The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-23
GpNpOWD-R PLOT IN JERSEY.

Desperate Attempt by Convicfs 10 Blow w.,
The Hudson County Jail-New York Burgiv RS
the Leaders of the COnspiracy-rhe Whole
Gana Buried on 10 State Prison-A essen
TO Jaiiers.
The rulllans who can cooliy plot and execute an
enterprise so desperate that contemplated IN the
county jail at Hudson CITY, N. j., yesterday must
have fallen TO The OF depravity. The conspiracy
reveals such an amount OF daredevil recklessness
ard Indifference to human life that the very con-
ception OF the project 10 sufficient make shud
der, un who rs dead TO every feeling OF hui
mainly. The wickedness OF the plot can only be
estimated by the dreadful consequences in case Ii
had succeeded.
1t win be remembered that on several occasions
during the cast two years Intellectual attempts were
MADE by prisoners to escape from the county jail at
Hudson City. Some OF the very worst type OF New
York thieves and vagabonds have been confined III
this ail. In nine cases out ten the robbers who
undertake 10 play desperate game in Jersey are
caught and Gagged. To keep vigilant eye UPON such
fellows many OF whom possess an extraordinary in-
genRty, is easy task for the jaeE and bis depu-
ties
Now for the facts A few weeks ago officer Nugent
was on his post at the corner of Montgomery anc
Warren streets Jersey CITY, about O'Clock IN the
morning, when two men, carrying trunk between
them, passed. One said 10 the other, "See what
trunk was set down Few PAGES nom the officer.
VINO observed that one OF the men pulled ont a
very Are gold watch. Nugent called on Mr.. Coyle
Chief Engineer OF the Fire department. who
happened TO come up, and asked him to remain
white he catechised the strangers Their replies
about the tram their destination, residence anu the
cortents OF the trunk, were eyasve, and the cilcer
toll them they should proceed 10 The police station
To this they demurTed, and ne raped for assistance
oaieer Campbell came mp and took one OF the men,
who gave his name as James Mccormack, in charge.
Nugent took the other. named John Mcdonald, and
Mr.. eoyle obtained the aid OF another man to carry
the trunk to the station
Before they had rounded the corner Mccormack
broke away from olcer Campbell and ed
himself behind some old boilers in Steuben street.
The oicer had been close 10 him several times but
lrac not revolver. Mccormack fired at close range
three times threatening each time to send tine ocer
10 very warm region. When Campbell lost sight
OF his man he raped and called for help and
search being made the fellow was found and pulled
out or his hiding place. He was lodged In the
city prison. The trunk found to contain ladies'
dresses and several valuable articles. After the
lapse OF two days the police received Information
that the residence OF Mrs. Berry, in South Filth
the country, and the contents OF the trunk were
ldentlned as the missing property Ten days
tue Hudson County Court OF Sessions. Mcdonald
was sentenced to State Prison for five years;
two years. additional
They nave been visited since by women from New
YORK VINO had called frequently. II had been re-
marked more than once that some very serious con-
situations took place between these women ana the
prisoners. There Is no such thing q strict search
OF visitors least OF all with women, so that many
things could be conveyed to the prisoners without
being detected Thus violation or rule supposed to
be In force in every well regulated prison arises rom
decacy on the one hand and notion that iIee-
holders conld be offended II the parties they
mend were "insulted.u on the other.
Yesterday morning was the time appointed to
convey the PRISONERS as well as the following con-
yiets, to the State Prison at Trenton:-Wllam
In
atrocous ASSAULT Joseph Bausert. eight years. for
| an attempt TO murder his two sons at Union Hill,
and Terry Mccormack, three years, for an indecent
assault on Mrs. Price, OF Greenville A few minutes
| before seven O'Clock Major Mount, Sheriff OF the
Charles Fox, Deputy Snerin, were holding
consultation in the hall OF the jail previous to
with loud report like that a heavy cannon in the
rear OF the building. With great presence OF mind
70 The prisoners corridors but they found everything
| safe outside. Tney then went in, revovers III hand
among the prisoners and found the SIX desperate
Characters above named looking calmly and com
placenty at each other, not utterng word. cloud
OF smoke issued from the Mushroom at the end
OF the building, the prisoners above and below
rushed In the greatest alarm out Of their
era minutes there was great confusion. Upon In
vesigation II was found that an attempt had been
made 70 blew out the end wall In the washroom'
situate "a the rear OF the JAIL thirteen by six feet and
twelve feet IN height Its walls are lined with
pipes and the only furniture II contains are bath
Tub, firmly set cublcal iron box serving as water
closet, hydrant and pan. The whole structure s of
BRICK and the room Is open to prisoners at all hours
| OF the day. In the end wall, about fifteen inches
| from the floor is the opening OF pipe about i've
| inches In diameter when runs In curve and ex-
tends upwards through the interior OF the wall
| as window, which Is protected by strong iron
grating about eight feet from the noor TINS pipe
acts as ventilator and into this at the curve
below o quantity OF powder was stuffed
When the explosion came the powder not
through the pipe and swept the glass OF the window
TO atoms. The only effect on the wall was slight
assure In the bricks about two feet In length on the
inside The report was 80 loud that It was heard all
over the city, and was supposed by many at dis
lance TO be merely artillery practice the arsenal
There no doubt whatever that the conspirators
intended to blow away the wall OF the Mushroom
and tnen escape. That the nefarious plot mscar-
red s most providenta for the eighty inmates OF
/ the prison.
Whether all the prisoners whose names are given
above were In the plot Is not exactly known. but
mere s o strong probability that II was the work OF
McCormack ana Mcdonald only. The prisoners were
all very reticent about the matter, and the only
satisfactory information that could be obtained IL
the statement OF one prisoner, who overheard q re-
marx made by one OF the supposed conspiraors that
their friends from New York would meet them out
sloe ana secure tnem ID case they were pursued.
prisoners, f0rIy-sx being males
The SIX prisoners were taken to Jersey City and
conveyed TO Trenton by the fortyhye minutes past
eight O'Clock morning train on the New Jersey Rail
road. The Sheriff obtained a sufficient force TO
guard against escape on che way.
How the powder was conveyed TO the prisoners is
only matter OF conjecture. One OF them jocularly
remarked TO the Sheriff Few minutes ate the ex
) Fourth OF july before leaving Nc uopmacs mack
and Mcdonald are New Workers, both desperate
men. One OF them remarked to q prisoner sH a late
hour on sunday evening that ne would as soon run
the risk OF being bowed out with the wall as be
carried Oh 10 tnat id place at Trenton. Perhaps
rules Of the institution be strictly carried ont The
fault lies not with the Jaer with the mel pbers
OF tue Board themselves.