New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-01

end Tor he letter lnow nothing about Il hsa
the ors T. the Ss, TSSss ~ SrssnS 70 MN e,ve al Of
WHIST charged with ard before heaven and lord snd y
meet yet where nothing can be hid
81 Remain your umbe server .,,.,,,,..
JAMES STEPHENS"
The handwriting of the above letter is very differ
ent, in general appearance from the one written TO
Mr. Stephenson. The personal pronoun is in capi-
tails in the last letter, while in the former small Is
used throughout The absence of any mark of punctu-
alton in both letters is apparent and the strokes across
the ts, in both letters have striking resemblance
Tne letter is also very similar.
With a view Of finding ont if the writing was Ste
phens's, Mr. Edward Murray got him to give him
specimen Of his writing. He wrote the following
words:
81 hope the Lord will direct yOu in all your ways and all
want d" pi'S 1Hu '''' -' JAMES STEPHENS"
These lines are written in better hand than the OH
err but the same characteristics the absence of pune
tuaon the SIS and the 10 the to- are observa
bic
Mr.. Murray on Monday sent the following explana-
ton rega, ding the apparent difference in the writing
jan %, 1860
"Hon. J. T. Roosevelt-Stepheps informed this lete
s,sS No one + his hard gIns and says fsoy p'C0e
DIS 'sis.Ss to ED%%RD MURRAY
The letter to Judge Roosevelt.
The letter TO Mr.. Stephenson.
AS the day approaches for the execution, MIR. Kelly,
the Sheriff, ], impOrtuned on all sides for tickets
admission to witness the death of the condemned man
But limited number, however, will be issued, and
nearly all of them TO only those persons whose attend
ance it is necessary On all occasions similar
TO this, esery person in any way connected with the
prison has been besieged by his friends who desired TO
be present, for tickets of admission. One man, few
years ago. being exceedingly anxious TO witness the
hanging Of murderer within the TOmbs, after failing
every point at last applied to the Police Magistrate,
and prayed that he might be passed inside the gates
The Judge informed the man that it was ont of his
power TO grant permit but the more he refused the
more eager became the man. At last the Judge told
him that the only way to accomplish his desires was TO
allow himself to be committed as a luna'ic. To this
the man at assented and found himself inside
the Tombs in custody of of The keepers. Here he
was about thanking hs guide for his trouble and was
making off toward the gallows, when the keeper
stopped him. and reminded him of the fact that he
prisoner committed lunatic At this the stranger
seemed astOnhed and assured the keeper that he
perfectly sane and only adopted that means TO get
view of the execution Bat the keeper refused TO be-
ieve bin, insisted on bis being demented, and finally
ended the controversy by showing the stranger into
cell and securely locking him there. Hours passed on,
the man was hung, the Judge went home at night TO
his dinDer and still the self condemned Innate
locked in bis solitary cell. But, finally, while taking
his dessert with his wife and children, the magistrate
happened to think of the psuedo unatc he had locked
up early in the morning, and Fastening down to the
Tombs he hurried TO release the unlucky individual,
who came ont from his lonely cell much nearer a una-
tic than when he went in.
PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS MADE BY PRISONERS TO ESCAPE.
Numerous attempts have been made by prisoners TO
escape from the Tombs and although one or two have
got clear of it's walls none have entirely escaped
Nearly every keeper espe 'ally Dight-keepers, has
been assaulted by prisoners in their attempts 10 regain
their liberty and in several instances the keepers have
been dangerously stabbed thoughnone was ever killed
One or two prsnuars whi nnaLins these ~tte,pts.
have been shot by the keepers and thus brought back
TO their cells. Three times have different prisoners
laid plans kill the keeper Finay, whose life
Stephens threatened and each time has the scheme
been detected. 1t Mr.. Finlay who shot Donnolly
the notorious burglar while he was scaling the outside
wall, he having 80 nearly escaped About six years
ago plan Of escape similar to that of Stephens was
formed by two muir ierers, named Saul and Hewlett,
but discovered in time to prevent bloOdshed and
man known as Paddy the Greek" who was confined
in the upper story of the prison. cut through the roof
and slid from there TO the ground by means Of rope
He escapedo the street. but subsequently arrested
and is in Sing Sing So far, prisoner has sue
ceeded in escaping from the Tombs and keeping clear
Greater precaution is now taken, however, and the
chances of success in such attempts very desperate
indeed.
INTERVIEW WITH STEPHENS AND SANCHEZ
At a late hour last evening one of our reporters
visited the City Prison, and through the courtesy of
the keepers, had an interview with Stephens and San
chez. The former in bed in his CELL but was still
wake and had candle burning. He converted
freely and upon being askedf he had the morning
papers, he said be bad not but had heard that they
contained an account Of his intended murder Of the
keepers. He said that two reporters had visited him
during the morning. and he rad promised to give them
a statement in regard to the affair tomorrow to-day.
To the question to what he intended doing with the
revolver found in his possession he said: I" know
and will account for it 10 my statement They say
intended 10 shoot that man (pOntiog to Mr.. Finay,
who stood in the cell; but ii Is not 20, for would not
harm him in any way. He has treated me too well"
When asked whetherhe would say anything on Friday,
he said he did not know; he might and might not 1t
was observed that he probably intended to have killed
himself with the revolver-in reply to which he said
"NO, should not do that; this book pointing to
Bible that lay at the head Of his bed says something
about committing such crime"
During the brief interview, Stephens seemed very
restless and moved lis head from one 81 e to the 9th,
Of his pillow, and not unfrequenty threw of his
(; L.,