if Edwards had been at the Hospi-
that he had not. The prisoners were then called
up and counted, and Edwards was found not to be
among them. On going to the river, Edwards
cap was found beside the water, with a note in it
briefly stating that he tired Of life and had re-
solved TO end his troubles and that when that note
was found his troubles would be ended. But this,
of course, did not satisfy the vigilance OF the Off
GERS of the Prison The River was dragged but
the prisoners at the same time ordered to their
cells, and a general search commenced. Dead or
alive however it was soon evident that Mr.. Mon
roe Edwards was no where to be found A double
guard was turned out, the alarm given, scouts de-
spatched to this City and elsewhere, and reward
offered for the felon's recovery.
Yesterday morning the search was promptly re-
newed, and soon rewarded with entire success
Mr.. Monroe Edwards was found, about o'clock,
snugly slowed away in the drawer of the table upon
which he usually cut out his boot-petterns, which
was used for slowing away boots and other arti-
ces connected with the labor of the shop. He had
bottle of brandy under arm and @ lot OF
crackers under the other, prepared to hold out
some days, until the hue-and-cry should be over,
when he could easily escape out of Prison. His
bench, and the keepers had tried to open it the
night before, but it was locked and thecunlractora
agent Mr. Shostwell, who held the key, was out
of the way. OF course, there is very strong pre-
sumption, to say the least, that both he and the
prisoner who pretended to see Monroe drown him
self, had been corrupted aid his escape by that
enterprising young man. We learn that about
two months since letter was received by Hon.
Thomas Marshall, of Kentucky, who, it will be
remembered, was one of Edwardss counsel, solic-
ting remittance of $50 for the purchase of suit
of citizens clothes, in which he said ne could make
his escape. He REQUESTED Dir. Marshall to direct
has letter to Mr. SAortweH the Shoe Contrac.
tors Agent, who, he said, would dispose of it for
his benefit. This letter was Immediately sent by
Mr.. Marshall to the Keeper of the Prison.
We understand that Mr.. Shortwell has been ar
rested, and was examined yesterday at / o'clock,
ON suspicion of having aided the attempt OF Ed
wards to escape. He acknowledged that he gave
him tho brandy and crackers which were found in
bis possession but said he did i, merely in pursu-
snce of custom which has been allowed of late, to
give such extra refreshments, although they are
prohibited by the regulations of the Prison, to con-
yicts who are unwe Edwards affected not only
illness, but melancholy and occasional wildness,
endeavoring evidently to give the impression that
he was in come degree insane. and that his suicae
might therefore excite little suspicion. We learn
that he was so far successful in this that Dr. Bran-
dreth, on visiting the Prison not many days ago,
spoke of the apparent insanity of Edwards, and
said that if not strictly watched, he believed he
would commit suicide within fortnight. The
building in which Edwards had concealed himself,
like all the workshops, is detached from that con-
tanning the cells; and there is no wall surround
ing the whole, and no very strict watch maintained
about these separate buildings, it would be no DIFF
culs matter in the night clear the Prison bounds.
By swimming some fifteen rods he could have
reached the main land, the Prison bepg surround
ed by wa,er,) and made his way back into the
country.
We understand that since his first committal
Edwards conduct has been orderly and upexcep-
tionable. The very first time he tried it, he took
nicely as # he had been long accustomed to 1t;
and he fell in so readily and correctly with all the
regulations of the establishment that the keeper
was induced to believe this not to be his first resi-
dence aoithin prison calls Edwards found soon
after his commttal that every vsiter at tie prison
directed special attention towards himself. His
modesty misliked this and he according ely procured
pasteboard shade wherewith to cover his eyes
and most of his face; and when visiters were pre-
sent he piled his hammer and awl with redoubled
vigilance, deigning to look none of them in the