The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-16
NEGLIGENCE PROVEN.
Evidence That the County Jail
Is Managed in a Care
less Manner.

DR., Leonard j. Gordon and several other
members of the Grand Jury paid Bob Davis
an official visit yesterday at the Jail. They
wanted to know why Davis permitted thu
escape of the three ~convicts from the Jail or
Sunday, and that careless official was unable
to explain the facts to their satisfaction. Ii
fact his account of the escape was SO una
| ceptable that when the result of the WISH
was reported to the other Grand Jurors they
decided to summon Davis before them.
The jailer was in the Grand Jury room
for more than an hour. and he was no sooner
released from the rack of the Grand Inqui-
sition than he was sent for by Judge Hud-
speth, who, with the Associate Judges, de
sired to know the facts of the escape. Judge
Hudspeth intimated that escapes from the
Jail had been entirely too numerous since
Davis had been appointed jailer, n he
wanted to know what was the cause of such
a condition.
Deputy Keeper Hanly was the first witness
called. He said the door of the bath roem
was generally locked and the keys kept in
the Office.
REILLY HAD THE KEYS.
Mailman Keller, a ten day prisoner, testi-
fed that he had a key that would unlock the
door of the bathroom. The key belonged to
the Mushroom. Keller said that on Sunday
he let Doorkeeper Reilly nave his keys, and
that if he had been SO disposed he could have
unlocked the bathroom. Reilly had been re-
leased on bail and he left the Jail yesterday
morning. Judge Hudspeth issued a capias
for him.
MILLER'S STORY
Frank Miller, the escaped prisoner, when
questioned by Judge Hudspeth, said:-"l
viii make a clean breast of it, Judge, as ]
know it will help me. We were let out for
exercise at two o'clock by Mailman Keller.
l walked up and down the corridor for a long
time. I think it was about three O'clock
when l found the bathroom door was open.
l looked in and saw a barrel, with an iron
door laying across it. On top of the door was
a step ladder. State Prison was staring
HE in the face, and | made up my mind to
go. | climbed up to the ladder and reached
climbed the wall and descended by means OF
the leader. | then ran to the Pennsylvania
freight docks and crossed to New York on a
freight boat"
Miller denied that he said anything to
England, his partner in the crime for which
he was convicted, and insisted the escape
was made N the impulse of the moment.
He said he did not know how Morrell OF
Talbot gained their liberty.
England, or Engle, was then put on the
stand. From his testimony it appeared that
the plot to break jail was formulated by
Emil Nelson, who was recently taken tc
State Prison on a sentence of one year fol
assault. Nelson knew that the only way &c
break out was through the bathroom. He
told Miller, who is said to have offered one
of the ''hallmen" 500 to open the bathroom
door. Miller told England of it, and asked
him to tell his wife to bring saws the next
time she called to see him.. Mailman Keller
who knew of the prisoners plans, informed
Mailman Reilly. He told the story to 6
colored prisoner named Foulkes, who told
Keeper Cowper yesterday morning. Reilly
in some way became aware that the details
of the plot had leaked out, and just prior te
his release on bail attempted to thrash
Foulkes.
NOT A SECURE PLACE.
Judge Hudspeth today directed Sheriff
Toffey to hereafter, within forty-eight hours
after prisoners are sentenced, to tax then
to State Prison. The Judge said he did no,
believe the County Jail to be a secure place
for criminals.
The hearing before Judge Hudspeth vii
be continued his afternoon.