The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-24
BREAKING OUT OF PRISON.
rHE EXPLOIT or SIX THIEVES IN
THE WHITE PLAINS JAIL.
X eeper Pounded Ind stunned, and n stnni-
pedc Mnde for the Woods-A Chase ENDING
in n Capture Of Three Of the Thieves.

A X eeper Pounded and stunned, and n stnu,-
pedc Mnde for the Woods-A Chase Ending
in n Capture Of Three Of the Thieves.
John Duncan, the cook in the Westches-
ter County Jail, White Plains. got out OF bed In
the Court House at o'clock yesterday morning.
unlocked the outside door OF the little stone
prison, drew back the bolts that held the inner
door. climbed to the third tier of cells, and re-
leased the two women who assist him IN prepar-
ing the prisoners breakfasts. One OF the women
descended the iron stairs, Duncan followed her,
and the other woman remained behind TO finish
dressing. The stairs are built against the blind
end OF the structure containing the cells.
view OF the corridors opposite the cells IL not
obtained bv any one ascending or descending.
Duncan had reached the second landing. and
was turning to descend TO the nrst, when he was
attacked by several convicts, who had been
standing on the second corridor. They dubbed
him until no was unconscious, and robbed him
OF the prison keys. Almost at the same moment
| twelve cell doors opened, and as many men ran
! along the galleries and halls toward the prison
| door.
John Frtzcibbons, a turnkey. stood at the foot
| Of the stairs. He stopped Joseph Osborn. one
! Of the convicts who had attacked Duncan: %.
| born put a pistol to fttzgibbon's head, a d
| ordered him into cell that mad Just been
vacated.
STIR or III blow your brains out"
Fifteen or more men stood near the door,
waiting to tie given their liberty A convict who
had the keys threw open the door, AND out
stepped Joseph Osborn. CHRISTOPHER Spencer,
| John cNeil, and Thomas Wright. white men,
negroes Others were az their heels, but steven
Purdy, the initor OF the Court House, stopped
them. Purdv was 70 ding newspaper, he says.
and hearing an unusual noise he ran to the rear
| window, saw the mon quitting the jail. shouted
not cleared the threshold He saws that he ran
| TO the jail door, slammed II shut. aud tiled
one OF the Court House KEYS In the KEY mole re
door be supposes they thought themselves
locked In.
William Rich, who tended bar In saloon
near uy, saw all that occurred at the Jail door,
and chased the fusitives. who ran at headlone
speed down Mumaroneck avenue. Somebody
aroused nenry Is. Ford. the Jaller. who lives
| within a stones throw OF the jail. and ne ran a
little way after the fugitives, aud then returned,
| nitched 10 his morse and gave them an earnest
chase. The fueitives ran along the avenue until
they we're rosite strip OF woods. when they
| abandoned tine ROAD, dashed through corn
field aud disappear IN the msrshy Jungle in
the forest. The jrler captured Christopher
Spencer, who was tired out, nd had not been
able to hide himself ss quickly as his COM
ponions.
lage, and before o'clock the fact that sheriff
Carpenter had offered q reward OF go each for
,no oaP'u,e ". 'nu - ~ " so ~, ~,
Joined In the chase. William Ricn, the bar
tender. followed the fugtives until he lost sight
Of them, WHOM he rested lew moments anu re-
turned toward the village through the swamp
and forest. On his way, he leaped upon \ stone
wall and me, suddenly. face to face with
Joseph Osborn and Jonn Mcneil Osborn put
bis HIND upon istol. Rich was unamed'
and made no attempt to take the runa-
ways In custody. lnste d, he said that
he lost, and inquired the way TO
town. Osborn put back his pistol, and directed
Rich 20 take a road that would lead MIN further
from While Plains Hioh passed on, but watch
ed the men until he saw them hide under q
thick growth OF bushes. He ran TO tho jan and
led Deputy sheriff Haieht, Steven Purdy, and
several Others back TO the hiding place. he
pursuers closed around the thcket. and ordered
the uen to surrender. Osborn cra~ led out and
pointed bis pistol toward Haigbt, but hudIpl
himself covered ny the pistols Of the other men
threw his revolver away and surrendered
His companion. Mcneil. was afterward Captured
bv . parry headed bv George Smith, uaintei
from White Plains. These three, Osborn, Nc
Neil, and speneer, were the only ones captured
They, with Wright, were the rIneleaders In he
plot. Mcneil VS. awaiting trial for stealing
watch from farmer for whom he worked neal
WHITE Piains. Osborn, Sp-nce ana Mcneil
were put In irons at the wrists and ankles snC
placed In separate cells. John Duncan tue
wounded cook, was taken TO MS room, ana the
great easnes on hts head were sewed Up by sur
| geon.
Until dark yesterda y numerous parties huntec
in the woods for Wright and the two negroe-
The chance OF earning ESQ or $50 rendered th'
competition among the searcners very earnest