The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-16
THE sing sing CONSPIRACY,
Another Effort to Solve the Mystery q
Escapes from the PrisNE.
What the Detectives Have Accomplished-An.
Extraordinary Exhibition Of Burgls-
rious Mechanism Contradictory
Evidence Of an Informer.


The examination OF william Many, q guard at
Sing Sing Prison, on charge Of aiding and abet
ting convicts to escape from that institution last
October, took place at White Plains, westchester
county, yesterday, before Justice Ferris. In tho
Grand Jury room Of the Court House, where tho
proceedings were conducted, number OF persona
had assembled long before the hour appointed for
the hearing, In the confident expectation OF listen
ing to further astonishing disclosures, which ru-
NOR asserted would be forthcoming in relation to
the dishonesty OF subordinate oficials at the
prison. This desire for sensational developments,
however, was scarcely realized by majority OF
those present
Seated near District Attorney Briggs, and look
ing as innocent as their professional astuteneao
would permit, were Captain James Irving, OF the
New York detective force, and his rrusty assist
ants. Detectives Sampson and Farley, the trio to
whose ingenuity and perseverance Is due the
credit OF placing the recent escapes from Sing:
Sing In q new and comprehensive light. Through
the EFFORTS Of these men. Steuner the Hester street.
artisan has been brought to grief; lilly Miller.
the arch conspirator, transferred from the Cana
dian border at LocKport to the Westchester'
county jail. and Henry Smith, the would-De in
former. placed on the road to felon's cell. These
are some OF the direct results Of their work, and
as they are
STILL ON THE TRAIL,
other and perhaps more important discoveries
may not professionally be looked for. warden
Hubbeli. OF Sing Sing Prison, was also present.
as were several Of his subordinates. Numerous
articles Of sinister appearance which were ex-
posed to view during discrimination attracted
not . little attention. Among these was the mas
stve prison key used to work the lever which
simultaneously locks or unocks fifty cells on ono
rh h.
Miller and Brady in pending the heavy wrought
iron window bars through which they escaped
was also there, most unique specimen OF mechan-
zeal skill. This deceptive-looking implement Ia
about Jour inches long. two inches in circumfer-.
ence, and but for Its weight, might be comfortably
slowed away in the pocket Of . school boy. Yes.
even in the hands or a novice 1t Is capable OF
Twisting Two ncn oar r o. wrought iron iron almost -
fingers, or raise weight oil twenty-five tons.
THE TIN BOX,
containing an exact impression in wax OF tho
large key alluded to. and which had been pro-
duced BY Captain Irving, together with other evt:
dences OF . plot discovered in New York, were All
communication from Sing Sing Prison, written
hall Of mote ana conn
Captain irving 70 the District Attorney This
by the detectives during their visit to Steurer's
shop. Accompanying the note were cut paper
Pe9c nes 80 n s1as
sign to q harris breadth. The following Is copy OF
the directions which. of course relate TO the manu-
1acture of the Jackscrew and lever useo by Miller
and Brady In breaking out OF the prison.
Length Of Sox n inches oy o inches q in nosi q
sn,Sss e s1s
q : tom. E1.rsms length q inshss e ;:
to u aasrer ufns On the bolt teeth
The nrst witness examined was Warden Hubbeli.
who testified taat on september Is 1870. william
oyer and Term,ner Of the city and county Of New
| York, and that he (Miller) had escaped rom the
prison on the 10th Of October last.
John Clubhouse the guard, who in his examine.
for assisting in the escape OF Miller and Brady,
was next placed upon the witness stand. He
him on the day named, but In abiding TO the
| COMPLETELY or THE DEPENDANT
In the plot contradicted himself natly IN regard 70
regarding the length OF time Many kept the
box before handing It back to him with the Inn
his crosse Examination Clubhouse acknowledged
that he had gone 70 New York. where he met
Miller, and with them concOcted the plan for his
escape; that he had made 1t his business to take
to d e Uh IN Ss
ting away, also that ne subsequently gave Miller
800 out OF the 200 he had received from Kings
land.
The cross-examination OF Clubhouse elected q
contradiction Of many OF his previous Statements,
and, in the estimation OF nearly all present, left
him unmasked and alone in his self-confessed IN
fanny.
ANOTHER VERSION OF THE AFFAIR.
William Many the defendant, on being sworn
absolutely denied having ever received from Out
house the tin box shown; that he had never seen
1t before, nor had opportunity OF speaking with
Miller at any time regarding his escape; did not
believe that he had ever spoken to Miller on any
subject, and had no connection or completely what
ever with the charge on which he was arrested.
One OF the counsel while addressing the Justice.
urging that the charge against the prisoner be dis
missed, adverted dlscOurteOusly TO the action OF
the District Attorney In making use OF Clubhouse
as witness, and Tor 1t received singing rebuko
from that on1cia, who forcbiy informed him that
q repetition of the affront would be met In man
ner which he might regret.
Justice Ferris had not rendered his decision In
the case OF the accused up TO q late hour IN tho
afternoon. 1t was the universal opinion, how
ever, that, as the testimony OF Clubhouse was not
worthy of credence, the charge against Many