New-York tribune., 1876-02-03
A JAIL DELITERT FRTSIRIIED.

CONSPIRACY OF CoNvICTs IN THE KINGS COUNTY
PENITENTIARY 10 EsCAPE-THE PLAN DIS, LosED
DY A PRISONER - PROMPT ACTION ny IhE
OFFICERS.
BENJAMIN Wcbber, alias John Williams, and
Michael Smith, two ex-convcts who have served several
terms in the State Prison and the Kings County Pcnen-
tiary when in the latter institution recently were EN-
ployed in the shoeshOp They became sicn experienced
and valuable worhm that they retained in the
shop after their discharge returning 10 their homes at
night Weber was allowed the freedom Of the entire
prison. and was thus enabled 10 hold communication
with the prisoners He conveyed letters 10 their friends
and in return supplied them with liquors and cigars
About weeks one OF the nrisoner- notorious
burglar named william Barber alias Titus who IL %erv-
ing out "A term Of Ave years informed Weber that about
40 OF the most desperate prisoners had formed plan to
revolt a. soon as the first opportunity should oer and
make smultaneous attack upon the keepers oyerower
them and then release the convicts who remained In
their cells Barber declared that all that needed to
carry plan successfully supply OF weapons,
which he desired Webber 10 obtain. Webbcr was to
receive large of money from the friends Of Tie
prsoners after the latter should bc free Wcbber and
Smith agreed 10 enter into the arrangement. and the
former carried rey0lyers knives, and dsgrers into Tie
Penontiary every time he entered it, and dttnbattd
them among the cons piratOrs.
II was agreed al fret that the revolt should take place
on Friday OF last week but all the prisoners who had
and eo ii was postponed untl Monday evening ono oi
the prisoners however who had entered into the con
sprcy anticipating that there must he great hoodshcd
if plan executed laid ont hcslldted 10 assist
and requested interview " tn keeper Sh"Niii 10
whom be- revealed ar the particulars 0f the conspiracy
The preparations the nfOrmer declared were complete,
and nothing remained except the appfoach OF g' culnS
and the signal which had been agreed upon. Whch thc
men should be the march from the shoe shop - the
main PRISON Monday evening ihe ruai |"
break ranks would he given bv Bslh"r, the rlnG-
lender. The keepers were 10 be SttaChcd, hhoi
down II necessary and then the cells were ~ be opened
and all the inmates s~t free All the keepers were or
derod to report Immediately 10 Keeper Scyln. and lhen
tho whole body, fan armed. marched 10 the shoe shop
The cOnspiratOTs called out one by one, eSanlncd,
and searched The weapons found carefully con
cealcd upon persons. and many OF them wore pii
clothes beneath their prison suits Among those armed
most fOTmdahy III" notorious "OunteIlc''f, 'dla
m0nu 1hc men we've thea locked mp IN seIr'iau coDH'
and many Of them haufCgrcd The two persons
through whose fundamentally the weapons had been
furnished had left the PsIiicntiiiy when tlc search
began, aud not found until early yesterday morn
ing Smith was discovered In cOnccalment at No. 60
Cauton-s and Wcbber at No. AZ Skiinan ST. IN Brook
lyn. Wclhcr sent back by Justic" Riley to The Pcn
tentary six months, but the other vas held for eX
animation