Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-21
MADE A KEY OF TIN.
HOW NICHOLAS PROPOSED TO LlsE-
RATE himself AND OTHERS
Hsusemaa and Others Implicated In the
Pict-How the Timely Dis
covery Was made.

Incarceration bave turned 10 weeks and
the weeks TO months no has become more
and more restless Recently his desires
for liberty have assumed the form of des-
peration, and his desperation has de-
veiopcd into n degree OF cunning that
seems almost like fiction.
Yesterday the officers OF the Jail dis
covered plot among the prisoners 20
escape, and a careful investigation proved
that the alleged murderer was at the bot
tom OF the scheme. Nearly all the IN
fortunates in the PRISON were aware oil
the plot and but for Unforeseen circum-
stances there Is o telling where the conspi-
racv might have ended. Prominent among
those who. ut least, ia part aided Nicholas
wcro John Houseman. who was recently
sentenced 20 q long term IN the penten.
tiary for the ruin of his l4-year-oid
daughter; Robert Turpin. mulatto, con-
Ened for assault, and Emmanuel Coiher'
burly Young negro. who's 10 serve three
years IN the State prison for burglary.
la addition TO these there are twelve
other prisoners in the jail. Among these
ere "Jecms" Robinson, an OLD negro
charged with murder; Washington Allen,
who has been sentenced 20 the peniten-
tiary for burglary, and datky named
Collier. who is to serve two years IN the
State PRISON for assault. Several ouarre's
and petty ieuds among the prisoners were
tNc cause OF tue NlnttNoIg 20 VIZ F-N''
uAp MADE KY.
Monday Mr.. l.. T.. Russell, tho lailer, vas
absent from the city and Deputy-Sherit
John Voceler acted as custodian OF the
priSop. The latter had Mr.. fus5c!fa keys.
and Will. holding them in hls hand he
looked down IN the yard and SAW key
living on the ground. Thinking 1t had
fallen oa the bunch be picked 1t ny, when,
10 ms surprise, he noticed that
Il %
been bent double and then cur
into rs present shape Mr.. Noeeier called
tho iailer's attention 10 the Key yesterday
and the latter. upon examination, OBJ
served that II was duplicate 70 the ono
nc used TO lock tho cells on tho hrst moor
~ the prison. The fake KEY was
marvel Of mechanical skill. despite the
c,uJlfv Of it, material and the Toughness
81 the instruments with which 1t was
made Becoming suspicious AT once.
Air. Iusse.l sent for BOD Iurpln, one
OF tho prisoners. who II cWp!oNod at the
lsil a. cook Gui frequently acts a turn
krv and nuesf IOucd hun closely. BOD
forthwith produced "a bundle containing
several broken spoons. heavy non zee
pick. "a E1ukey- wrench. piece OF brass
made INTO srrcw-dTiyor. and an IRON nut
tied 20 string. The mulatto said he had
taken them from the prisoners, and be
likewise admitted that he had gotten the
duplicate kos from one at them.
AlT. fu sell realized that Nc had
nippel dangerous plot an the bud, ana
ne immediately sent for Commonwealth -
Attorney Sands. who spent several hours
Ia Investigating the clever scheme. ne
first floor of the iaIl l. the only one oc-
cupiel now afd the prisoners are allowed,
ns d matter Of exercise 10 walk about the
corridors under the surveillance Of an
officer. The plan If escape Was - get out
of the cells los the duplicate key, ascend
10 the upper floor. and cut through the
wall.
COLLIER ToLp THK WHOLE Story.
Air. Sands. IN conducting the eXamina-
ton IN the iali directed his questions III
I'M. main L. tne manner Iu which the mysterious
kcy ha1 been made ana how TIE ma lrrial used
~ ii- c.lstrI-tIun hri been Cbiaiucj inc
negro collier sal1 De knew all about thc scheme.
lie stated that Nicholas had secured the orlg'-
nal krs from Bob Iurlin. had traced II on
paper. anG then cat 70 oar oi The TN with a
I,su-kntfn. Ho said Nuuseman MAJ Nicholas
haiinaie several o. tacm. ihc wlinoes iesti-
ned tat TIC wrench vas brought into I
tho prison several weeks ago and ho hat been
keeping 70 frr Nichoins for some time. Tho
latter had proposed SO HoG-ru.ah 70 escape.
They were going 20 Chicago ana 'hen,o 10
tnrninchau. NlchUas WAS c&pcc, lnS slOor
from some source Monday night Was iiGed AZ
tho tue 81 ilcir departure. Collier sand tho
kcy luTpn loaned Nicholas was duplicate 70
tAr one ar ueseH hai.
Bon Turpiu. the trusty who was really tho
cause OF nh the trouble. positively denlei at
nrst that he had ever loaned Nicholas or House
man Tire .ripual Key. sometimes when lie hhi
Mi. tusscIs bunch tue Two hal looked iougincly
at them. once Nicholas lad suiu I'm give you
500 Tor tho.e Keys whrreupOn tho witness
replied. Yen can't bay them Tor $1,000 Bob
finally admitted to hr. W. II. hoYorldee,
VINO questioned him closely, that on one
occasion ho had left the bunch OF
Keys with HoIsounn and Nicholas
Tor Eve minutes, whiic tie was attending 10 some
TRIVIAL matter Ia the iai. The darby SAID tho
WAY hs came g. get tho other tools was this:
one day Emmanuel Collier and NichOlas had
some words. wncreupcn toe former said 10 was
going 20 give tae tools 20 Mr.. russell. lie ihefe-
upoa took all tho articles from collier. They
gave up the duplicate Key, too, and thus, ihe wit
ness said, he placed on the bunch belonging to
"Tny didn't you toll Mr.. Fussen about tho
matter ~ once? some one asked.
because thcy asked mo no, to, as they would
be locked up more closely" Was the reply.
HOCsEMASs STORY.
RousemHn, whom put On tho stand, expressed
his Willingness 10 disclose everything he knew.
lie said: About Il week ago Nicholas SAID TO
mo, You've got ten years hanging over y0n.
These people won't give you any new trial IT
you listen 20 me and swear not Ia say anything
about 1. will tx way for You 10 get out /
/ can get you out here. We csn make a key. |
have tnings already made He then showed
mo this thing Ohe screW-driVerl. one day WAS
trying to break some zee. Brooks got the ico-
pick, which was Ia an empty bunk said, Hello,
thats dangerous thing 10 be about here
tOOk " into my cell.
"Wno brought It IN the prison p" was asked.
"Brooks sAi1 Clay Jones, "a prisoner freed
somp time ago, brought II 10 him" was House
mans reply.
{" The icc-pick laid around for several days"
continued the witness. "Finaily when Nicholas
didn't get the money to go away with emmanuel
commenced searching for the things no had
hidden
Houseman said Nicholas was 10 give him
enough money 10 get 10 Canada with. Nicholas
expected TO got II from his brother, but the
latter refused o. furni.h 10. Tho witness did not
seem 20 think that Ncholas's brother favored
the plot II he knew anything about It, House.
man stated thai he refused 90 take any part IN
the scheme unul he found out positively that tho
supposed murderer was going 70 furnish him
with money. The Key Was made from the top
vi small Inustard-bOX. Nicholas copied
tho design from the original on u
piece Of paper. Turpin lent him the
key for i've minutes, and he borrowed a knife
from man IBmed Mingneld Nicholas first
tired 20 get Turpn % steal one OF the duplicate
Keys and the latter refused 10 do 30, but nually
loaned him Mr.. Fu1soils bunch. Houseman adj
united that he had assisted Nicholas In making
several other Keys, which had either been
broken W and destroyed or hidden. The Wit
ness stated that lac roaily had bat little To- do
with tho affair. but confessed without hcst alton
thss he woaid willingly have escaped hsd no
thought his c6ances Tor freedom good.
NICHOLAS, ToO owns Up
Several other witnesses wero examined. but
thelr testimony Was substantially the same as
that given above. Tho last man questioned was
hichoias. who looked haggard and dowucast.
at hfsi To assinuated the mos. ablec, stu
pidity,
" You are charged said Mr.. Sands, with the
intention OF breaking JAIL l don't want you w
make any remarks o1cep; voluntarily. IL you
choose YOU can make a Siatenent ana II not you
eau Keep quiet"
The wretchei prisoner hesitated a moment
anu thon said: 40 would DO wrong for mo 20
talk 10 you about u. | might injure myself. l
van iatk WIN my counsel, but VIII tell you now
never had any more idea OF going out here
than ha1 OF nying."
Da You ever sec this beforo." asked Mr..
sEnds, showing him tie scroW-dryer.
john houecmen brought that thing down
here, said Nicholas Il dont. knew snyhtng
more about that than you do
Tue prisoners answers were all disconnected
and icoish--in TACT II looked very much az 81 no
was trying 90 play crazy" By degrees Mr..
SANDS made him confess nearly everything.
"H0useman and myself made the key" said
we prisoner, but can bring three witnesses
10 show thsi all not want 70 got out OF here"
The supposed murderer said that the other