The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-05
TIE LEAK At SING SING.
Srg'Asr Version Of the Recent Escapes from the
Grison-Convict Ingenuity Illustrated
a Master Mechanic Concealed
Among the Jailbirds.

Among the Jaibirds
tranquility reiRned IN and around Sing Sing
Prison yesterday despite the astounding disclo-
uares brought about by New York detectives in
1Aeir enorts TO prevent an indiscrminate exodus
rem that institution. For the purpose OF ascer-
sainiDg whether any further developments mad
eaken place In connection with the discovery OF
hurzxlarious implements TO be used in enecting
general jail delivery, HERALD representative
Gussled at the prison in the afternoon, but was
Hemewhat disappointed In falling 70 see Warden
Hubbell whose Whereabouts coaid not be ascer-
saaned. although convict messenger,
an accordance with instructions. spent,
some time IN searching the various shops
yards and other precincts OF the prisoh
N search OF him. In the absence OF the
warden however, IL was sscertained nom the
clerk, Mr. CHORD, that II bsrglarious tools were
buried near the prison no effort has as yet been
made sby the police authorities of New York, or IN
short, by any other parties, to exhume them.
the impression prevailing amoug the old lnhao
'sants of Sing sing village l. that the mportence
d tue discoveries and arrests recently made by
The sle tect,ve force OF New YORK IS materially over
safea They ridicule the idea o. any plan having
been concocted by outside friends OF convicts for
ahe wholesale liberation OF the latter, knowing
well the sutiIty OF such scheme. one gentle
man who nas made prison matters study
COR the past ten or twelve years. called the
writer's attention the fact that In the cases OF
mos OF those mentioned among the recent eS-
eapes IRON he prison false keys or other inge-
nlous tools were used or required IN the carrying
Dus OF their determination 60 get away. few al
uis ons will sufhce TO illustrate the accuracy OF
this asse tiou. The convict Joe Howard as pub
nshed in the HERALD at tEe time, escaped through
being locked Out by his keeper, the man never
having been in has cell The night on which ne made
nj bnr A mt he
supposed was aldec AZ regalning his liberty by
mysterious lemale false Keys and
A PHANTOM CARRIAGE
walked out OF the prison in broad daylight, ac-
eompanied by has .riend 'Johnny'' Reilly the good
citizen;s cothes, were driven leisureiy away in
barUucbe, they having f1rst Temporarily located
the warden and clerk IN the rotnnda Oh the Astor
House Dy means OF forged telegram. This eX-
tSe late Horace Greeley's funeral and is SUI
hooked upon as masterpiece OF shrewdness oy
even The astute officials who were egregiously
..sold" on the occasion. ,,, John Keele, alas
alias Frost, both escaped between the hours
OF sne and three p. NJ, while they
one OF the marble quarrles and the latter as
waiter III the guard house. Win the same conn.,
dence it asserted that In the case OF Mary Watts
the last convict who escaped from the female
prison, there was no necessity for the use Of
SKELETON KEYS,
0cans could ut her pleasure enter the key room,
which adjOined another apartment containing a
Y
. height ofsone twenty ieet to the ground out
side. There no doubt but that the agile Mary
Skipping s0oo over s this sriing OBSTACLE. It IS
further intimated that, as Mary escaped between
seven and eight O'Clock IN the evening she might
doors are generally open at that tune; but tearing
shat she might encounter one OF the assistant
nAtrons IN the hallway, the willy female ADOPTED
the sHrest and most expeditions means OF shaking
the dust Of the prison rom her ieet.
In regard to the manufacturing OF tools in New
York Tor the liberation OF jail BIRDS the absurdity
Of the IDEA is laughed at by those living in tue VI
epity o. the prison. They say that convicts are
mot Iools by any means and that, like other men,
Ihey invariably try to make the best bargains Tor
themselves Now, these jail birds are well aware
that they have In their midst an artisan whose
skill III the
SUBTLE MANUFACTURE OF TOOLS
Of the most intricate design and elaborate WORK
manship Is not surpassed IN tue western heinis-
phere. Tnis man, GusLave KInd- is convict, now
IN the prison serving out a term LOT robbery. he
Was sente need some years ago for cracking a
watch case factory IN Brooklyn and had not been
long in the plAson when he saturated the stone
surrounding the astening OF MS cell with some
powerful acid, and then, with the aid OF jack
screw, MADE oy himself sprung open MS cen door,
potent screw IA bending the bars Oh the window
suf1cienty to enable him to escape: He was sub
sseguenLy arrested Hackensack, N. j., Tor perpei
fratng a felony similar to that above named, an q
the notice OF his arrest enabled the prison officials
10 identlfy their lost man. A reqnisition was ac.
,coraingty obtained, through which the escaped
man vas escorted back TO his OLD quarters III De-
.s tner time Tools or opoortunity he can fasnion
TUE MOST ELABORATE IMPLEMENTS
-1hat mechanical ingenuity can conceive, from a
sectional 'jlmmy' 10 cambria needle. In proof
<Df this be mas made out OF steel dur
anG his Incarceration continuance the
exterior of which presents the size and
appearance OF an ordinary darning needle.
NILS article, which Ii hollow, Is maue to screw to-
vetAer in parts, like pencil case. and contains
ssne or twelve similar needles, each one more
Hninutive than the other and all characterized
B vthe same. parts and exquisite workmanship as
st outside needle when forms the case. This
a. n*7ho Is regarded the lion OF his art, Is said
10 NC abundantly able 10 supply the wants OF his
ELL wy oonpiets VINO nave sueh nnpnclt iath IN ms
ski ttnae tney Wouu consluef IL IooHsuness 10 try
else tsefe LOT any arlicie Wltnln Inc scope Of MS
and Gssir peculiar procession.