The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-03
PLAN TO MAKE HIS ESCAPE.
: A Cal! From Eva Evans Leads to
Its Discovery.
EXCITEMENT IN POLICE CIRCLES.
He Is Removed TO a Steel Cell and
Orders Issued That No Mere
Permits Be Given.

derer with the cnlna-Olue Hyes dbu tno
smile that is childlike and bland, is not
going to allow the law to hang him with
ont making every effort legally and other
wise to regain his liberty.
1t could scarcely be imagined that any
man confined within the solid walls of the
City Prison, with the Central police sta
ton and police headquarters close at hand.
would conceive the idea of making sue
cessful break for liberty. But there is
such man, and his name is William
FTedericks.
Itshows the utter contempt for danger
and the exceeding bOdness and daring OF
this young but notorious criminal that he
should, with the chances of carrying his
plan into effect successfully being hun
dTed to one against him. determine upon
taking the one chance. Death on the GAL
s. lows sooner or later stared him in the face
anyway, and be might, he thought. just as
well be shot down while trying to make
his escape, as to end his misspent life with
a rope round his neck.
The discovery came about in peculiar
way. aud one that Fredericks possibly
never contemplated.
Yesterday morning Fredericks' attor-
nsy, George E. Colwell, called at Chief
- Crowlev's Office, accompanied by young
lady, who was deeply yelled.
- Il wish permit for myself and this
young lady," said the attorney, ito see
Tredericks.
-' what is the young lady's name" asked
Sergeant Colby.
miss Evans" replied the attorney.
O.. The permit was written out, but the con-
nection between Miss Evans father and
Fredericks was not thought of at the time,
the impression being that Eva was only
another of the female cranks who have
been Fostering the officials in the Chiefs
Office for the past week for permits. 'just
to have look at the strange young man.
you know"
The attorney and Miss Evans were
shown TO Fredericks' cell. and they con-
versed with him for some considerable
time.
-. After they left the prison the attention
Of Captain Stone. the pTisOn-keeper, was
drawn to the name of the lady on the per-
nit. and he was told that she was Eva, the
ct eldest daughter of Chris Evans, the no
torious bandit.
The captain remembering the recent &C.
currence in Fresno jail when Chris Evans
and Morrell made a successful break for
liberty. and also remem bering the fact
that Mrs. Evans and her daughter Eva
were frequent visitors to the Jail just be-
: fore the outbreak. he determined upon
taking no chances ola similar occurrence
ii"the City Prison with Frcdericks.
He Immediately unlocked Fredericks'
cell aud made a careful and rigorous
search of his clothing and bed clothes.
80 He foundisomet thing that aroused his sus-
picfon. Fredericks gently demurred to
leaving his cot. saying that his injured eye
was paining him dreadfully and had not
allowed him to have five minutes sleep all
night, but the captain was memorable.
The captain pulled the cot away from
the wooden partition between the cell and
81 the adjoining one, against which it was
placed, and made startling discovery.
Fredericks had bored two holes through
the partition into The adjoining cell occu-
pied by two boys. one at the bottom and
the other as high up as would permit him
10 crawl through on his stomach.
On being taxed with making these holes
with a view to attempting a break for
liberty he smiled al the captain and said
he would never think of doing such a
thing. The captain did not believe him
ard bluntly told him so.
Then ne Intercepted the two boys In
the adjoining cell and learned the plan
that Fredericks had formed.
The TWO holes were the initiatory stem.
Then he was to get fine jewelers. saw,
from whom or by what means is not
known. and with it be was to noiselessly
saw. through the boards, in the partition
during the dead of night, when there
would be little or no chance of being dis
-turbed in his operations, until he had
sufficient space sawed to enable him to
creep through.
When the opportune moment arrived
Fredericks was TO notify them and they
were TO make some sort of request TO the
turnkey so that their cell door would be
opened and kept open for few seconds.
In a twinkling Fredcricks was to knock
aside the sawn boards, crawl through the
hole. oyerpower the turnkey before he
could recover from his astonishment. MUIR
der him If necessary. seize the keys, ru sh
to the door. open it and away to life aud
liberty. That is if the desk sergeant did
him full of lead before he could make his
exit.
The scheme might. with the help of
outside aid, have worked successfully in
the Fresno Jail, as in the case OF Evans
and Morell. but as far as the City Prison
is concerned it was wild and visionary and
practically impossible.
But it shows to what desperate lengths
Fredericks is prepared to go to cheat the
gsllows.
When the facts were made known there
was CONSERVATION at police headquarters.
Grief Crowley and Cap tain Lees have
since his capture taken more than a
parental interest in Frederlcks, and dur
ing his preliminary examination he was
. watched by squad of policemen stationed
throughout the courtroom. so that any
attempt to escape might be quickly
checked. But they never for moment
anticipated that he would resort to such a
desperate measure as to try to make his
escape from the City Prison.
-. Orders were Immediately given that in
future no one should be permitted to see
Fredericks upon any pretext whatever
during his stay in prison, VITA the single
exception of bis attorney, and further that
7s,S ahouId ha ct onoa removed from the