New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-10
A PLOT TO USE DYNAMITE.
THE posToFFICE THIEVES PLANNED TO
sLow UP LUDLOW STREET JAIL.

. NEW STATEMENT BY "oLD BILL vosBuRG-
EVIDENCE OF TAMPERING WITH WALLS
NEAR THE PRTsoN-FURTHER TESTIMONY
IN THE TRIAL OF SHERIFF TAMsEN
Another sensation in the District-Attorneys
,mce was created yesterday morning by ''Old
pur, Vosburg the aged thief and swindler who
.. soon to testify the trial Of Sheriff Tamsen
that he aided the three postoffice robbers to es-
cape from Ludlow Street Jail Vosburg de-
D,ared that there had been plot to blow up the
..;l With dynamite. He said that the plan was
"a carry some dynamite into a tenement adjoin
,ng the jail. and at a certain preconcerted time
10 set off the dynamite. that the explosion
would knock down large part of the wall of
the jail. Through the opening thus made the
three postoffce robbers Killoran, Allen and
Russell. and other prisoners were to escape.
The dynamite TO be taken into the tene-
nnent-house by friends Of the robbers.
Vosburg said he declined 10 have anything to
do with the plot. as there was danger that
number Of lives would be sacrificed if It should
b. carried out.
District-Attorney Fellows sent a man up to the
1sil 10 make an investigation. and the man re-
ported that he found two places in the neighbor-
hood where such plot might have been under
way In a hallway close to the jail was found
4 place where twenty thirty bricks had been
removed and careessly replaced At No. 173
Broome-st.. in the yard adjoining the Ludlow
Street jail yard another place was found where
some bricks had been removed and replaced
loosely. Some OF the mortar was scraped out by
the man from the Distrct-Attorneys office.
There was four mxeu with the mortar some
thing that looked like sawdust. The man thought
this suspicious. as dynamite cartridges are some
Zines packed in sawdust. He caused 1t TO be
examined by an expert, but the latter reported
that il Ias just plain sawdust, and there was
nothing explosive about IT.
When the trial Of Sheriff Tamsen before Judge
Allison. in Part II of tie Court of General Ses
sions. was resumed yesterday morning testimony
was given by United States Deputy Marshal
Walter NJ Stafford He took Russell, Allen and
Killoran from Ludlow Street jail TO the United
States Commissioners Office before they were
locked in the Jail
o.-Did anybody give the prisoners whiskey while
Q-Or firearms" A.-No. sir.
United States Postoffice Inspector George c.
Holden the next witness. told of the appear
ance Of the prisoners when he first visited them
June l in Ludlow Street Jail, before they
got themselves shaved. The visit was to iden-
tify the prisoners After they We're shaved, he
could recognize them with difficulty.
Under-Sherif Henry H. Shearman
called He said he had a conversation with
Warden Raabo and pointed out TO him what
kind Of persons the robbers Were put he could
not recall the exact language of a conversation
with Sheriff Tamsen.
John +. McCabe. who the head keeper
Of Ludlow Street Jail the time of the escape
Of the prisoners, was called next. He testified
that he got a telephone message on May 81
from the United States Marshals office. that
particular care should be taken of Russell. Kill
loran and Allen: that they should be permitted
10 one, and should not be allowed to
change their appearance until they were taken
before Commissioner Shields.
Q-When you received the message did the pris-
onSrs nave their boards and hair Uncut? AYeI to sir
Ing morning. and Allen then had his mustache
QNwRat about Kiroran's whiskers? A.-They
We're at the time. short time after Knloran's
Q~Dld You tell the warden? A.-Yes. sir I told
him Allen had had his musache mus shaved or %,
wonder how ne got Il off,
McCabe said ne admitted "Old BIZ" vosburg
10 the Jail He did not recolect whether Vos-
burg had pass the first time.
Q-How frequently did William yosburg visit the
two or three times week
Q-Did he eyer present any pass? A.-No, sir, not
Odd you know him? A-Yes. sir.
The witness said he showed the warden
Byrnes's book, Noted Criminals"
9Dd these pgf9neTs have any visitors . without
Odd you search Russels wife? A.-No.
Q-Dd you ever search yosburg below his trou..
sers pockets? A.-No. sir; searched his coat and
vest and trousers pockets.
The witness said he positive that Vosburg
never brough, pistol weapons to the Jail, at
least when he duty.
Q-Did Nosburg ever bring in anything? A
Yes. s.r; he brought In bottle of whiskey
tnd A box OF cigars once. i took the whiskey from
him and put 1t in a closet, and gave the cigars TO
the prisoners.
The next witness. Charles f. Wells. who is
poyed In the law department Of the Sherfs Of
fee. identified three affidavits made by Warden
Raabe. the mailman. McCabe, and the tanitor.
Fredericks. These depos!tions. relative to the
shaving Of the prisoners. were shown to Sheriff
Tamsen the day after they taken. The
Sheriff said that the prisoners should be placed
in separate cells and allowed 10 see nobody
cept on a pass from the United States Marshal.
Wells also testified that the Sheriff had told him
h. had been to the jail TO see that his instructions
were carried out
An adjournment was taken until this morning.