The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-10
CONVICT INGENUITY.
Singular Developments in Sing Sing Prison
Attempted Escape Of Three Notorious Con.
victs-How They Cut Out Of Their Cells and
Operated Jackscrsw at Midnight
Dexterity Under Dificulties

An extraordinary and daring attempt on the part
OF three convicts to force their way out Of Sing Sing
prison night or two ago, was, fortunately for the
welfare Of the community at large, discovered and
frustrated at the eleventh hour and when the three
desperadoes had already imagined themselves be-
yond the restrictions or bolts and bars. Perhaps a
better laid plan TO escape more carefully prose-
cuted scheme, In all It's practical details
Qnc!uding the secret manufacture OF iron
and steel toolsh never testified more fully
TO the inexhausble resources OF convict ingenuity.
When 1t Is considered that a convict IL seldom II
ever, from under the eyes OF his keeper, and that
despite this incessant surveillance he can secretly
forge an elaborate and powerful jackscrew, when,
only handled at intervals OF oftentmes momentary
duration, must require weeks, or perhaps months 70
complete, the dexterty and cunning OF those Ierrors
Of society VIII be partially comprenended. But 70
the story Shortly after eleven o'clock on the night
in question, and when the
THIRTEEN HUNDRED CRIMINALS
In their contracted cells were supposed to be oblivi
GUS OF their present disgrace while dreaming per-
haps, OF early opportunities lost and days spent in
youthful innocence, one OF the night guards while
gong his usual hourly rounds through the hume.
rous corridors OF the prison. was surprised to find
on the third tier Of galleries. the doors of two cells
open ana the occupants gone. As it was known to
the guard that Of these cells had contained two
convicts ne al once consulted the principal keeper
as TO whether the three men had bee n transferred
to the hospital within the preceding hour and on
receiving negative reply II was Immediately con
THE MISSING coNvIcTs
were concealed somew here In the main building
Accordingly eacn gallery was searched until the
sixth, or upper tier, was reached where ut the
south wall OF the prison and near the roof the indus
trious trio were discovered manipulating success
fully with jackscrew on the grating OF . window.
vn fncha n
In diameter, had already been forced sew
erai inches from It's perpendicular position,
NIT the body or a man. On seeing that their
cherished scheme for the attainment OF liberty was
foled even while already breathing the Of free
dom, the now thoroughly alarmed conYicts covered
before the officers and
M BEGGED FOR THEIR LIVES.
Alter the Would-be prison breakers were locked
mp in douby secure quarters. it was found
that two OF the men who mad been
occupying one ce--namely. John Murray.
VINO Is serving term Of ten years for highway rob.
berry, and Joseph MCGOWAN, a burglar, sentenced
for similar period, had first out their way out OF
out confederate named Charles Carr who has been
assigned to i've years. State servtude for attempted
robbery With tools made for the purpose the two
former had drilled holes in the sheet iron over the
lock In their cell door and then, with other
ANONYMOUSLY WROUGHT IMPLEMENTS,
hcent dimensions to admit OF unlocking the door
from the outside; all this being done during the
nas 5e @ O. e hourly walked
yielded without dlifculy TO the pressure OF a skee-
ton key, formed almost wholly from piece OF ordi.
nary gaspipe and giving evidence OF cOnsummate
skill on the part OF the maker This and the lack
screw are believed to have been manufactured by
A NOTORIOUS BURGLAR,
whose term OF sentence expired short time since
Had the convcts above named succeeded IN forcing
the window grating they would have had to descend
over fty feet before reaching the roof an adoin-
ing house. For this emergency, however, they were
fully prepared with rope OF the required length
made up or short pieces which they had
n spcrpfAd IN inn In
OF their bold attempt to the consequences OF
evil doing MCGOWAN has served only six months
OF his term, Murray twelve and Carr two months
That the two last named c0nvicrs old In crime
may be inferred from the fact that they both have
already served term OF Imprisonment of Sing
Sing this being their second visit to that institution.