The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-06-07
WERE FoILED AGAIN.
Kings County Penitentiary Cen
viots Plan q Third Escape.
Fifty Desperadoes We're to Play Sick /,
and 0verpower the Doctor. ~
Then, Vanquishing the Keepers, Lib-
crate Every Man Locked In Gel

News Of the third unsuccessful attempt
in two weeks to deliver the Kings: Copnt
ty Penitentiary of all OF It's 76e or 500
prisoners was made public by Warden
Patrick Hayes to-day. As on the two
previous occasions, the attempt was-en-
gineered by the desperate Western con-
victs who have recently been brought to
the penitentiary. and while 1t happily
proved futile. the scheme was partic&
larly ingenious in It's conception. M
There are 80 of these Western prisdk
ers, one batch of $50 having arriytN
from Fort Smith, Ark, alone only a
few weeks ago. They are all desperatei
men. and include among their numbeH
cowboys, road agents, train robbersl
murderers and not a few very BAY
Indians.
The latest attempt at an escape which
vas to have been made yesterday morH
ing, was frustrated through the. dist
drawn plan. OF the penitentiary, its
grounds and surroundings and the
roads leading TO Flatbush. This, 1t was
all the prisoners for them to post them
selves, so that escape would be easier
In case the delivery was successful.
From convict were learned the details
OF the plot, which was born in the fertile
brain oil George ketcham, native Texan
but who Is well known In Brooklyn,
where he committed the crime which
landed him in the penitentiary.
The plan was for fifty of the biggest,
strongest and most desperate Of the West.
ern Sonvicts to report sick, yesterday,
which Is one of the regular days for Dr.
p. l.. Schenck, the prison physician, to
visit the penitentiary. .:
Convicts who report sick are sent to a
with Keeper William Smith and hall
man." who is a convict, questions and
preYcr!bes fol, them. Only Or. schenck
The scheme was s. for the the fifty lin
yalids" to overpower Dr. schenck.n
Keeper Smith and the hall. man, lock-
power the three keepers there, and then
liberate every man confined in a cell,
The rest would have been comparatively
easy. Luckily. it failed. a-4.s
sentenced in February 1886, BY Judge
Moore in, the Brooklyn Court of ses-
for G''' grand larceny. He NV was e then not
yet eighteen. In November, 1887. he es-
cared ana fled to his native State.
ever, and July 4 last, although he had
been absent for six years. was recog-
nized by a policeman who saw. him at
his trial, arrested and returned to the
In searching his cell, which is No II.
on the fourth tier, south side. yesterJ;
the the ventlator a pair i i Of convict n Sum.
mer pants" made of bed-ticking., and q
cap. ketchum works in the mailbag
shop, where he stole a bottle of Ink.
With this he had dyed both the pants
and the cap black. The cap he had
made. out of mailbag canvas, himself.
Inside of the pants was also found an
iron wedge about, three inches long.
used to fasten up his cot. This he had
sha rpened like d chsel, 50 he could a
lock with 1t or use it for weapon. u, :.
Five of the fifty men who were to
play sick are now occupying dark .
cells. Warden Hayes is making rigid
investigation, and others will probably
meet with similar punishment in the
near future.
The first attempt at delivery was
planned by the Westerners about two t
weeks ago. The men were to attack,
the SIX Keepers in charge. on their way
70 the shops in the morning, and then
liberate their fellows. The attack re-
suited in twelve men being put in dark
cells. $50 = :.
Last week another attempt was frus-.
trated through information given by "a
convict The scheme was TO fire the
shops just before knocking off work at
night, and every man was to provide
| himself with matches for the wholesale
arson. which was to be followed by an
attack on the keepers and the escape Of
every ore h = A
The morning this event was to happen,
however, ever convict was searched be-
fore he Left his cell, ana enough mat ches
We're found to ill several boxes. e.