Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-10-05

ny PRIsoN.-Y esterdaY evening, Oelween
and o'clock, two convicls john FRANK
ford and Samuel Hambright-es from
the Lancaster County Prison. The TWO men
worked in the same cell together during the
day. but were removed to separate cells ~
night. Franklord was a cigar maker, anu
Hambiight q tobacco shipper, anu lhey
worked in cell No. A, ON the ground moor
Their escape showed great deal Oh iaoor
and ingenuity. In the morning ths prison.
ers were removed into the cell, and were
usually locked up in their cells about ~ III
the evening. Yesterday evening, MI NOW,
ry, one of the night walchmen commenced
taking his rounds and bidding the prisoners
good night, as is customary, ana Whlle lh lhe
performance of his duty he was summoned
10 the office, and requested TO bring oul
prisoner who was TO have hearing on a
charge OF arson before Aid. Wiley. rms
duty occupied some time, and when Mr.
Mowry reached cell No. a, he lound Inc
birds had flown. The plan OF escape had
long been In progress, as is evidenced from
The work done, and the prisoners were with
out doubt aided by outside parties. On the
i ground iier of cells, on the west side, are
doors leading iuto the yard The first in
side door is covered with a sheet OF IRON,
| about an eighth of an inch thick, screwed on
| q two inch plank, and the outside door Is oil
wood. and crossed with bars, and locked on
| the outside The screws had been removed
from the iron plate and these pushed III about
half way across the plank. This part oil the
work had evidently been done some lime
ago, hut the work was concealed by pastlng
paper over and whilewAshing ii. The job
was so neatly done that it could not be seen
without the closest examination, and these
doors were always kept closed.
Preparations were then mude TO cul
through the wooden part of the door, aud to
scale the yard wall when the proper time
should arrive. For this purpose they had
bound together, with wire, twine and carpel
chain, several pieces of nine, which they
had cut from a tobacco box, broom handle
and a map roller To the end of this they
had attached piece OF old gas pipe whicl
they bent in the shane of hook, 80 as lt
catch upon the yard wall. This contrivanct
was about sixteen feet in length, and its con
struclion must have cost great deal of Ia
bor, and it certainly exhibits much ingenui
ty. Having this ready, tlcy are supposed t
have worked pretty near all yesterday after
noon in cutting through the plank. On
worked while the other watched and listen
cd, and by night hole about eighteen b.
twenty inches had been cut through tn
plank. But there was the outside door, nn'
this is where the mystery comes in. stlinl
had been attached 10 the latch from the out
side, and one end slipped through so tia
tile prisoners could reach il and lift ih
latch. The lock had previously been turne
! or picked by the same party who had fixe
tile string. Several of the prisoners state
/ this morning that on Sunday night whisll
was heard by them In the yard, when Franl
ford crawled up to his ventilator, and aske
who was there. Tho answer came bacl
"All right" This party is believed to hav
been a man who was recently discharge
from the prison, and it is supposed that til
plan for unlocking the door had previous.
been arranged between him and Frankfort
Certain it is that outside aid was lurnishe
, the prisoners. Once outside, they lost n
. time in scaling the wall and landing on D
ange street. As soon as tue prisoners wei
/ missed the alarm was given, and the keepe
i Mr.. Sensenig, who had been absent for abol
c half an hour, immediately went to the res
c dence of Hambiiglt's mother, in Orange S
If She stated that her son had been there an
changed his prison garments for 9th,
clothes, but had lett about five minutes pr
viously. No search of the house was mad
but the keeper was invited to make it il
ii chose.
IS Frankiord IL one of tie most daring al
ingenious prison breakers 10 be found. TIL
u is the sixth time he has broken out of Il
Lancaster County Prison, besidGs havii
escaped from the Ohio Stute Pententiary
* Columbus, the prison of Dauplin count
y and other places oi confinement. The on
- prison in Which he was ever confined fro
'i which he did not succeed in breaking o
" was the Eastern PenlenliarY al Philadt
phia. lie was sentenced the last time
e three charges of larceny, aggregating fl
is years and three months, on January 21
e 1862, but escaped September 10Th, 1868, III
A H., Al
" ly years of age, five feet six and three -qut
70 ter inches high, fiorid complexion, gr
eyes, brown hair, and weighs about 160 Il
MIR. Sensenig offers reward of 500 for |
~ recapture.
IL Hamhright is eighteen years OF age, f,
ID complexion, gray eyes, brown hair, five lt
four aud half inches in height. He W
p sentenced in August last to six months i
b' piisonment for larceny OF butter from mi
ket man; $25 reward is offered for his reca
Mt ture.
In the cell was found small saw, II scrt
driver, hammer, and several other too
all Of which were smuggled TO the prisonl
" by outside cOnfederates No other why C
r be accounted for their presence.
Mt Although number of escapes have be
s. made from this prison, nothing like the pr
0; ent was ever before attempted, aud il W
10 lbe very last place the prison officers wor
i, think that an effort would be made. Fran
: lord, however, seems to know every we
A. point about the building. He has studied
es as thoroughly as a boy studies his arithn
l. tic. He has time and again said that I
l. prison could not hold him, and more I'll
e. usual care was taken to prevent him fro
al fulfilling his design, and yet with all th
ie precAuiiOn he finally succeeded in oulw
g. ling the officers. Lancaster Express of s.
e. tember FL.
is ----- --sss'-- -sss'-------