Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-03-27
g'ERIEN OFF FOR ALBANY.
Parting scenes at the Jafl.
The Prisoners Travelling Companions.
O'Brien's statement About the Recent
Attempt 60 Break Jail.


Attempt 60 Break Jail.
The scenes at the Jail yesterday Afternoon on |
the reception OF the Communication papers, ir. the
rsse OF Charles II. O'Brien, who was % have
been executed TO morryw for the murder of
Cunningham, were described in last evenings
STAR General Croeker, the warden of The
isii, determined, ss there were several other
Iessons there sentenced % imprisonment in the
snes g,r pen,sen'iaI{ make up party At
Messages were Immediately sent 20 O'Brien's
family Tn the effect that he would ptart on his
journey in few hours. Later IN the AFTERNOON
friends appeared at the Jail 'Sris cling with them
a small valise Of clothing. OsBrien was allowed
to 60 out into the hall, where for some time he
engaged IN conversation with his relatives.
Several Of the group were much affected during
the interview, especially the prisoners mother,
who seemed TO look on It as her last interview
with her son in this world. O'Brien controlled
TO cheer up the eshers, telling them that il
might have been RGuch worse, and "while there
y life there Is hope This interview
II E PRISONER was tasen back to his cell to have
Lii irens cut OF and to make the Lnal prepara-
tlcns for the TIP, and all his relatives, with the
exceI ton Of his two brothers, left the building
What O'Brien said About his AtaesMpt
- Break Jail.
Before the prisoner started, representative
or The STAR bad short interview with him,
jail, O'Brien said:-'I was, as far as know,
the OILY one concerned. You know have had
no way 10 communicate with the other PRISON.
ers, especially those whom it is said were at
work on the left OF course i would try to get
away II i got chance, especially when death
was Starring me in the face, and did not know
what moment they would commence building
Any man would be a fool not to make an effort
TO save his neck. 1 respect Gen. Croker and
his officers, and L know it's their duty to keep
az prisoners entrusted to their keeping. But It
is theduty of a prisoner to escape, and espe-
cially when his life is in danger. 1 did not once
think of taking life, and my whole plan was
n this to cut ,s sss in ny leg
easily, and some day while in the Office and the
chsnce presented, to kick them loose and make
legs. OF course it would be risk, but then il
was death on the gallows against
CHANCE FOR LIFE By RUNNING.
:, When ne discovery was madenvhen McDev-
ing: The day before (Tuesday) had heard
that my sentence was going to be cOmmuted,
and the next day sent my tools home. would
rather 60 TO the PenitentiaTy for life than be
roaming all over the country, continually afraid
OF arrest as an escaped prisoner. 7 had frame
ard about dozen saws. You know what kind
broke three of them in fooling about that old
key. That key had been here for long time
and 1t was good for nothing, anyhow. / think
know bow MeDevitt got his information about
the key"
O'Brien then told his supposition, and con.
tnied: "McDevitt got it straight, for he went
right to the place where put it, and pulled it
oHf AT that time had sent the rest of the
tools away, and had no reason to withhold any
thing, and 20 made
A CLEAN BREAST OF 1T.
As for the door Of Tom Wright cell being open
tf.at was not unlocked with the kew. Tom
Wright did not know about it, and the KEY
would not open the lock. Sometimes the catch
In the lock hangs and then a prisoner can nv
he bplf l,aP E,-au n
the key unlocked the cell door, what had to
unlock the corridor door, After McDevitt came
they did so. l have stated that Tom Wright
had nothing to do with the business. If he had
any intentions to escape he kept them to him
self; 1 know that 1 kept my own counsel i
cant say now got my tools, but my friends cot
them for me-"
Departure OF the Prisoners.
y briens irocs were taken on, and once
more ms legs. we're free. The other prison.
ere OF the batch were also at this time being
prepared for their journey. In the hall was
laid short stout chain, Tor rather three short
leg shackles, and as the prisoners were brou ght
out par OF handouts were run through that
part OF the shackie in which the leg is locked,
and the left hassc of one prisoner and the right
hand OF the other were confined. s.The hitch
ing mp OF the prisoners III pairs was commenced
AZ The " ar end, and the first brought out was
aytor Frey, snail, bright colosed boy, who
gots UP three years for burglary. He had for
cOl"ted girl, whe goes for the sane length Of
time for burglary Henry Small wood and Fred
eIick Dickson were the next couple, each for
Was given to Paxser Fields, a staiwart ne TO !
" BIO goes Hp one year for resisting an offi ,er'
and . bren-whse sentence is for The term of
his natural LIE.
LEayE-TAKINes.
As Che prisoners 3eft their respective corridors
there sere hasty leave-takings, and lie manner
y. IN which some acted conveyed the Impression
q az they bad but nttle sense of shane left. As
the ciSnking chains on starting ammo uncei to
these inside that the crowd was off a Grand
,,n.rnssi good bye Mary," "good bye friends"
marked just before starting, s'Well, am going
yn my frst trip to New York - to which ron1
Wright sung out from the adjoining cell, II
and toes, 4 have been all round the coast
TOM wRreHrAFRAID TO BE ALONE
Wright seemed very, uneasy ON findir that
sHd begged that some prisoners should be put
IN the adjoining cells. He did not want 20 be
there by himself he said. The guards state that
horrible dreams and of festlessness, and 4 hey
state that with but few exceptions he has ne ycf
been found asleep at night
Captains W. e. Crocker and James Coleman
and Dir. F. II. Lingebach, of the jail, 90 in
charge OF the batch Of prisoners to Albahy .f.nd
Deputy Warden Russ saw them safe on the ss.rs
ADANGERoUs FAMILY OF BALTIMORE LvN-
AJtCs--The officers Of the White House were
seeoeted Yesterday by three persons-an old,
tHu NtuH- iidu. anu u WOl0an-WnO said tIeY
. ished 10 see the President. Their coad uci
being suspicious they were taken to police head
quarters, where the old man gave the name CT
Louis Scarf HE'S about 30 years OF age. The
woman his wife, il about the same age, ana the
Young man With them, was their SON about 20
y are OF age. They stated that they have an
older son all enlisted soldier at Carlisle (Pa.D
BARRACKS, who ten years ago murdered his aunt
and that the younger son il constantly seeing
the spirit OF the victim. They stated that they
Ieslae at No. ~ East Baltimore street, Bsti-
R'ere, aid came here To obtain the arrest OF the
,Osdier son. Major Richards te.egraphad TO
Baiumore for infor m2 ton As their condition
-ast night they we're furnished with lodgings al
the central guard house. Going through the
corridor leading To the cells they showed great
TO advance, and finally they all
made bolt back through the haI and ante
room into the front office and out Of the door
INFO The stseet calling ''nurderr at the top OF
their voices, Ind on the officers following them
up they drew out pistols, knives, hammers
To defesd themselves with, declaring that
the officers were going to take them IN there to
murder them AL. No pefsussions which the
officers could use would consince them that this
W as not their purpose, and finally to cut the
matter short, Lient. Skippop had TO call up the
res rves TO assist in securing them to prevent
the IN doing violence to some one. They were
finally oyefpowered, and OF searching them
quite an arnory VI defensive and aggressive