The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-07
TOnGBS TAMPERuVG.
Attempt Of Two Skilful Burglars to Escape
from the City Prison.
How They Obtained the Material, Measurements
and Experiments-The Perfection OF Their
Keys to Fit Every Lock in the
Prison and Gatss-sentence,
SIM Sing and Sorrow.

-~~~~~SSf
Sin. Sing and Sorrow.
The attempt at breaking out OF prison by sxilful
and smart hands and heads has been common, II
not proverbial, among great criminals since the
days when George Darlington and sixteen-string
Jack fought their keepers and safed the watchful-
ness Of armed sentnels and red taped ofhcials IN
that renowned and most miserable OF prisons, New
gate But IL has been considered that the advance
ment OF science, the increased skill OF the lock-
smith, and, above ALL the improved methods re-
sorted to IN the management OF prisons have so lar
rendered the cages safe and surrounded their human
birds with such caution that the attempt to escape
at the present time from prison having any pre-
tensions to security Is almost ludicrous. Never.
theess such an attempt would have been MADE ID
this city yesterday, and, as far a3 can be ascer-
tanned, the schemers might have successfully car
RED out their plans ana escaped to prey upon the
community
John Flarity ana James Stevens, two OF the worst
characters and most experienced criminals In New
York, were arrested some time since for committing
burglary ut "A Howard street, from whence they
stole property 10 the amount Of $3,627 Being men
well known to the detective force OF this city, and
the facts OF the burglary being fully and clearly
established against them. leaving no doubt as TO
their guilt, they were remanded TO the Tombs City
ITlSON IUT SenteuCc. lucy WeIe COuuucu tuBCtuCk
in cell No. 70; but during the time that had elapsed
between the day on which they were remanded and
yesterday when they were sentenced they had
fully utilized their time in making keys, procuring
files and otherwise studying the locksmita business.
bent on "breakng cell" as 1t Ii termed In prison
parlance
HOW THEY RECEIVED SUPPLIES
The question naturally arises, how did they obtain
their tools and materials and how carry on their
1fipa trad M faefa htaAv fo1-
lows-t Is usual before prisoners are sentenced to
permit few friends such as wife, mother, brother
or sister, visit them In their cells and sometimes
food In small quantities, with coffee tea has been
passed in in compliance with the earnest entreatles
OF those interested In the welfare OF the prisoners.
When the friend first calls the reveals his
plan. and desires the person to bring him In certain
materials for making keys with, files and everything
complete to carry on the business; and these mate.
rails have frequently been found and seized and the
entire plans broken up before the prisoner has had
time to fully commence his project. But the food
and the drink have been the chief means
or conveyance and used Is blind to escape
The vigilance or the glteKeepers. Not long
since Minnie Davis, now III the state Prison. was
permitted to pass into the prison with quantity OF
food in a basket ana can OF hot coffee for
prisoner who was subsequently sent to the state
keeper Observed Something that looked very pecu
liar floating on the top OF the hot beverage, appear
AFTER THE SHAPE OF SMALL SNAKE.
This aroused his curiosity, and ne stopped ner 70
examine the strange animal lie soon discovered
this TO pe coil of splendid rope, which mad Deen
neatly packed in the bottom OF the can before tne
coffee was put in, but the heat ana the motion in
carrying had caused t to swell and rise above the
liqui0. The coll was about fifteen yards long and
was intended tO aid ner man IN sealing the prison
nmined, and beneath them were discovered set OF
the most costly and effective jewellers saws. OF
nteen or sixteen III number, any TWO OF which
would have sawed the thickesG bar Of iron In the
prison asunder In half an hour. They were all
| seized and contiscated.
| TnE WAY THE MEASUREMENTS ARE TAKEN
Having secured the materials II Is not matter OF
great difficulty toobtaln the dimensions OF the locks
| else, SO many at time, around their respective
tiers, marching for certain time according to the
rules OF the prison all the we under the survell.
lance OF the officer IN Charge The Impression OF the
exact size OF the keyhole on the outside mas to be
obtained, and Us they dare not employ WAX for rear
OF creating suspicion they employ the ball OF the
thumb pressing against the outer part OF the lock
sion viii remain on The hand for about twenty min
utes long enough for them TO take the measure
ment Of the Of the hole and the barrel. An old
Key covered with sealing wax VIII furnish the size
and extent OF the wards and by means Of
| nile or two the business can be easily completed.
The thing Is 10 give instructions Tor getting the
dimensions OF the lock OF the gate leading into the
| prison yard and for this 'frlend' has TO oe EN-
poyea and can do it without exciting the least
pcon, by pretending To smut the door or any other
manruvre OF q similar nature all OF which are wen
| understood by burglars and their accomplices.
WAYS AND MEANS FOR AN ESCAPE.
IL is somewhat requisite to enter iEtO these par.
ticulars TO SHOW how Flarity and Stevins managed
so far to conclude their work that they might In
twenty-fOur hours have been free men, and also the
extent OF the watching and caution to be exercised
| by Warden Stacom and his assistants. The manner
In which the two prisoners managed Is supposed
by the Wardan and Others 10 DC exactly as mas Deen
| explained above.
OF the dimensions for the keys and tried them alter
they were made SO as TO make sure VI their marx.
The prisoners had been observed Tor several days TO
| remain Ia their cell rs though they were mediatng
| upon their late, but no one suspected their "itte
uamep OF trying to take French leave OF their quar-
ters ut the Tombs. After receiving their sentence,
which, by the way, came only just IN time, yester-
day, Instructions were sent to forward them 10 the
4 state Prison tor i've years each. They were In
formed of the fact, and much To their chagrn, were
| compelled to hide the beautifully made BRASS Keys
/ ana hat key files In the tick OF the bed on which
they had been sleeping Tor several weeks previous
They knew II would be useless TO retain possession
OF tnem and take them to the State Prison would
only the eyes OF the wardens 30 as u put them
AS soon as they mad been sent away from the
| Tombs warden Stac0m ordered their bed 70 De
burned In accordance with the regular custom, aud
| it was while preparations were being made for IT'S
destruction that the keys and dies were found One
WOULD OPEN EVERY CELL IN THE PRISON.
Including the one In which they were confined, and
the other opened the only other obstruction TO an
escape-the door leading into the yard. Once here,
IN the dead OF Might there would nave oeen no ulf.
Guilty whatever IN sealing the wall. dropping over
on to the street and getting away INTO the Sums.
AS 1t happens, the clever burglars had adopted
singularly bad for carrying their designs into
elIect for there are two condemned murdercrs az
present In the prison, and the constant watch over
them rendered their chance OF escape somewhat
slim. Sull, the perfection OF the Keys and the
might have reduced the dlnlculty and the escape
thus been effected.
ORTHODOX FaIsh0S.
The Friends met again yesterday, and in the
morning proposition was received from Western