The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-04-09
PRISON ESCAPES CHECKED.

| PED BY DETECTIVES.
Prison escapes from Sing Sing have
been very frequent during the past year.
more especially within the lastsix months,
aud among the more prominent of those
who sucdesded in regaining their
liberty soon after bsiDg sentenced to long
te:ms Of imprisonme mt, are "Jim" Brady,
.Jim" ii5ra, and Ned Lyons, convic
ted Of burglary, and %ho, since their es-
cape from Sing Slug, have ceen again
convicted and imprisoned, this time, t"r
bank robbery in Delaware John Mil
Ter, also convicted of burglary, who was
recaptured and returned to Sing Sing ;
j ohm Keele, alias johnny the Greek"
noted pickpocket, and W. G. Harrison,
alias Frost" and others. 1t was be
licved by Warden Hubbell that the pris
oners received assistance from persons in
this city, from the fact that in nearly
every instance the keys and other tools
with which the prisoners were aided In
escaping came from New York Warden
Hubbell CONSULTED with Superintendent t
Matsell, and the latter directed Capt. Irv-
ing to work up the case. Capt Irving
associated with him Detectives Sampson
and Farley. They ascertained that the
persons engaged in the work of liberating g
the prisoners went from this city on the
cars to Tarrytown, and from there pro
eeeded by means of small boat to Sing
Sing The tools were planted in a
convenient spot outside the prison. One
or more of the guards were then bribed
and the tools were conveyed to the con
yict for whom they were intended by
some of the employees inside or by some
one who was allowed to 60 inside and
could deliver the tools without exciting
suspicion. 1t was also ascertained that
the tools were manufactured by John
Stuerer, German mechanic, doing bust
ness at No 106 Hester, St The tools were
ordered by woman named Elizabeth
Porter, alias Tilly Miller. The impres
sions of the keys wanted were taken in
wax by the prisoners or their accomplices
and delivered to Stuerer, and the keys
manufactured for them. The larger
tools were made from drawings. When
finished they were delivered to the wo
man at place before agreed upon, Stuer
er being paid considerable sum for his
services. These were afterward taken to
Sing Sing by David Fl. Street alias Lewis,
and Henry Smith alias Smyth, and de
livered to those who were ready to receive
them in the vicinity Of the prison. Smith
was the first man arrested, and he was
locked up at Police Headquarters. Soon
afterward it was aScertained by the Of
GERS that Stuerer was making the tools
He was visited by them in the character
of burglars. They told Stuerer that he
had been recommended to them, and en-
gagged him to make them an outfit Of
burglars tools. He agreed to do so, and
showed them certain of his handiwork
which had been ordered by thieves in
this aud other cities. Some Of the larger
pieces of work, consisting of jack-screws,
combination jimmies, and other articles
Of this kind were very fine specimens OF
manufacture, and with them heavy safe
could soon be opened. Meanwhile search
was being made for Street and the wo-
man Porter. A day or two ago it was
ascertained that they had been arrested at
Lockport, n. Y, for smuggling goods
from Canada. Superintendent Martsell
telegraphed to Richard Crowley, the Uni
ted States District Attorney for that dis
trict, informing him of the charge against
them here He received an answer yes
terday from District Attorney Crowley
stating that he was willing to surrender
his prisoners to the officers whom the
Superintendent might send on for them
Stuerer was again called on yesterday
In the course of conversation with him
he admitted having made the tools used
by the marked burglars, and bcasted that
he was unexeelled in this line by any
mechanic in the country. A small dy-
draulic ram, capable of lifting 20 tons,
he would make for $50 combination
jimmy, four feet six inches in length,
SIS; jack screw, SIS Keys and other
articles at proportionate rates. When he
had ended his explanations, the officers,
to his intense surprise announced their
true character, and Stuerer, with the
burglars tools found in his place, were
removed to Police Headquarters.
leave to day for Lockport, to secure the
prisoners held there. The evidence
against the accused is very complete.
The search will be continued for these
who have aided the escape OF the convicts
by receiving the tools inside the prison
PHILADELPuIA, April $50 night a
large meeting of Germans, who are op
posed to the Sunday Liquor law, was held
here for the purpose of effecting an or
ganization which will support for Office
no candidate who will not pledge himself
to repeal the present law relative to Ii
quor. Resolutions were adopted which
authorized the formation of an orsauiza
ton to be called True Water" to extend
all over the State. Any citizen can be
come member who will pledge himself
to support only such candidates Tor of
fee, without distinction of party, as will
openly and unreservedly indorse the prin
ciples at variance with the present Sun