Daily Republican., 1884-04-04
EDITION.
ATTEM PIT To ESCAPE
A Daring scheme for . General
Jail Del1VeFy,

scheme TO escape from New Castle jail
was discovered by Sheriff Martin and
his assistants. The names of those
known to have been implicated in the
plot are George, alias Little" Wilson,
Charles j. Blake, George s. Hagany
(Slim Jim), John Souders, and VIM.
Benson, colored.
For some time past Warden Hance
has been suspicious of these men, and
kept q sharp eye on them, ~ from
was led to believe that a scheme for a
general Jail delivery was being con
cocted, and OH Wednesday it was ascer'
tanned that it was TO take place on that
night or last night, but for the purpose
of trying to capture those, who 1t was
supposed would be on the outside to
assist them, the matter was kept secret.
Late Wednesday afternoon strict
search was made by the officers of the
Jail, and although the cell occupied by
Wilson and Souders was thoroughly
examined, nothing whatever was
found. In searching the cellar and
engine room. a rope ladder about fifty
feet long and peculiar shaped piece
of steel, which it is supposed was in
intended to fasten to the coping on the
wall for the purpose of holding the
ladder, was discovered secreted iu the
coal bins.
Wilson's cell was then again visited,
and he was caught in the act of se-
creting in the bosom Of his shirt whip
saw about eight inches long, with row
At al Va
was fitted to q frame made OF steel,
arranged so that it could he extended
or contracted in length. Then at the
end of the frame opposite TO the handle
is a diamond, to be used in cutting
glass. Altogether it Is about thirteen
inches in length and six inches high.
Wilson did not appear much chagrined
when detected, and when asked how
soon he had intended to leave, replied
why, Just as soon AS possible
A still further search was made, and
on Wilson was found an unloaded
Electric revolver with five chambers.
Nothing else was found on his prison,
but in the cell, sccreted in different
places, were discovered
Box OF cartridges, calibre 81.
Sixteen blades to tit the saw taken
from Wilson.
One case knife, bone handle, blade q
inches long AMI much broken.
One three quarterback brace bit.
One small wood whip saw, blade,
three inches long.
One unmUuhted saw blade, four inches
long and three quarters ofan inch wide,
TWu fat X ins ~ ippbau lnnu
One three-corntreu file 81 inches
long.
One bottle of nitric acid.
Wilson was at once placed in another
cell and put in foot irons, where he is
now secured by himself.
Blake's cell was next visited, and an
examination of a loaf Of bread that had
been brought to him resulted in the
of large knife with blade
81 inches in length.
Wilson's and Blake's cells are on the
first hoor the right hand side Of the
corridor upon entering, three cells being
between them. "S.im Jim's" apart.
ment is No. 81, almost directly over
Blake, and the cell in which he has
passed several brief terms. Nothing
" hatever was found in his room, neither
was anything detected in Benson's
quarters, cell ., on the opposite side,
first floor.
A close watch was put on all the
prisoners, and Benson who has had
charge of the heating arrangements
was at once locked in his cell, and
an extra guard kept on duty during
Wednesday, and last night,
There is no doubt but the tools found
were conveyed to the prisoners by out
side parties, who have been permitted
to visit them, and suspicion points
to a woman who represents
herself as Blake's sister, and who has
been frequent visitor to him since his
incarceration.
After The prisoners had been searched
and their cells examined a close scru-
tiny was made of the doors of the
apartments, Of which there are two to
each. The outer one is of wood and the
inner of iron Stats or bars, in the center
of which about five feet from the bot
tom, is an opening or wicker through
which food is passed. One bar in vii.
SON 5 cell just below the wicker was
half sawed through, and i was his in.
tention to SO enlarge the wicker that he
and Souders could escape into the cor
rldor about midnight. Waterman
Broomfeld was to have been over
powered, assaulted with violence if
necessary, scared, and the keys taken
from him. Hagany, Blake and Benson
only OF the other prisoners were to
have been released.
It's supposed that the men intended
to leave the prison by the back door,
and after reaching the yard, to scale the
wall by means of the rope ladder, but
what they proposed doing when once
outside is not positively known, still it
is thought that they intended to escape
by water, as about 8 o'clock Wednes.
day afternoon a neatly-rigged private
steam yacht, named "MignOn," steamed
up stream to Jefferson's wharf and
made fast. The men on board refused
to give any account of their business
and were therefore ordered to leave.
The craft then steamed out into the
stream and anchored, where .he re-
NAMED until about $50 o'clock, when
she again came to the wharf and laid
up, remaining there until an earl hour
Thursday morning, when she steamed
down the river and anchored near Fort
Delaware, where she sti remained last |
evening. She is unknown to any one
in the vicinity Of New Castle and her
movements are regarded with much |
suspicion. The point where the vessel
anchored is only about five blocks from
the jail, and it would have required |
but minute or two for the fugitives
to have dashed to the wharf, jumped
on the yacht and steamed away in
safety.
1t has been ascertained that cores
pondence was carried on between vii.
son and Blake in the following man.
ner: The drainage of the cells flows
from the front of the Jail to the rear,
and each apartment is provided with
\ water closet. When Wilson had any
desire for an interview with Blake he
would write a note, tie it to the end of
string, throw it in the closet and let
the paper float down to Blake's cell,
Il, ;utn ha ifI