The New York herald., 1879-07-01
QUEENS COUNTY JAIL BREAKERS.


HOW LAST SATURDAYS ESCAPE WAS EXPECTED
THE ''coRK LEGGED MAN" TELLS THE STORY
TO A KEEPER
w. M. Batterby, the man with the cork leg. OF
tho four prisoners who escaped from the Queens
County Jail Saturday afternoon rested
quietly in his cell all day yesterday
and refused to be interviewed He was
brought into the Jail aer his capture in the garret
near New Lots. and on being searched nothing worth
mentioning was found on his person. The keeper
in charge locked him up lin cell on the lower tier OF
the prison. There is not the slightest doubt that
New York men planned and executed the escape.
All the signs go to show the handwork Of expert
cracksnIen The saving of the bar was begun on
Thursday last and continued far into the night.
Everything goes to show that the bar
worked upon by people who had care
fully planned the scheme About half-past
ten Thursday night. after 1t had been
sawed through the outside confederates puttied IL
up; but making some noise, Batterby coughed and
alarmed them. Belmont the pickpocket. who thus
far has eiuded capture. was the manipulator
and manager of the job. Butterfly. Is stated.
up to this time knew nothing of what
was going on. Walters and Belmont at first did not
dare to trust him. but after they called out to him
if he would keep quiet it would be all right and he
would get out. He was. SO to speak, quiet par.
ticpant. A moment afterward Belmont heard
noise in the corridor aud cautioned silence,
not only to the in the cells. but to ths
people who were working outside. The noise was
made by the Under Sheriff who was making hii
rounds, and the contamination of the affair
necessarily postponed until Friday night. Then
the whole affair was talked over in detail
Belmont told Batterby that il he would
not "squcal. ;" they would all be out shortly. The
k1,o hut
be estimated they returned at about halfpast ten
on Friday night, and after cutting the bar clear
through. showed it in so to make sure that it was
loose. Then the bar Was put back in its place and
the slit disguised with putty to make 1t look secure.
HOURS IN JAIL.
After this accomplished the outside parties
day morning, the memorable day OF the escape.
when at eight O'Clock the prisoners were let out
S tine and o the other
uns shs tssDsr ims and ofs BsmSa ans
marked. "Now, boys we will all be out Of here to-
day. what is the best time to starty Batterby
says they concluded that about four o'clock.
after dinner. would be the best time. for
they all had studied the habits Of the
attendants and keepers Of the prison and knew that
about ten fifteen minutes. At halEpast three the
assistant keeper walked through the corridor all
reply was. II haven't felt SO good in six
mouths" The keeper then gave them cloth'a
Wr1nger Tor the purpose OF WrlnSlng out their
blankets, which they were supposed to have been
took it away. also removing the pans
and dishes which had been usedA in serv-
ing meals. No sooner had he locked the
door. than the bar was removed aud the escape
effected. Belmont went out first, SO ss to
show the others that he was in earnest in
the scheme he had planned. Walters fol-
lowed. moment later; but the aperture
was so narrow that the skin badly scraped on
his back and breast and for . time the
others Thought he would not be able to get
through without detection. Shaw. the sixty
suffered severely. Battery, with his cork leg. was
the last to 60. and was the only man who ~ mid
night last night had been captured.
RUNNING RoR LIBERTY
After getting outside of the prison walls they
ran across what is called the "limit yard.
which is enclosed by |. board fence eight fect
SIX inches IN height They kept in COM
psny along the improvement railroad track
as far as the waterworks Bssville. and thence
about hiteen minutes after they had escaped they
could distinctly the officers Wilkinson and Parks
looking for them. He took refuge in the
cemetery and. lying down in secluded
spot remained there until sbout hve o'clock
in the morning. when hs went to the house in East
New York, near Cypress Hills Cemetery, where he
finally captured between eight and nine In tie
evening by Keeper Eldridge, Ofacer Flsntry and
Detectiye cavansgh. Of the Long :, Island
escape told by Batterly to one Of
the keepers sheriff Rushmore is confident that the
other men will be caught before long. Battcrby
will be sent to Sing Sing soon as his commitment
paper received. the County Clerks illness having
caused its delay.