Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-08-08
JAIL BREAKERS.
EIsHT OF CHEM ALMOST OUT.
Timely Discovery Of Bold Operations


Timely Discovery Of Bold Operations.
Last night eight of the most desperat
criminals confined in the Lancaster count
prison, made an unsuccessful attempt t
escape. The numbers of the cells whic
were occupied by the men, together wit
their names are as follows Cell No. &c
occupied by Abraham Buzzard and Pau
Quigley No. 20, Jacob Weaver
No. 30, John Lippincott and Charlie
Albright; No 81, Ike and Joe Buzzard
No. 32. Charles Gibson. The cells il
which the men we're confined are situated
on the ground floor on the east side of tn,
prison. Some time ago the county com
missioners had iron plates placed on tn,
north side of cell No. %, and the soutl
side of No. 80 the east and west ends oil
each of the five cells, together with tn,
floors of all are made of iron, leaving tn,
walls between Nos. % and 80 of bricl
only. Some time yesterday the pris
one,s began cutting the walls be-
between the cells, using their cigar
makers tools to do the work. They cu
holes largo enough for a man to craw
through between the cells. until they came
to the wall separating Nos. 90 and 20
This wall like all of the others is made O
brick and is IS inches thick. When they
reached this wall they cut it out into the
yard. About 10 o'clock last night Watch
man William Reed was walking around in
the eastern part Of the prison yard when
he discovered that 4 hole had been
cut in tho wall between cells No. 90 and
20. He quickly alarmed Keeper Weise
who arose from bed and dressed himself.
After procuring pistols tho keeper went
upon search to see il the men had es
capped. He first stationed one watchman
at the hole and another in the prison, Civ
ing them orders to shoot any man who
would attempt to escape. Mr.. Wcise then
walked around the Jail yard in order to
ascertain whether any Of the men had cs
capped. as it was not then known whether
any had got away. lie examined the
wallis and from what lie could sec he be-
licved that none had got out. He went
into the prison and found Quigley, Weaver
and Abe Buzzard in cell No. %. All Of
the other prisoners were found in their
own cells. An examination was then
made and it was found that tho hole lead
in. to the yard was not sufficiently large
for "a man to get his body through. rs two
sharp pointed stones were yet in the way.
These stones could have been easily re-
moved in short time, however, and the
whole gang Of prisoners would have been
at liberty in short time had it not been
for the timely discovery Of Watchman
Reed. The prisoners were removed to
othcr cells, Immediately after their cells
had been examined and close watch was
kept over them. In one of the cells two
ropes made OF bed clothing were found.
One of them had sticks fastened in it and
they were to have been used i'll scaling the
walls The bricks, which had been taken
from the walls had been placed in boxes
used to deposit tobacco, all of the prison
crs being engaged at cigar making.
Had these prisoners been successful in
their attempt to escape it would have been
an easy matter for them to have overpOw-
cred tho two watchmen. They could then
have easily taken possession of the prison
and would no doubt have liberated all Of
their friends, including Frankford and
ltambright, who occupy cells directly op-
posite those which we've broken, and the
keeper and his family would have been in
danger. When some of those who attempt
ed to escape were interviewed this morn
ing they told one of the undcrkccpers that
they did most of their work yesterday.
Quigley stated that he began his part of it
last week.
The walls between tho cells arc very soft
and a man with any tools could easily cut
a hole through them IN a short time. The
prisoners had drilled small holes through
these walls and through them they were
enabled to communicate with each other.
On Saturday all of the cells We're cx-
aminci and nothing was found to be
wrong. None of the iron was cut, and
had iron been placed Oh the walls between
all of tho. cells the prisoners would
not have Smade al attempt to es-
cape, as the iron is very hard
and they would not have been able to affect
it with the tools they had. The whole
fault seems to be with the commissioners,
who would have shown u good deal more
wisdom if they had lined each wall with
iron. 1t is said that they were advised of
this before tho work was done, but they
seemed to think that what they placed on
the walls ftwo cells was sufficient. They
did not have any idea that the prisoners
would he able to escape after getting into
one cell. No blame whatever can bc at
tacled to the prison officials, but they de-
serve the greatest praise for their success
full efforts in preventing the escape.
The tools with which the work was done
were only those used by cigar Makers such
as knives, clamps, etc, and it would be
impossible for the men to be kept ut work
without them. The walls of the cells are
in 4 terribly bad condition, and if the COM
missioners want to keep desperate prison
crs secure they must cover all the walls
with iron. The cost wculd not be as
large to have the work done at once rs to
bc continually repairing the brick walls
between the cells.
Some history of the men who attempted
to escape may be interesting and our read
ers will then know who they are and
something concerning their crimes Chas.
Gibson was convicted in November, 1877,
Of horse stealing and was sentenced to eight
years imprisonment. He escaped from
prison on July 25. 1878, and was recap
tured in Pittsburgh on SDtember eth of
same year on the 18th tf July, 1879, he
again escaped ard was recaptured in
Grecnsburg on September 1st, 1880.
He was afterwards tried for breaking
Jail and received Il sentence of / year and
6 months. He is Il son-in- law of John
FrankfOrd, who was convicted with him
of stealing horses and is now serving a
sentence Of 10 years. He is regarded as 4
bad man and certainly hard one to hold.
Abe Buzzard is we'll known. rs he belongs
to the notorious Buzzard family. At the
last April court he was convicted of
burglary and received q sentence OF 13
yeaIs. Ike Buzzard is a brother Of Abe,
and is a somewhat notorious criminal. He
is the smartest in the family. His crime
was burglary, and he was sentenced for 10
years at the last April court. Joe Buzzard,
the Youngest of tho FIRMLY, is vet t" "new''