The herald., 1896-02-02

instant when the men are unmatched,
and it is difficult to explain how they
communicate. OF course, some of the
tricks have bsen discovered, but these
ara only resorted to when particular
, convicts wish. to converse.
The fake fight Is common trick.
Two convicts without word of warn
ing will spring at each other like en-
ragged tigers, and clutching one another
around the neck will roll over the
ground in a perfect frenzy of rage.
Blows and kicks will be dealt with ter
rific force, but all the time valuable
words will be exchanged. Genuine
fights of this kind are of common oo-
currence, and so faithfully are the fake
fights carried out that it is difficult to
distinguish the false from the real.
Criminals who we're bitter enemies in
the outside world often meet for the
first time within the confines of Sing
Sing, aud when they come together q
fierce, if short, fight is bound to come
off. That accounts for the number of
genuine fights.
Criminal lawyers, who perhaps know
as much about convicts as, If not more
than, the prison officials themselves,
say that they do have number of we'll
recognized codes of communication.
One of the best known methods of this
kind consists of series Of raps corres-
ponding to the Morse telegraphic code.
Ii prisoner understands telegraphy,
he may transmit messages to another
prisoner who is also telegrapher by
rapping out the Morse code in his cell,
or il the workshop or mess room, with
out very much fear of detection. OF
course, the success of this plan de-
pends upon both men knowing the
Morse code: but a knowledge of teleg-
raphy ia 90 common nowadays and so
very useful to the experienced crook,
that many Of them do kn5w it.
In some of the carelessly constructed d
prisons it has been discovered that the
convicts have used the water pipes to
construct series of speaking tubes,
and in several cases they have success
fully planned escapes in this way.
The system by which prisoners COM
municate with friends on the outside
is also a mystery which prison officials
would be glad to fathom. In prison
parlapce it is known as the "under-
ground" The convicts are allowed to
write home once a month, but each
letter is first read by the prison chap
lain. II there is anything improper in
it, the letter is withheld. But the i'm
proper letters never 90 out by way of
the chaplain. The underground" sys-
tenn takes care cf them.
Criminals in Sing Sing have been
known to conduct series of success
full crimes by communicating with ac-
conn Ices on the outside. Bribing the
under keepers would be one way, but
the system is too general to be worked
in that fashion. Escapes are always
planned and carried out throl gh the
underground method.
What has been generally accepted as
a most extraordinary instance of this
sort occurred in 1898, when Pallister
and Roehl made their escape from the
death house, where the guard is most
strict. These two condemned men had
received no special favors from the
prison management. They were con-
stsntly under observation, and they
were in that part.of the prison where
the watch is most strict. They were
carefully searched, and, SO far as the
guards knew, they held no communi-
cation with any but those permitted
by the prison regulations.
OAe SJoFLHy ulBnI Jney maze Cnelf
escape, and it was sensational, and, 80
far as the prison authorities went, it
was success. Two bodies were found
in the Hudson river some days later,
and they were identified as the bodies
of Paliister and Roehl. In the opinion
of men who knew something about the
prison their escape was the result of a
pre- arranged plan, and it included not
only the two most conspicuous actors
in il. but their friends outside of the
prison. AZ the circumstances pointed
to outside aid, and, in order that such