The New York herald., 1871-08-19
THE SING SING "SL0PERSs
Additional Particulars of Their
Romantic Escape.
Recapturs Of Five Of the Fugitives-story OF the
Tugboat Engins;r-"Give Us Plenty Steam
or I'll Blow Your Brains 0ut7'-The
Captain and Engineer Of the
Tug Rsleased-Earle, the Saloon
Keeper Tried and Acquitted

daring conyicts who precipitately left Sing Sing
Prison on Thursday has been rewarded by the cap.
ture OF fve OF the discounted jail BIRDS, who win
now doubtless. be taken little better care OF than
heretofore. Three OF these erratlc felons cap
tured late on Thursday evening by the pursuing
party. The names OF these worthless Jacob
Weller Dennis Conroy ana George Williams. 1t will
be recolected thai the former is undergoing I'M
prisonment for life for the murder of mis- wife,
wnie the TWO latter serving out sentences OF
five and four years respectively. The capture OF
this adventurous trio was effected not lar from
Nyack, Rockland county, and at a time when they
evidently thought that their
rELoNIoUs FooTNARKs
had been oblterated. They offered only a feeble
resistance, and, on realizing that they were sur
rounded. quietly surrendered to their captors. Con-
Wet ingenuity had not been wanting In the emer-
gency ape the men were attired in citizens
clothes. one or them had on pair OF dirty black
smiths pantaoons, with blue shirt and a soft
teit nat Weller was well and respectfully
dressed. They were all however, in the garb usually
worn by firemen, stokers and engineers. To their
captors, Onicers Buchanan and McCabe, OF Haver-
straw, the convicts impaired information thai will
DOUBT lead TO the arrest OF the two men who ac-
companied the Dean Richmond but 1t is not deemed
advisable 10 make il pub lie.
II appears that there was
AN ESCAPE RING"
composed OF FIVE pet" convicts IN the prison, and
that the remainder OF the twelve who confded their
desperate fortunes TO the tug boat, seeing chance
Ol escape, Dad the courage 10 go Tor II. Those VINO
made up THAT ring are believed TO be jacob
Kingsiand and George Williams. These formed the
party which 1t designed 10y their TRENDS outside
10 effect their release from prison. 1t VIII thus be
seen that two OF the most notorious the gang
have been secured, and also Klngsland the par
ncu ars OF whose arrest have not yet transpired.
There TO be some doubt about alleged CIR
Cumstance that
REvoLvERs WERE FURNISHED
10 the copvicts. None OF The captured men had
shooting weapons with then. when taken and tney
say that they were not provided with arms OF any
description. As three oil tOese men were connected
with the ''rng' II seems not unlikely that all were
without any means OF defence beyond that which
The engineer OF the tug. who still in custody
at late hour Yesterday afternoon IN narrating the
STORY OF THE ESCAPE
from the prison, states that he did not any OF
the men with reviewers during the passage across
house and shouted 'glve us plenty Of steam, and
one OF them picked up hammer and threatened TO
.'blow' his tthe cnglneer's) brains out II he at
tempted 10 give any alarm. He thinks, from this
circumstance, that the convicts have had
REvoLvERs SBCRETED,
but none were shown while the tug was conveying
her OutlaweO passengers 10 the west shore OF the
Hudson While on the boat one Of the leaders OF
the escaping party detailed guard from among
their number to watch the engineer and, If neces.
sary, prevent him from giving an alarm or doing
anything else with the engine than tnat which they
desired. the cOnvicts all got away In Two parties
by means Of boats which struck the snore near the
Nysck landing place, while the the Two , men who mad
without any difficulty ut the Nyack dock. The en-.
gineer says he was
AFRAID OF RAISING AN ALARM,
although number OF blacksmiths were at work
near the dock; he was SO frightened Dy what had
happened that he says ne lost all presence of mlnd.
While on the tug the convicts TOOK all his clothing.
leaving MIN nothing but his shirt ana pants he had
not enough Clothing Tor ali that came on board, but
they made the best use OF all the articles OF apparel
inat were obtalnaole. ne mas gwen description
York, but ii Is not sufficiently minnte to be O much
service.
THE MYSTERIOUS TWAIN.
10 appears In addition To all that has been already
detailed as 10 what the Captain OF the tugboat did
for his Two mysterious patrons he also purchased
for them and brought with him small fishing boat
which one OF the gentlemen a. sad he should re-
quire al his new residence on the picturesque banks
oT the Hudson II Is 10 oe hoped that these two in.
dlviduas may find themselves IN the clutches ol The
law before many days have past.
Ihe che! clerk OF the PRISON arrived last night
from Hackensack n. j.. where he had gone to
identity the two individuals caught the night pre-
yions al Englewood. The individuals proved 10 be
Engsand and William Burns They were brought
back TO the prison and securely confined. lney
were very retlcent IN regard 10 the affair, and ap
peared 10 be much cresuallen at their speedy
capture.
The story OF
THE CAPTURE OF JACOB WELLER
Is thus related by Oiver Scott his captor, who Is
proprietor Of the Clarksvile Hotel, at Ciarksvile,
kockland county, three miles west OF Nyack. SAID
he:-"i was in my barroom about nine O'Clock last
night, with some friends, when stranger, dressed
In loose ling clothes and apparently out OF breath
entered, ana, going up the bar, rested his elbow
on the counter and asked ior botlle OF whskey.
il was yllanous looking countenance and the eyes
looked down. 1 tod HIM we did not sell liquor
by The bottle when lie called for drink
paid for 1t and walked nurriedy out Two Of
Us then Ill one breath remarked the suspicious
appearance OF the man, when we hastily concluded
10 follow MIN. ! got my gun, and several OF us
woods, about one hundred yards away. When a
little way on saw man Jump up from alongside;
OF the road and start on full run away from us.
haooed 10 him TO stop, but he kept on running,
when raised my gum just as he was entering bog
mole ana hied without effect At that IN moment
OppOslte side OF the road and exclaimed, give up;
there's enough OF you to murder me- we
10 the hoIe, giving up the chase after
the other man. The prisoner made no OPPOSITION
whatever lie was all but beat out and could
hardly walk. We gave him supper anC drink or
Two and resolved to sit up ali night and guard him:
ms name was Jack Weller and that he aud a
NUMBER OF others mad :hat day escaped from sing
sing Prison. lie told US how they dId IT, but he
denied any knowledge OF any plan. lie SAID the
way he came 10 Join the 'Dreak' he was sitting on
the prison dock fishing and saw the tugboat coming
towards the pier, and when the rush was made he
joined the crowd ON the spur oi the moment. He
FIVE CoNvIcrs WERE IN THE RING
and knew OF the plans. lie also stated that four OF
the prisoners are IN the WOODS without any
pahtalo0ns on When asked VINO me man was VINO
ran when Mr.. Scott nred he repned, That was
Walt Wllnams, aud he's going TO get away, too:
he IS smarter Than a steel trap and besides he has
got $1,000 in greenhacks with him. lie had a visit
last Tuesday OF Wednesday, and that's when he got
the Brace And So" said Mr. Scott ave talked all
night long. Tins morning We brought him over the
river, and on the way over he offered Us $500 II We
would let MIN go.i
When Mr.. Scott arrived at the prison with Weller
ne took him directly into the presence OF Mr.,
Russell, the agent, when the following occurred:-
MI. SCorrs COMPANiON-Well, agent, here's your
man; we caught HIM last night.
WELLER tdisdalnlully)-You didn't catch me
what are you talking aUouti
Nj
WELLER ito Agent-Do you want my statement
AGEST--No sir, want nothing from you. Here
guard take TINS man below.
A. Weller was walking off under escort he Iurne,
anu gave Mr.. SCOTS companion inurdefOus loon
Yesterday morning Inspector Lahln ordered all .
THE GUARD or THE DOCK TO BE SUSPENDED
from duty ull investigation Is mad. SAID ne
'Ihey should have shot whether they saw anything
or not. We don't want men ON guard VINO won
shoot"
Wnen Jack Weller was captured about twenty
i've dollars IN money found on MN. III Is ~