The Washington times. (Washington, D.C.) 1894-1895, 1895-04-13
TURNED SPOONS TO KEYS
Mystery of the Poughkeepsie
COnViGt's Escape Cleared.
QUIGLEY HAS BEEN CAPTURED
he Was Found Asleep in Freight Car
The Other Four Dangerous Men Are Still
At Large-Two Metal Spoons Carelessly
Left with the Prisoners By the Guards
Were Used to Unlock the Cell Doors.

Poughkeepsie, N. Y, April 12.-The cap
ture OF Convict Quigley to-day and his re-
turn to the Matteawan State Criminal
Asylum, from which he escaped with Perry,
the train robber, and three other dangerous
convicts on Wednesday night. has solved
the mystery of how the five men got out of
their rooms in tie isolated ward without
breaking the locks.
When Quigley arrived at the asylum
this afternoon in company with the attend
ants who had been sent to New Hamburg
TO bring him back. he was taken directly
10 Superintendent Aliens private office
and there examined behind closed doors
by DR.. Allison and State Superintendent
Lathrop, who has been at the Institution
all day, personally Investigating the es-
cape.
Afterward lie was sent back to the cell
in the isolated building, and Allison re-
peated 10 The reporters Quigley's story,
which shows that the escape was due to
the violation on The part -ofthe. attendants
OF the rules of the institution. and also to
carelessness in the manner of locking up.
SPOONS WERE THE MEANS.
Perry and Quigley being considered bad
men, were kept Confined in their rooms,
where they were given their meals. Some
days ago Mcguire managed to re-
tain two metal spoons, though it was the
duty OF the attendant to, count in and
count out the utensils at every meal.
Out OF these spoons Mcguire fashioned
two keys, one for each lock, recurring pat
perns of the lock IIom a source which
Quigley does not Know, though il is be-
lieved that one or The patients who had
the run Of the ward secured an impression
of them.
Mcguire gave the key for the lower lock
to Davis, who was not kept in close con-
finement, and who in going tosEupper on
Wednesday, unlocked the lever lock OF
Maguire's door, returning the key 10 Ma
guire through the observation hole in the
latter's door. The attendants in locking
up did not try Maguire's door, presuming
thatit had been locked allday.
After il was quiet that night, Mcguire
slipped his ann through the observation
hole, aud with his other false key unlocked
the upper bolt with his two keys. Mcguire
could have opened all OF the sixteen cells in
the ward, but he did not.
He unlocked the rooms OF Quigley and
Perry, and the three men secreted them
selves in the train robbers room. II is
certain that Waterman Caimody did not
try the door OF Perry's cell, for after he
had passed il, the three men rushed out
and overpowered him.
OPENED THE CELL DOORS.
After having secured Carmody's keys it
was an easy matter for them to liberate
Davis and o'Donnell, and the five men
left the building through the chapel and
attic, as has been described.
When found asleep in a freight car at
Newhamburg. Quigly was completely pros
trated. He had got lost in the woods, and
had wandered about aimlessly until he
stumbled into New Hamburg footsore and
weary and famished for food
He had been IN the car only short
time when he was captured by Peter Lee
roy and VIM, E Traver, two persons
living in the viii age. He said that after
leaving the asylum, he and his fellow
convicts separated and he did not know,
he said, which way the Others went.
Traver and Leroy took him back to the
asylum and received the reward OF $50.
When captured Quigly had on pair of
overalls, which he said he picked up in a
brickyard and put on in place of his asylum
trousers, which he got wet by walking
into ditch.
He said he slept in a dog house on
neighboriDg farm last night The asylum
authorities have no definite clews to any
OF the other fugitives. Fully thirty attend
ants are out following up various rumors
OF the mems flight. The asylum authorities
Will spare no effort TO secure them.
Supt. Lathrop returned TO Albany this
evening fully satisfied with ell that DR..
Allison has done.