The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-06
SING SIN G..
Details of the Christmas
Escape Plot.
HOW 1T WAS FRUSTRATED
/ Well Conceived Conspiracy Thwarted by
official Vigilance.

Bcape OF prisoners rom sing sing fehNehHaIy, hoe
The details OF which appeared yesterday, the HERALD
Rceived IRON the PRISON the following letter This
vas shown by reporter Mr. Benson, the head
Keeper After reading that Official declared that IL
ave true statement OF the plot SO far 1t has been
developed The letter reads thus
SING SING PRISON, Dec 20, 1875
70 EDITOR or rHE HERALD =
The horrors Of the last few days beginning TO
Tubside and We can now breathe more freely for II Is
svdent tina, we have escaped a fearful ordea-a great
being murdered IN cold blood by men maddened with
drink and druggeo In order 10 insure the Of
Of the most hendish plots record.
On Christmas Day after partaking OF a breakfast
peciay provided for the occasion, marched to
ihe bread rack in companies and thence to the hall,
where We were locked up for the day, little thinking
that conspiracy then foot for the destruction
Of come and the liberation by wholesale OF
pf Ina, day when the Saviour Of mankind
tame into the world crime Of the most gigantic char
Acter was fully and cunnngy matured aud ready 10 be
put into execution On that day. II the fell designs OF
Keeper Hastings had been carried OUT the coun-
Try would now be shocked, and no doubt the
papers teemng with the great outrages of combined
criminal force let loose society. But thanks 10
God and The prompt action Of Warden A Walker this
helhsh plot discovered IN good time TO be efectu
ally suppressed.
Joseph Kngsland, convict, who works on the book
pndery contract Is sad to be pretty vel represented
BY monoyed friends outside Keeper Hastings, on the
Unset to lbs JOB i order e make X
reach what like him might mistake for mine Of
wealth, II it could only be successfully worked He
pot himself IN communication with Kingsland's
friends and soon Arrangements were perfected 10
rel tie latter free. This was to DO done
Tor certain sum Of money, part
10 be paid conditionay and the remainder 10 be placed
IN bank the credit Of Hastings and made payable
when the job finished. But how this "blood
money" to be earned by the keeper without draw
ag suspicion on himself lie took in wax
IMPRESSION OF THE KEYS
which open the lever locks and from the wax duplicate
Keys were made. Bat this was only part OF the
work with the keys OF the door secured II might be
imagined that the remainder ofthe programme would be
@sy oil execution Not so, howeveri Tor II must be
remembered that four or five guards on duty in the
ball when the prisoners locked up; and this being
Me case on Christmas Day some means must be
provided which would render them powerless
DIT insensble TO the danger surrounding them
and the unhappy wretcnes who might be
inspected enemies Of the plot. great number of
khe here would take part in the conspiracy;
but they were 10 be drugged put out of the way
BY any means not even death excepted. Hastings
has knowledge in the science OF medicine,
HAVING served some time in drug store at Newburg
this State and his experience 10 this line Of business
was TO be turned to account in the following
nanner:-He purchased large quantity Of
Iort and then distributed II among OF the convics
his confidence, TO be given by them to those who
There was in bottles enough OF this stuff
70 make, II properly administered, at least
700 nsensibe and sufficient TO kill nearly half that
number Now, Y you can fancy the guards asleep
rom the effects Of this drug, given to them by way Of
friendly drink; the convicIs who work in the hall
aborng under the same influence, and Hastings with
ever and unlocking fifty cells with
urn Of bis hand, you imagine the consequences
70 unlock cell the whole nifty of them be UNI
you might unlock your desk but the effect is to place
lily men at liberty TO leave their cells and enable
TAKE POSSESSION OF rHE PRISON
The yard door opened with another key. and the
way clear for 800 Of them groaning under
what they conceive TO be the injustice OF their
positions, aud the majority prepared TO per-
Detrate any conceivable crime. Only imagine
ihe horrors OF the situation-l,50o out
laws at their liberty 60 where they would and DO
what they might wish for the time being for there is
power hand that could be brought TO bear in time
&c cheek the evils which this living OF
desperate and depraved men might commit
J. B. C-R.
Yesterday the HERALD reporter had long converse
Non the subject OF the plot with Warden Alfred
Walker Mr.. Walker believes the State Prison Inspec-
iors, who 10 meet at the prison to-day will thor
Dughy sin the matter and discover exactly
Ihe part played In It by all concerned both
within and outside OF the walls Al the reporters
request he was shown a bottle Of the drugged liquor
with which prisoners and keepers to be Piled the
pistol seven shooter, which Keeper Hastings fur
nshed TO convict Brice and which fully loaded T;
The jackscrew provided by Hastings for Kingsand
force opening through the grated window and
the false keys unlocking the lever guard
Ing the doors of fifty cells. Warden
Walker told the reporter he knew the
I'D OF December that something wrong" and
took steps accordingly. He had men placed
around the prison on Christmas night, strongly
pectng what going 10 happen, and was particularly
anxious TO apprehend
ruK OUTSIDE AccoxrlicEs IN THE PLOT
BY request the Warden instructed Mr.. Jackson, n
officer OF great confidence and trust about the prison,
60 have the reporter shown that portion Of the Peni-
Tertiary where the escape was TO be attempted
Keeper James Bowe old ana trusted employee WAS
detailed to show the interior Of the jail The whole
prison contains but 600 cells, and, TO the
disgrace Of the people OF this state Il must
he said that 46 prisoners are penned up together
these wretched holes. When two or more prisoners
occupy the cell their beds placed the
other after the manner OF berths on sbipboaTd Kings
land occupied cell No sos the sixth tier Tor gallery
toward river sGe OF the prison. II is secure
any cell In the prison Al this SIDE Of the building
the ground hoor there IS lookout Office where a
keeper Is constantly duty TO watch all the ranges OF
cells which are well within MS sight In addition 70
this two officers 60 their regular rounds each
side OF the galleries TO see that everything Is right
after the prisoners locked IN. Besides
these three officers SIX or eight privileged
victs allowed the liberty Of the halls II will,
therefore that no escape could be effected I'M
less by the consent Of at least three Keepers Kings
land bribed Hastings, and the latter got Harter
into the plot Weeks was not in their con-
1dence but beng on duty the lookout
once. they had dispose OF him. and the best way to
do 10 WAS by drink, which they gave him They then
victs who in the halls. and had the Warden
with his men come upon the this
ceeded in their designs As soon as Kngsiand would
have len his cell the way was clear Tor him TO
floor II thought that the second window from the
north end OF the gallery that selected for opera
lions. Here u Was attended 20
The JACKscEEw.
The window II about four feet ABOVE the floor level
and nearly the same distance nom TIE ground the
outside Prom TIE window TO the wall, overlooking
the railroad track, there is about score Of
yards 20 be uaversed on the prison side
This wall IL four feet IN. height, and
toward The track il desceuds ten feet man running
from the prison window would clear the railroad track
few bounds, the hillside TO the north Of tho
yards which separate The ~ railroad nom
the carriage drive above and lead 70
the town Of sing Sing on Christmas night
when there was no moon, a carriage with par or
gray horses noticed standing above the prison,
doubtless ready 70 receive kingsand and Brico when
they should scramble up the hl after
GETTING OFT rBH PRISON
Before leaving the prison u would not have taken
any Of The confederaes three minutes 10 et out the in
being thus put in possession OF thc balls, and
their coniederates, the keepers 6~ving the