New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-20
THREE ROGOES NEATLY TRAPPED,
FOILED IN AN EFFORT TO BREAK JAIL.

BENSON THE PATTI SWINDLt1R. TkIES 10 ES-
. CAPE WITH THE AID OF ACCOMPLICES
Two men who havo been trying to help George II.
Benson escape from the Ludlow Street Jail were
prisoners at Police Headquarters yesterday Ben
son IS the forger who swindled many persons In
Mexico by representing himself to DO Mr.. Abbey's
agent in selling tickets for Patti concerts. Ho has
been In the jail several months while the question Of
his delivery to the Mexican authorities has been
argued In court by his lawyers. About six weeks ago
Warden Keating became suspicious and warned the
keepers at tho jail that Benson trying to escape
A few days later Benson tried to corrupt John Nc
Cabe ono OF the keepers, offering 10 p'y him $1,000
for key that would open door into the jail yard
McCabe told Warden Keatng, who told Sheriff Grant,
and the keeper directed to pretend to fall In with
Benson's scheme McCabe made wax impression OF
key and received few hundred dollars from John
Kelly, a confederate Of Benson. Kelly told McCabe
that when Benson was able to get into tho jail yard
night rope ladder would be let down to him from
a house In Broome-st., through the wall OF which
" Red' Leary once escaped. ct
INSPECTOR BYRNES CALLED IN.
Warden Heating suspected that Kelly was only ono
II several persons Interested IN an attempt to get
Benson out Of JAIL and Inspector Byrnes informed
OF tho plot. Detectives shadowed Kelly and saw him
meet and consult with Edward A. Bertino. of No. II
East undred-andseveneenth-st Kelly was lodg-
inc In East Twenty-seventh-st. under the name of
John Jefferson McCabe carried letters from Benson
to Kelly and aso carried tho answers back to the
jail As Kelly could not read or write. Bertine
acted as his secretary. All the letters were copied
secretly by McCabe, and they interesting reading
for Warden Heating, Sheriff Grant and Inspector
Byrnes because they described all tho details OF the
plot to break Jail. Kelly and BertIne had gone to
shop in Front-st and had bought rope ladder, say
Ing It was to be used in some stage performance.
They had tried to hire room In tho Broome-st house
but had failed Then they had made an impression
in Of the lock Of tho front door and had man
aged to fit key with which they could walk Into the
house any night. In tho rear OF the house was
clothes pole overlooking tho jail yard Kelly calcu-
lated that he could walk through the house some
night and throw one end OF tho rope ladder fom the
clothes pole to Benson The only thing left was for
McCabe to get tho key by which Benson could reaon
tho ward McCabe was slow In getting that key and
Benson became restlve Other schemes for escape
wero not neglected Occasionally Benson was taken
by Marshal bernhard to tho United States Court In
the post ofIlco Building Kelly was to be handy with
somo red pepper to throw In the Marshals eyes IL
chance for escape presented ltseL
OTHER SCHEMES OF ESCAPE
Kelly and Bertlno also engaged a coach and hired
two rowdes OF the Eighth ard to assist In knocking
down Bernhard in tho street and rescung Benson on
a certain day. They did not have chance 10 carry
out that scheme Benson was not taken to court on
tho day mentioned and when he did go he went
handcu1ed in a coach McCabe was offered large
sum OF money to send Warden Keating away on
Wild goose chase ana drug 2nolnoE hocpct. On
wednesday night Kelly and Bertine were arrested
and locked up with McCabe in the cells under h ,dse dss
arrest too. and when he expressed willingness TO
mako confession to Inspector Byrnes yesterday tho
two real prisoners followed his example.
Kelly used to be a porter In a Brooklyn motel, Dut
he went to Europe with Benson moro than year ago
and was willing tool OF the accomplished swlnder
at the timo OF Bensou's arrest In this city several
months ago In Kely's room were found all the
letters which Benson had written from the Jail ana
also collection OF money and diamonds amounting 70
several thousands OF dollars, which Kelly had Deen
keeping for Benson. Kelly and Bertine VIII % ar
raigned in police court to-day on charge Oh Gull
snlrany and probablY will plead guilty.