Evening journal., 1889-04-02
ATTEMPT TO BREAK JAIL,
Cunning Plot of Two Convicts
in Sing Sing.
DIsCoYERED JUST IN TIME.

Ono OF Th,m Fad Eight Bars Of Dark
Cell Sawed Through and Was Ready to
Escape-How the work Was Accom-
pIished.
SING SING, April 2--When the convicts
in the prison were ordered out Of their cells
for exercise John Quigley and Michael sher-
lock, who together occupied cell 1,079 in the
north wing of the prison, quarrelled, or pre-
tended to quarrel, as they emerged from
their cell. Finally they clinched. Principal
Keeper Connoughton ordered them to be
handcuffed and placed in dark cells.
AT noon, when the convicts We're brought
out Of their cells for exercise and dinner,
Principal Keeper Connoughton ordered that
Quig ey and Sherlock be brou mt from their
dark cells Officer Felts found the outer
wooden door Of Quigley's dark cell had in
some way been forced ON its fastening On
throwing back the wooden door he found
Quigley standing looking through the bars Of
the inner door. Ths officer said; "What are
you trying to do herel1
II was trying to get out and 60 home, " said
Quigey
Felts found that eight Of the iron bars,
each an inch thick, had been sawed through
The removal OF these bars would have af-
forded a space two feet square, through
which Quigley could have escaped from the
cell Quigley said he had done the work
with a saw, but he refused TO tell where he
had got it or what he had done with it. MIR.
Connoughton then searched the convict,
and when the latter held up one Of his feet
it was noticed that a portion of the sole
of his shoe had been removed. Mr.. Con-
noughtoE then examined the other shoe
of the convict ard, on tearing a
portion Of the sole off, found a
small saw carefully concealed between
the leather Quigley then admitted that he
had made the saws of knives which he had
taken from the table in the mess rom, and
that he had thrown the saw that he had used
to file the bars into a sink IN the dark cell
The saw was found there as was also the
missing sole of the conyict's SHOE The saws
were not larger than the blade of penknife
Qaickiey was securely handeuffed all the
time he was at work saving the bars Of the
cell. He was placed in another dark cell on
fare of bread and water He viii be kept
Principal Keeper Connoughton said that he
had never known a convict to arrange a
more cunning plot TO escape. Hs said he be-
lieved that Quigley intended TO wait in the
cell until O'Clock in the morning, the hour
that the night guard made his rounds.
When once out Of the cell Mr. Connoughton
thought that Quigley intended to step int
one Of the unoccupied cells, and when the
guard came along to knock him down with
one Of the sawed bars. This would hav,
enabled him to secure key from the guarl
which opened the arch door leading I,
the prison wharf. Nj. Connoughton said hi
also was Of the opinion that Sherlock was il
the plot, and that when the latter and Quig
ley pretended 10 quarrel they did 50 for tn
purpose Of icing placed in dark cells, to ena
bic them to carry out the plot.
Sherlock was brought out Of his cell an,
carefully searched but nothing was founc
on him 70 implicate him in the plot He de
MED that he had anything to do with Quig
ley's scheme to break jail He. however, wa
placed in another dirk cell where he will b
kept for several days