The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-28
Big FRANKS" FATE.
HIS STORY OF THE ARREST.
HIS RETURN TO THE JAIL.
Reticence as to the Manner
Of Escape.

"chs uowu among tue cells OF tue C6utTdL
Police station this afternoon and interviewed she
notorious big Frank"
Hound him In cell No. 4, sitting upon rude bench,
perusing the columns OF daily Journal As the
door swung back upon It's hinges and as l entered
the place Frank arose from his rough seat and
earnestly regarded me. AS l stood face 10 face
with the prisoner and the door was closed be.
hind with bang leaving US alone l could scarcely
help expressing surprise.
BIG FRANKS GENTEEL APPEARANCE.
"BiQ Frank as he stood before me- was the
direct opposite of the "Big Frank" which In my
mind had supposed him to be. had anticipated
meeting physical giant, and one upon whose face
would be found the marks Of dissipation and
crime. found in him nothing Of the sort. On the
contrary, confronted one whom, II met upon tho
street. would have Instantly regarded as gentle
man. He has a figure that Is tall and somewhat
STOPPING lace apparently open, frank and covered
with a thin, reddish beard; q forehead high, broad
and gracefully defined; bright. keen, pene-
trating eye; q frame the every motion OF which
was neither AWKWARD nor considered; an address
that was courteous and somewhat dignihed. such
is the notorious big Frank" the stigmatized
thief burglar and murderer, who stood be-
fore me, and such the general appearance and
manners OF the man who quietly stepped forward
and extended his hand.
THE SCENE IN THE CELL.
The place was not entirely dark, for q few rays
OF light, creeping through o solitary window,
wrought here and there o few bright shadows
upon the sombre floor. A dul heavy atmosphere
pervaded the apartment. Accepting his invita-
ton to oe seated took position upon the rude
bench close by his side. Letting the paper he had
held in MS hand hstlessly aA upon his lap he
listened to my nasty Introduction and said that he
Il have lust returned from Newcastle" said,
''and saw the Warden and Sheriff yesterday. The
Wardens statement Is published IN the HERALD
OF to-day and the Sheriff has nothing particular TO
communicate"
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE NEWCASTLE PEOPLE.
"OhW said Big Frank, crossing hts legs care>
Iessly and running his hand through ms beard,
.'thOse people down there are peculiar PERSONS
and really DO not suppose that they are at all
anxious to get me back. You ought to near how
they discuss taxes and all such things. me jail
seems to be burden upon the community. ana !
nave no doubt that our escape relieved them OF q
somewhat heavy burden"
''Did not your arrest surprise your said l.
! A PRACTICAL FATALIsT.
'My arrest Is iatel" he answered, knitting his
| brows and fixing his eyes steadily upon me. ut
! il late late Iate !-smply fate and nothing else.
That fate which begins with the career OF all such
creatures as myself. which follows us night and
peace, which disturos our dreams, and which
finally brings US down here Ia sucn place as tnls.
| 1t IS this fate which holds me now q captive.
| MOST REMARKABLE ARREST.
''Listen to the story. No more remarkable arrest
can be found IN criminal record. NO mater where
suffice " TO say that at the moment OF my capture
had only been IN daylight for FIVE minutes saw
! horse car passing down Master street. and, upon
FROM one OF tue windows. lelt uneasy, though I
the ar n saloon came to. was forced to
come out In order to get something to eat
| You know what followed. The man found a con-
stable and arrested me- Think OF It'll Had come
! out Of the place where was staying one moment
the not been behind time to-day, instead OF be-
ing here would have been free. The man who
recognized me is o resident OF another city. he
years, and yet this man, at the hour nay, at the
very moment, appear upon the street, recognizes
tate, iate and nothing iess.'
! BIG PRANK THE POWER OF THE PRESS.
Big Frank was dlsheartened and despondenr.
His confinement at Newcastle had cast upon his
lace pale and unnatural color, and the general
appearance OF the man indicated langour and IA
''You Of the press" said he, "weld an awful
power-an awluliy unreasonable influence. You
can lit man up or you can pull him down, for In
your hands humanity Is q toy which you can hurl
1ns way IGas at your WILL
don't put fellow down lower than that low posi-
ton in which his fate always locates him. DON'T
ther disgrace than tina which is already heaped
upon them by the law. Don't ransack my career
slowly but surely brought me to this jail
gave him nv assurance that had come for no
such purpose, and that my time would not in such
wise be employed j told him that, on the con-
trary, had come TO see whether he had anything
THE PART PLAYED BY FRAZIER.
81 am WE'LL" he returned. Il slept comfortably
me. believe this is all have to communicate. l
can think OF nothing more Just now" ..r,. ssu,r
tells me that he was the main instrument In erect
ing your release"
Eyes. He served as all gooo turn" Frank re-
Piled 81 never knew MIN before met him IN
prison. He did aid us materially"
Tns WOMAN, THE TUG AMI M. IT THE CARRIAGE.
"Simpy piece OF romance, /" he returned.
what about the carriage found at Holly OAK
II assure you." said he, "that had no connec-
ton whatever with the carnage"
al presume that when you were rescued part OF
your party went one way and part another w
"A very good Assumption" ne answered, 'for
our trends after we wefe Snee ee weTS not
"A rumor was anoat last night that your COM
panlOns were arrested"
that they were still mere. They ned hours before
was SEEM 1t was fate that detained me; tate tnat
in one of Its seats; late that caused him at par
| ticuiar moment to look out OF the window; late
alderman office; fate that constable should be
there at such an hour, and fate that prevented mo
from escaping ms tons: was ate rom oegln'
No word could be got from him OF the method OF
the escape; OF the means oy which those within
communicated with those without; OF the depart.
ure or whereabouts OF MS comrades. The cell was
dreary and uncomfortable. while Frank was dun
| NEwCAsrLE's GOODNESS TOWARD FRANK.
| left him there alone. and no sooner had passed
above when saw Shern Armstrong, Oh Newcas-
tle The Chief OF Police OF this CITY had eleRrapneu
him TO come up early this morning, and the Sherin
| indinerently responded that he would come up on
saturday. The Chief OF Police then sent oack WORD
that II the authorities down there wanted nim
they must come up at once, and SO they came.
Captain Thompson went below with sheriff Arm.
| strong and held IN his hands pair OF handouts.
Prank said he, "a am sorry TO place these
upon you" ,s,~
| '..Oh we,n he responded. tndinerenty, "y0u
might as well do 1t as any one else"
So they took Frank from his cell and placed him
in q carriage. - -
THE NAPOLEON OF THIEVES.
As soon as he was seated and alter the carriage
was upon Its way TO the depot, Frank said -
1.-The fates are against me. Napoleon at Water
loo wished for either darkness or Grouchy, and 80
was 1t with me yesterday. wished Tor darkness
-"
He did not finish his sentence. When they ar.
rived at the Baltimore depot an immense crowd
awaited them and hundreds thronged about the
! prisoner to catch glimpse OF his lace. special
freight car had been nrOYided and Lha SherIff and