The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-07-08

Hill ut 3H O'Clock p. NJ.
PLAN TO BREAK JAIL DIsCovERED-Siate-
qnent Of McGltan, the Brunswick Murder
er.-Iesterday morning Mr.. O'Dwyer,
keeper of the city jail, in making his usual
tour of inspection through the cells, disco
yered that Thomas McGitfln, who is under
sentence of death for i murder committed
in Brunswick county, had severed his chain
near the anklet, with view to making his
escape. The broken chain was taken off ut
once and repaired. McGitfin claims to have
cut The link with i case-knife. In order to
avoid discovery, the fragments had been
stuck together with ink, and it Is probable
that the attempt to escape would have been
made last night. AT last accounts the knife
referred to by the prisoner had not been
found.
McGiffln IS q very ingenious fellow, and
once told this writer in an interview, re-
ported in the Dispatch, that "if he had
him." He claims to have in his possession
the secret of a wonderful invention, which
if known. would be OF great service to man
kind, but he declines to reveal it except TO
the Governor, and then only on promise of
pardon or respite. He has furnished the
press with the following statement Of his
connection with the murder of Drum
mond:
~ write q few lines for publication.
was riding along, not knowing would see
any one, but on looking up saw q number
of men ahead Of me in the road. This was
where the road turned through the woods,
which were very thick. Here the men
were in waiting for me, all Of whom had
guns. When first saw them knew they
were my enemies, and had often threatened
T thn1ioht +, tiJOo hol n
die, knowing the desperate character of
one of the meu, who / heard had been shot
several times, and who had shot Il number
of persons. fell back, but they rushed on
me from all directions.
81 had no gun. but only pistol to pro.
tect myself with. l never fired q gun or
struck a blow. I did not know they had q
| warrant for DR.. Lewis; if l had, would
not have continued with him. 1t seems
my life must be sacrificed because /
have no friends to assist me. / still hope
and do the best he can for me. If he thinks
deserve hanging for this crime l must be
satisfied with my fate. All of us are here
but for short time, and nothing grieves me
more than to leave my little one. If good
men whom | know would come out with
true hearts they could not hang me.
81 nave been punished more since l have
been in prison than would atone for oil the
offences I ever committed in this world. l
am afraid my time is short to make my
peace with God; but if can't live am
but paying the debt we all owe. Dlay God
bless all L leave behind. believe If Lewis
had been tried would not have been con-
victed, Tor ne had witnesses to prove that
Drummond said he would give ten dollars
for the warraut, and also that ne lay in
wait in the woods for the purpose OF killing
him. The sheriff told me he was one of a
party of q hundred men whose purpose was
to kill Lewis, and that if / had been with
him Trey would have served me the same
way"
Dir. Lewis, who committed the crime in
which hcGitilu was convicted of compile
ity, is still insane, and will hardly live until
the time set tor his trial-October.