New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-31
BoLD CONSPIRACY.
DARING PLAN OF THE MURDERERS STE
pHENS AND SANCHEZ TO ESCAPE FROM
THE TOMBS


pHENS AND SANCHEZ TO ESCAPE FROM
THE TOMBs.
Abou, ten da, ago, the Deputy Keepers of the City
Prison Uncovered, upon examining the cell of James
Stephens, convicted OF the murder Of his wife, and
whose execution was fixed Tor Friday next, that the
culprit had large hole in tie wall toward the cell
occupied by Felix SaDchez. The rubbish had been
eiuy concealed by Stephens under his bed and the
hole stopped up with empty cigar boxes, and very
carefully covered over with newspapers. This fact
was communicated to Mr.. Sutton, the Warden oil
he City Prison, who Immediately visited the
prisoner and informed him that If he
made any further such attempt at escaping
be should be transferred TO a dark CELL Stephens was
an moody as usual and vouchsafed no reply. The hole
in the wall was rebuilt aud Stephens was permitted 70
remain IL toe same cell. Sizes toat tiue he has ben
les tasaliye than usual with the keepers, conversng
opy with those of his friends who permitted to
visit him.
Yesterday morning damnable scheme on the part
of the wife poisoner communicated TO Warden sui
toD the revelation of which 70 the pub &c Will Doubtless
DIVE from The breasts Of the most humane any sympa-
thy heretofore entertained for the wretcbed man. IL
appears that Messrs. FiDdjey and Cunningham, the
uirh watcbmen in the prison, bad been IN the habit
for some time past of giving Stephens and Sanchez
le;, snpn.r in the evening after all the other prison.
era Lad been secured in their respective cells. Ste
nj enss plan was TO shoot down Findey the moment
he open,d bis cell door, and then attack and kill Cum
nipobsm. whom be calculated 10 take off his guard.
II was then arranged that he should release Sanchez,
and that the two should don the clothing Of the de-
ceased watchuen secure the prison keys, and thus re-
gain their liberty.
The Dian as 10 be carried into effect the night of
tie 301h inst Qast night. Sheriff Kelly, being the
only official ut the present time responsible for the acts
f,be doomed man. hastily for andthe murder
Gus I'll ,eveaed 10 hp by Mr. SaIton After brefcon-
suatIon il was resolved to visit forthwith the cells oil
Stephens end Sanchez. The cell OF the former was
first visited and upon entering, the Sheriff informed
him, in a civil msnDer that, in accordance with prison
usaee he, with his deputies, would be obuged 10
search thoroughly bis person and CELL Stephens with
ont exhibiting any unusual actions, demurred TO the
proposition, and hoped that he would not be SUBJECT
ed to such numiiatiug treatment de was AGAIN t'id
tat such a course was absolutely pecetssTy, 70
which be made the most strenuous obecti ons;
upon lie was informed that ,he prison-keeperS sus-
pected something wrong. Stephens pretended TO DO
indignant at the idea that suspicion of wrong shoud be
eneItoined against bin.
He cid not care to be disturbed as he occupied the
gre part Of his time in preparing for DEATH lie did
not modest anybody and cid not want TO be molesed
in his deyotiops and he thought t exceeding unknd in
any one 10 interfere with him when he had but few
DAYS more TO ive Stephens made other pretexts but
was tod they were of avoi. The Sheriff ana Oh-
Ger Cunningham at this time suddenly seized him by
the arms, when he struggled violently, and made
a desperate effort to get oDe Of his hands
dot ma mn
frustrated, and bis arms being forced behind bis
back, handouts were placed about his wrists by the
warden. His pockets were then searched, IN one Of
VIII ch was found stout knife, and in the other Six
barrel revolver heavily loaded. The cell was then
thoroughly searched, but other weapons were
found. He offered justification for bis conduct and
nothing worthy of note said TO him by The oicerr
who after fully satisfying themselves that the cell was
free from weapons let the doomed man 10 his own
reflections.
The officials then visited the cell of Sanchez and de-
uapded apy weapons that he had in bis possession,
whereupon the cuprt handed over to Mr. Sutton six
shooter loaded to the muzze. Sanchez was then con-
yeyed to dark cell on the second floor and locked up.
II will be remembers ed that about year ago be muir
dered his faher-ln-law Mr. Cumon, in Sullivan street.
How or in what manner the prisoner came 10 pos
~ saon of the revovers Is unknown, although it IL
supposed that they were brought In by some OF Ste
pbeoss friends Stephens coDcocted the plan and after
ward ovulged bis scheme to Sanchez, who readily en-
t. REQ into il.
AS tie outside officers were particular az to the
persons admitted to Stephens no watch was Kept
on the visitors prce and it is supposed that these
visitors carried many messages backward and forward
from Stephens to Sanchez How the matter leaked
out is not known but the superstition s that Sanchez
became alarmed at the enormy of the proposed crime,
and revealed the plan.