The morning call., 1894-05-06

no one would on any pretext whatever be
permitted to see him in future.
On the authority of Captain Stone. the
prison-keeper, and Chief Crowley TIE
CALLS story was characterized as fake
by contemporaries. How absurd it was.
they said, to imagine for a momeAt that
any prisoner would conceive the idea of
attempting to escape from such strong
hold as the City Prison. BIT the event
Yesterday morning, and Fredericks' own
admission 20 a CALL reporter yesterday,
prove that THE GAIL was right.
Ever since FrederIcks was placed In the
CITY Prison tie idea of escaping has been
uppermost IN his mind. The prison oftl
Gals thought it would De impossible Tor
him to escape from the steel cell, but In
this they were greatly mistaken.
He had not been there many days when
1t was found he had been tamperiDg with
the lock. Ii took them over half an hour
20 unlock the cell, and all that time the
court was Kept waiting for his appearance.
Then it was decided 10 place a trusty all
night in front Of his cell as an extra pre-
caution.
On April 90. when Fredericks was con-
victed. Captain Stone posted mp the fol-
lowing order in the prison: You will use
every precauuon to prevent any accident
or otherwise that might happen to VII
liam Fredericks, who now stands con-
victed of murder"
Fredercks' actions recently aroused the
suspicion that be was uD to some trick,
and four DAYS ago Captain Stone searched
him. He found in his pocket piece OF
bone, which be had shaped In the 1orm OF
the key of his cell. AS he was not permit
ted to use a knife it puzzled the prison
keeper to know how he had managed to
cut out the spaces in the bone. A careful
search was made Of his cell, but no knife
could be found. The only thing that
Fredercks was permitted TO have in his
cell was an harmonica. An examination Of
it showed that he had taken out the steel
part OF it and had, by some means or other.
made it into the form Of saw. and this he
had used on the bone. After making the
kew be had placed the steel saw back in
the harmonica.
When questioned he did not deny that
be intended using the bone key TO get out
of his CELL The prison officials were al
most driven to their wits end, as Freder-
icks evidently had some one TO assist him,
otherwise how, they reasoned. could he
have got such an exact imitation OF the
KEY of his cell. The TRUSTEES were sus-
pected, but they denied any knowledge OF
the matter.
Captain Stone consulted Captain Lees
and at his suggestion the iron bedstead In
Fredericks' cell was removed, SO that if he
could by any possible means get out OF
his cell he would have no weapon handy
to make an attack.
Besides having "trusty" in front offhis
cell at nights, the extra precaution was
taken of having the dOoTkeeper make
round of the cells every hour. particular
attention being paid TO Fre5erlcks' cell.
Every morning at O'Clock the two
TRUSTEES" on dutv enjoy a cup Of coffee.
Yesterday morning Albert Perry was
seated IN front Of Fredericks' cell and
Fred Ross, the other trustY, prepared the
n0ffan Affnr If ready hp went tn
Perry and told him to come and get his
coffee. where they usually took it, in
box opposite the cell occupied by women.
close 10 the wooden door at the entrance
10 the prison proper.
ou know L can't leave here" said
Ferry. Bring the c0ffee to me-"
It's all right" said Ross. "You 60
anc drink your coffee and I'll watch here
till you come back"
Perry acted upon this suggestion, but as
he was drln KING his coffee Ross, to his sur
prise. joined him.
Meantime Corporal Parrotte wac mar.
ing his hourly round. He looked into
FrederickS cell and saw him. as he
thought, asleep on his bench. just as he
turned the corner to have a look at the
cell at the END Of the corridor facing west
he saw the shadow of man on the fonr
1T looked like the shadow of giant"
said Parrotte yesterday, with one long
arm uDraSeG. / wheeled round and saw
Frederlcks with that mocking smile on his
face and with some long weapon upraised
TO strike me.
81 threw nv hands up to protect nv
head, but received blow on the forehead
Before be could strike again l grapped
with him and got ciDch hold on bin
throwing him to the floor. | seized the
weapon. which 1 found to be the leg of an
iron bedstead, around which blanket was
wrapped. and wrenched 1t from hlm. In