The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-02
YOUNG'S LAST PLOT.
The Blackmailer Had Prepared
to Break Jail.
OTHER CRIMINALS WITH HIM,


81S~@ st8Aka1Sc.
Joe Young. the notorious gambler and
vouId-he blaekmailer Of Police Commits
sioner Relic, now tgures ~ the leader in =
well laid plan 10 break out of the county
Jail. As evidence OF what hss long been
going on Jaiier Munroe has in his possess
sion 5s-caiiber British bulldog revolver,
found IN Young's cell yesterday. Tsenty-
four hours were given him to produce
burglar tools known to have been in his
possession within few days, and reveal
the plot that would have freed seventeen
OF the most desperate criminals in the
state.
Since Young was convicted OF assault
with intent 10 rob in connection with the
celebrated case OF biaekmail on Police
Commissioner Relic he has occupied the
middle cell in the steel tank on the south
side OF the north wing in the county Jail.
His room mate is John Dryden, under
sentence for five years on the charge of
burglary. On one side of him are Frank
Wilson, the highway robber, now serving
a sentence OF eight years. and Nordstroni.
the murderer OF Willie Mason az Cedar
Mountain. sentenced to bs hanged: on the
other. ]. w. Bailey. who killed John
Downey. and Seryins Rutten. who shot
William s. Fletcher at Chico four
weeks ago. Among this contingent,
with the exception of Nordstrom.
who holds aioof from every one, Young
was evidently recognized as a leader, al
though one and all deny any knowledge of
his plans or actions. Ii has been the Gus
49, - f.sa \ atx~r~ n
every other day, aud. while talking TO
him, she invariably crowded close 20 the
bars. Jailer Munros made it a practice to
watch her closely, but failed TO see any
articles of suspicious character passed
in. She was in the habit. however. of
wearing long waterproof. which caused
the jailer to become suspicious. These
suspicious were strengthened about week
ago, when a report reached him to the
effect that o revolver and burglar tools
had been struggled in 10 Young. Closer
watch was kept on him, bat nothing came
Of il.
Last Saturday afternoon he was brought
out into the jailer's Office, where Deputy
Sheriff McCory sat with gun under
cover. ready to cheek any outbreak, and
was told to give up the revolver. Young
was trembling. but piucked up courage
and remarked in the voice cultivated by
those who are tough:
'Do yer take me fer Yahoo? III yer
tink it's there. 90 find it yerself."
avery well" replied Jailer Munroe. IL
will attend to that part Of the affair when
the proper time comes"
young's actions confirmed Munroe's
suspicious. so he determined to make q
general search OF the jail yesterday morn
ing with Night Jaiier Smith, Deputy Sher-
ifs Jim Wells. Jack Mcdonald and Tom
MeCory's assistance. First the petty
thieves were taken out OF the south wings.
searched and then put in the boys de-
partment in the west wing. Thus having
prepared place for the desperate charac-
tiers, Jailer Munroe went into the north
wing and threw down the lever that locked
the cell doors. BY so doing be locked all
but three Of the men out of their cells and
had them corralied in the main corridor
within the tank. They were taken out in
threes. stripped to the skin. and after be-
ing Thoroughly searched wore placed in the
vacant wing. Joe Young was the last
man to come out. and as he did so he
whispered to Munroe:
..Wait few minutes: / will tell you
where the gun is hidden"
Munroe was now sure of his game. and
replied that he would look around him
self without any aid from Young. As was
expected By the officers, nothing was
found on the persons Of the prisoners.
but In going through the cell occupied by
Young and Dryden a large roll of paper
was noticed in the closet. Ordinarily 1t
would have escaped attention, but in the
present case IL was thought worth while
10 make an examination. Several papers
were unwound and finally a hard lump
was found. This was carefully wrapped
in more papers, which, having been re-
moved, laid bare to the eyes Of the officers
An uely-looking British bulldog revolver.
The side pieces of the handle had been re-
moved and the works oiled with grease,
obtained evidently from prison food.
There were no bullets in the chambers,
neither did further search reveal any.
Where the burglars saws were concealed
proved 3 puzzle. They were in YoIng's
possession as well as the cartridges or
Jailer Monroe has been deceived beyond
calculation. He still believes his informa-
ton to have been correct and has given
Young until this morning to reveal the
hiding place or tell what was done with
them. If he still refuses, he will be put in
the dark cell with bread and water for
diet.
The plan for escape Is thought to have
originated in the mind of Young. and un-
douhtedly had the sanction Of John Dry
den and Wilson. The completely Of Bailey
and Rutten is 81 present = matter OF sup
nos,tion, bat they would have probably ae-
cepted chance to escape If the opportu-
nIty offered. The bars Of the cage wonid
have been sawed in the night and, II the
time was sufficient to allow the cutting OF
the window bars. the escape would have
been made that way. utnerwise, II
is thought. one man would have
gotten out Of the cage into the room
and when the night jailer made his inspec-
ton early in the morning be would have
suddenly found himself looking down the
muxzle OF a revolver. The jailer once help
less. il would he an easy matter to get
away from the jail. but how far would be
another question
Young's application for new trial in
connection with sthe Reife case will be
considered in the superior court before
EAf