The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-05-20
JEFFERSONVILLE TRAGEDY


How the Prisoners were Supplied
with Arms-Assistance from Ex.
COnviets.
The tragedy at the Indiana State
Prison South, the complete details of
which were published in the CONNER
cial May 18th, was the subject of con-
versation in every quarter. We have
nothing to add in reference to the
tragedy, as the report given in the
Commercial was conceded by all to be
very correct and full in its details.
But since our report was given to the
public events have TRANSFERRED which
go far toward explaining the mystery
of how the arms and clothing were
smuggled into the prison.
1t will be remembered that we sta
ted that Chief of Police Carpenter, of
New Albany, informed Col. Shuler
that an attempt would be made by out
side parties to smuggle clothing and
pistols inside the walls to arm the
party who were to escape. This was
discovered to have been done Monday
night, or rather before daylight Tues
day morning: About seven o'clock
came morning, while the guards were
outside the walls of the prison, they
discovered hole had been cut in the
wooden wall near the northwest tower
This wooden wall surrounds the
grounds inclosing the setting up shops
of the car works, and is west of the
west wall of the grounds. 1t appears
the party had sawed hole in the
plank in such way that the piece
would remain intact until the proper
time. They gained an entrance
through this hole, and, by means of
false Keys, passed through the guard
door inside the prison Enclosure prop
er, and struggled two suits of clothes
and letter into a box belonging to
VIM Kennedy. The letter, verbatim
ct literatim, reads as follows:
May II, 1874.
BILL-When we started last night
to fulfill our mission, We had every
thing that was required to go ahead
with, but when we looked over things
to make sure that we had everything
all right, to our i'll luck pair of pants
and our saw was lost, and it was my
intention to look for saw inside the
walls, and did get one but it was of no
benefit, and as it was very near day
light, and as l hurt myself getting
over the wall, we had to give it up for
this that time, but you will find every
thing all right. You will find the hole
ready for you, will find it by this
mark, x, in black, right under the
tower as you go out to the setting-up
shop. We will also leave the same
mark on your box with chalk, X.
When you come, be sure and come
over the bridge, for we will lie there
looking for you. When you come
over the bridge you need not stop to
pay your toll until you get ON the
Kentucky side and that is where you
will find waiting for you, and if you
are not there by7 o'clock we will have
to leave you for good as we cannot do
anything more for you. The mark,
X, you will see right over the hole.
Your FRIENDS.
1t will be seen by the above that
the letter was written on the ground
while the saving was going on, and
that the writer had scaled the walls.
The mark alluded to is ST. Andrews
cross, with dots between the North
and South angles. One of these was
found on the wall, one on Kennedy's
box, and one over the hole in the
wall.
It is evident that the men who did
this work are we'll acquainted with the
prison, and that they are the parties
who smuggled the pistols in there can
be little doubt. tits evident that they
did not know the attempt to escape
had been made Monday evening. 1t
is believed they had lain in the woods
all day Monday, and had had no OPP
portunity to hear of the tragedy.
That Tuesday morning was fixed upon
as the time to make the break is con-
fdently believed, but fearing the plot
would be discovered and broken up,
the desperadoes took the first oppor-
tunity that offered, and hence the
tragedy
Colonel Shuler thinks that there
were quite number in the plot, but
regards Apologize and Kennedy as
the ringleaders He is perfectly salts
fed who are the guilty parties opera
ting from the outside, and has taken
steps to capture them. Tuesday
morning officer Shadburn discovered
james Perkins, an ex-conyict. loaing
about the Kentucky side of the bridge.
and as he found him there between Z
and 8 o'clock, near the hour mention
ed IN the letter for Kennedy to meet
has friends. he took him in custody
and brought him to the prison. Per-
klns denied any knowledre of the
affair and was set at liberty.