The Morning herald., 1876-01-03
ZIG FRANK,s PAL Banked.

BIG FRANKS PAL BAKED.
ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF LRWLER PROM
SING sING-How IT WAS DIscovEREp.
Another escape from Sing Sing prison
might have been recorded on Sunday, but
for the confession Of one of the keepers i'm
plicated in the conspiracy. The notorious
bank robber Joseph Kingsland, alias "Geo.
Fuller" alias "Lawler" was sentenced to
Auburn. prison on the 96th of June, 1871,
| for ten years. Having been transferred to
Sing Sing prison, he escaped by bribing one
of the guards IN September, 1872. He was
afterward arrested and confined in the jail
| at New Castle. Delawarey for burglary, but
he escaped, and the next heard of him was
in connection with the Barre Bank robbery
! in Vermont. With four others, he bound
| the cashier and took him from bis house to
the bank and compelled him to open the
vault ind safe.
Detectives from Boston got track of Kings
land and captured him in this city In
| the latter part of August last. He acknow
lodged that he was an escaped convict, and
was returned to Sing Sing prison to serve
the eight years remaining of his term be-
fore being tried in Vermont. He is Of y re-
spectacle family, and his friends have work
cd INCREASINGLY TO get him out of prison. He
has been employed in the book bindery de-
partment since his recapturc, and being
fluent and agreeable talker, he won the
keeper Thomas j. Hastings, This associa-
ton eliminated In conspiracy for an es-
cape.
Hastings, who has been keeper in the
prison for two years, iu order to throw of
suspicion, went to Head Keeper Benson and
said: II understand that Kingslsnd wants
I'd pay some one toilet him 60. Now If YOU
will give me the chance I'll twig him, and
perhaps SQUASH all the outsiders who are
working lor him." He was told to go
ahead" and see what he could find out.
Hastings came to New York and consulted
with Kingsland's friends. He told them
there were three ways Of effecting an es-
cape. The first was ''to stow away" when
al work; the second, s'to be counted out"
when the roll was called at lock up time,
when Hastings would send in his report
that all in his gang were safe; and the third
whs ito jack window on Christmas
night" Tho last plan was accepted, and
the time determined on was O'Clock
Christmas night, at the relief Of the guards.
Keeper Benson, however, had suspicious
of Hastings, and during the week the case
WIS worked up. On Christmas afternoon
he told several extra guards to be on hand
that night. Hastings and Harter went to
the prison, and were placed on guard with |
tile extra men. The plot was frustrated,
although Hastings had everything ready,
having given rum to Keeper Thomas J.
Weeks, who was in the hall Office, until he |
was intoxicated, and Harter had allowed
Brice to stay out on the galley to lift the
iron latch to Kingsland's g cell after Hastings
had unlocked the lever lock with the false
key. Hastings went to Kingsland and said,
Everything is up: I'll have to wsit until |
to morrow night" - |''
Keeper Benson called Hastings to him
and said, in order to draw him out, "Well,
Hastings, when is this thing going to come
ofV Hastings asked, "Whst thing ~
"Oh, IT'S no use, }" said Benson, "Weeks has
squealed." Hrstings turned pale and said,
''1f Weeks has squealed, ] might as we'll
confess" He was taken before Wardeo
Walker, and then he confessed the plot for
th escspe, which was that Kingsland was
10, spread the bars of one of the windows In
he east wall, and carriage was to be
lot him on the hill back of the prison. /
This reminded tho guards who went to
The prison that evening that they noticed
slose carriags stshdipg in the roadway when
they passed, and two men were secu lurk-
nG on, Tho railroad track at about6 O'Clock
hat evening. n, I'D Is2 N II
Brice met Hastings on Sunday, and atthel
npzzle Of pistol that Harter had given
hin, compelled Hastings to give back the
} 900 hribe that he had received. Hastings,
H AFTER and Weeks we're suspended on Mon
laS y, and on Wednesday Kipgsland produced
he jaekeerew from under the floor in the
,opkbindery shop, and yesterday beth the
alse keys were found buried in the prison
'ard. ..... II