The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-03
A VERY DARING PLOT.
THREE CONFLICTS ATTEMPT TO Es-
CAPE FROM THE PBNITENTIARY
The Guard Discoversuiahe Scheme just be-
fore Daybresk andtFt red Upon Them
The Leader Dasperate Man.

Frank Cole. one OF she most cunning
and desperate criminals in the penten-
tiary, accompanied By two others, named
Phipps and Robbins. made a well planned
effort to escape at 3 o'clock Monday
morning.
They were fired on by abe guard at
critical moment Phipps and Robbins re-
treated to their cell, ana Cole hid on
the roof until after daylight, when he
was recaptured.
Cole. though a young nan, is a noted
burglar. and has served Two terms az
Joliet prison. lie was sentenced from
Lynchburg last year Tor a, term OF hli'e
years Tor burglary, having been captult4
while attempting 10 bore from an al
joining store into r. D. Johnson's Je"eiry
establishment in that city
While being brought from Lynrhpuis
To the pententiary he att -mpted 10 -
cape from the officer by jun ping from t'ic
train. His arm was broken ana MS hlieS
badly broken. His Injuries necessl. 49,.
a stay Of some weeks IN tho penitcn,i,1is
hospital, and his attempt 10 escape duu'''
another year TO his sentencs.
When he had recovered ls was placed
in The packing department OF the DAVIS
Shoe Company, where ne showed Hi'cil-
gence and capacity far beyond the aver
cole has. however. departed himself in
a reckless manner. and has frequently
declared his intention TO escape.
The cell from which the attempted es-
cape was made is located OH the upper
gallery of the west side Of the De.lten-
tiary building, and contained six prison
ors. three Of which took advantage OF the
opportunity presented 20 get away.
The plan Of operations. which were
conducted principally by Cole, mpst nave
covered weeks. and perhaps months. and
showed great ingenuity and patience
Used Knives ard Files.
The six prisoners in this cell all worked
I'm the Davis shoe factory In various ca
Dacities and the tools used We're secreted
and stolen from there IT long intervals.
Among the tools thus y calred ~ere me- l,lgs
and knives and with she FORMER Coie
released himself from the BAH ana chalh
preparatory TO the last move III Ms at
tempted escape. ,.,-
The cell is composed OF IRON anu pilcA
with a ceiling overhead Of heavy safe
slabs running from wall 10 wall. the ends
of the slabs secured in tho brick Work.
The prisoners worked enough prlck Out
Of the wall 10 let one enc o. one 1l VIZ
slabs down on the inside ~ the CELL ana
through this opening Cole, Phipps, ana
Robbins made their way to the attlc I'M
der the roof Of the building
After getting into the atinc me couple-
ton of their plan was comparatively
easv Working industriously with the
knives secured they cut atTay a portion
of the sheeting OF the roof, anu puiiihs
the pieces Of slate COVERING Witniu SUI
made "A hole large enough by Which 10
reach the open air.
A Clever plot.
Favored by the dark night and the fall
ing rain, and led by toie, WA9ee sA 49,.
ence and daring made nm the master
hand they made their hnai arrangements
for break for liberty. - ~,a,,,,
\ light and strong rore MADE OF MANY
bits of rope and twine' slolen an 81,
viewed from the work shops 10 the en-
nv All sorts OF strategy against me ually
search by the guards, was pulieu ogl on1o
the roof Three out OF tfs SIX PRISONERS
only made the start me ug,us us % "a d
prolonged term in case OF JdLui'e CAUSING
tbe hearts OF the other three 10 ran them
a. the last moment 49,. .t,,-,o-,-
roof in the darkness, ana. sniueu 10y
cole stealthny crept aloi & the over
haneing cornice until they reached me
front Of the building. the only siae OF
tbe penitentiary not surror uded py an
omen court and protected by a hish outer
wall -. ,t.,c1,od tho
roof again. and removing eW pieces OF
slate. secured their rope 10 me lldi'hlls
underneath. and intently .tcnihs anu
listening for any moye'neIn' 10, low lover 1' the
rome bv which they hoped 10 leach lhe
ground and their liberty.
Fired Upnn Them.
Whom hope Of escape was bri shtest. ana
freedom seemed to be very n ear II Dc
came necessary TO approach i.te cue Oh
the roof on which the electric bH's FlpHc
with some degree of brilliancy, anu Nh.h
cole was about TO trust his "elShl 10
the slender line a shot rang out Oh me
night air. and they knew tnat al va iosl.
frbe gllard was on the alert, anu as
coon as he saw the forms upon the looi
no appreciated the situation alu lIeu
upon them. ~ ..,,,ob
u,as made. Cole was the only missing
man the other two having retIAHu ,iei,
etene i'm hopes of escaping the penalty Oh
., longer term. while he took the slender
chance of another opportunity before uay
li@ht should come: but the light OF day
made known his retreat, ana ne WAS So
0'i close search Of the cell showed that
nlenl, in the. floor had been so caretully
l. deened as to escape detection. ana un-
der This they kept the materials win
which the rope was made ana the toOiS
were secreted. 81. ..~,,,od ,,t.ar
;,Sifference 10 the prospect Of an added
term. because ne sdiu NC "a" "''
~ NJ rs heen well treated while in the
,a,itentiarv. and his intelligence secured
&C. Mn, = comparatively desirable place
~ tbo shoe factory. and though ne was
indifferent to additional terns OF col-
finement he took Yery dlretent Wv
~ the lash. and by argument anu III, 'ea az,
tried TO escape this penalty, MDi0" WAC
freely administered