The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-02-11
FELIX SANCHEZ.

The developments in the criminal record
of last week, and with which the name OF
this unfortunate man was connected, have
naturally awakened in the minds of our
readers desire to know how far implicat-
ed,he was in the alleged conspiracy between
him and the recently executed Stephens to
murder the keeper and escape. We there
fore dispatched our reporter to the Tombs,
where, through the kindness of the War
den, Chas. Sutton, Esq, an interview was
had with Sanchez, and from whom the fol-
lowing statement was obtained:
James Stephens, whose cell was imme-
diately adjoining that of Sanchez, had,
through some unexplained means, come in
to possession of two revolvers, one of which
he managed to place in the hands of San
chez, and not caring to risk the consequent
ces of the act himself, proposed to Sanchez
on Sunday evening, the 29th ult., that
when his (StephensO supper, which he was
in the habit of eating after the other pris-
oners had retired, was brought, he should
request the keeper to transfer the tray to
Sanchez's cell, and when entering the lat
ter was to shoot him down, possess himself
of the keys, release Stephens, and both
then make their escape. Brandy was
passed by Stephens through the cess-pipe
to Sanchez to nerve him for the deed. To
this proposition Sanchez did notopenly OBJ
iect, although, as he said with much feel
ing, 'liberty, after the long confinement I
have suffered, would be sweet indeed, yet
I could not purchase it at such price. In
a crazy fit of exhausted forbearance | struck
fatal blow. God is now visiting his dis
pleasure, and how should l ever expect
His mercy or forgiveness should l, in cold
blood, have taken this poor mans life 7"
Sunday evening arrived. The supper was
brought, and the keeper, victim, as Steph-
ems had intended, was summoned to his
doom. The tray, by the order of Steph-
ems, was handed to Sanchez by the keeper,
who received it with his usual courtesy,
and suffered him to depart. This greatly
exasperated Stephens, who berated San
chez soundly for not executing the plan.
Having lost faith in the soundness of San.
chez, he next resolved to attempt it HIM
self, and accordingly fixed upon the even
ing of the 3Oth, when he intended to have
decoyed the keeper into his cell, shot him,
released Sanchez, and with him made his
escape at any cost; but Sanchez was not
willing, even with the prospect of success,
to become party to the deliberate she'd
ding of innocent blood for the purpose of
furthering selfish motives. He therefore
made known the plan to the intended vic
tim, who took immediate measures to dis
arm the desperate man, which was effected
with some difficulty.
Sanchez is man about five feet and
nine inches in height, of a light brown
complexion, well built, and of rather
pleasing countenance. His extreme cour-
tesy and communicative disposition render
him rather agreeable to talk to, although it
is sometimes difficult to understand him,
from his speaking in rapid manner and
in very broken English. He always speaks
with much emotion of the murder of his
father-in-law, (whom he declares to have
been the last person deserving such fate,)
and claims that he had been for some time
previous to it the subject Of gross and un-
pardonable provocations, which at last ex-
cited him to frenzy, and led him to the
commission of the act. He is, however,
penitent and forgiving, and expresses a
hope of mercy hereafter. No one regrets
the unfortunate transaction more than he
does, and in spite of his present position,
we are impressed, from the above devel-
opments, that there are noble impulses NOV
ing the heart of Felix Sanchez, which Sc
cure for him our heartfelt sympathy.
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