The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-05-19
OUT OF JAIL.

THE PLAN OF EsCAPE-oUTsIDE HELP-CoN-
DrTIoN OF THE WOUNDED AND WHERE THE
WEAPONS CAME FROM.
The Louisville Courier-Journal Of the 18th
gives the following additional particulars in
regard to the recent prison outbreak at JEFF.
fersoRvills: Some interesting developments
were brought to light in the attempted prison
escape Monday ate, noon at Jeffersonville.
which throws considerable light upon the
subject. 1t is now evident that il was not
the original plan of the four convicts to
attempt to run the dangerous gauntlet which
they did for their liberty. On the contrary,
there was conspiracy among the convicts
evidently with some outside parties, by
which at least forty, and perhaps more were
to make an effort to escape. Yesterday
morning one of the prison guards discovered
the trick, which, it must be allowed, was
as ingenious as il was bold. A place had
been cut through the outer wall, which is
constructed of wood, large enough to allow
the form of a man to pass through with ease.
This hole had been cut by parties from the
outside, and the piece taken out of the place
had been so neatly fitted in that it was diff
cult to detect without having the attention
called TO IL. Above the hole was a character
greatly resembling the characters that have
been supposed to be used by the Kuklux
Kan. William Kennedy, the convict who
killed the guard Chamberlain, worked in
the foundry, near the place where the hole
was cut in the wall. He has had a chest in
the shop where he works, and upon an ex-
animation of
THE CONTENTS OF THE CHEST
yesterday mornings letter was found, and
also suit or citizens clothes. The follow
ing is copy Of the letter:
- 'al MAY II, 1874.
BILLY:-When we started last night to
I.u~l
was required to 90 ahead with; but when
we looked over the thing to make sure that
we had everything all right, to our i'll luck a
pair of pants and saw was lost, and 1t was
my intention to look for a saw inside the
walls, and did get one, but it was of no bene
fit, and as it was very near daylight, and as /
hurt myself in getting over the wall, we had
to give it up for that time, but you win
find everything all right; you will find
the hole ready for you this morning;
you will find 1t by this mark (X)-here APP
peared an Y, with dots around it In black,
right under the tower, or as you go out To
the setting up shop. We will also leave the
same kind of a mark on your box with
chalk; when you come out be sure and come
over the bridge; for we will be 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 us waiting for you. 1fyou are not
there by seven O'Clock we will have to leave
YOU for good, as we can not do anything
more for you. The mark there the Y with
the dots above and below itl you see right
over the hole. YOUR FRIENDS.
Or the top of the chest was the same kind
of q character which had been made on the
prison wall. From certain information in
the possession OF the prison officials which
can not at present be made public, there Is
but little doubt that, had the plot of escape
as planned been carried out, a number the
convicts would have escaped, and matters
been much worse than they now are. The
four convicts who made the strike for their
liberty, ON Monday afternoon, acted rashly
and hastily, and It was not down in the pro.
gram for them to make the move they
did. They happened to be near the guard
dQor, were aTme1, knew that there were