The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-26
Defeated.
Ryan'S n'SPlOtNipped.
in the Bud.
With His Pal He Had
Planned to Break Jail.
Keeper Ward Was to Be Muir
der:d in Cold Blood.
File Had Been Ground to Razor
Edge to Give Fatal Wound.
Wards Nerve and Pluck Saved Him From
Dsalh at the Hands Of Conylcs.
File Had Been Ground to Razor
Edge to Give Fatal Wound.
Wards Nerve and Pluck Saved Him From
Dsalh at the Hands OF Conylcis.


A deliberately planned murder which
was to lead 10 the escape OF TWO desper-
ate criminals from the States prison
was fortunately prevented this morning
by the keenness of Keeper Ward, who
was the intended victim.
The men who were to kill Ward, in
whose charge they were, are "Jim,"
Ryan, who is serving 20 year sentence
for highway robbery committed in Paw
tucket day after the close of the Cotton
Centennial in that city, and William
Sullivan, a noted Boston crook that was
sentenced short time ago to an eleven
Sullivan when arrested here gave the
name Of Sowden and he was indicted and
sentenced under that name. The plot was
for both men to commit some offence
that would compel them to be sent to the
prison office for punishment and on the
way Ward, who woGid go with them was
to be abbed to death. The stabbing
was to be done with file that Sullivan
had used IN the shop and filed down to
a long sharp point that was as sharp as
a razor.
Keeper Ward fortunately became sus-
pieious of the men before the start for
the Office was made. One OF the things
that made ward suspicion was the taking
up OF box when Just about TO start on
the trip, the end of which was, accord
Ing to Wards idea, to be severe
punishment for both the men taken
there. but was intended by them
TO be an escape. The keeper made the
best guess, but the journey was not
maze as planned, and it is lucky that 1t
was not for Ward. Tho latter promptly
covered both men with his revolver and
hastily summoned aid.
The box that Sullivan picked up con-
tanned two files, a jimmy and the sharp
pointed file before referred to, which was
a foot and half long. The plan was to
have Ryan step to one side on the trip to
the Office to have Sowden quickly move
ahead of Ward, while Ryan was to run
the sharpened file into Wards body right
In front of and have II penetrate the
latter's heart. Then the revolver OF the
dying man was to be taken, and with 1t
as a protector, a dash through the yard
and over the walls to freedom was to
have been made.
The violation of the rules for which the
men were sent to the Office was the send
ing of a note from Ryan TO Sowden this
morning. This was q trick, and both
men knew they had been for some time
closely watched by Ward. So they
guessed that any commun ication dIscov-
cred between them would lead TO jour
ney to the Office, so today, their weapon
being ready, the note was sent and keeper
Ward quickly discovered Sowden tearing
1t up.
During the celebration OF the Cotton
Centennial in Pawtucket there were a
number Of houses. broken into while their
oNNhEohhn NNAS h"N%Hs l"AN "a hi'' ANT
tivities Of the occasion. Jewels, silver
ware and other articles of value were
stolen by the parties who entered them,
but the police of that city could get no
clue to the guilty party. The Saturday
night of the same week one OF the most
desperate highway rob5eries ever cont
mitted in the state took place at the
same city.
A young business man named Becker,
while on his way home, was held up and
severely handled by two men. lie was
Knocked down while Offering resistance
10 tho robbers. one OF whom sat on him,
and his gold watch and the other valu-
ablcs In his possession were taken from
him. All OF the articles So taken had
some private mark on them by which
Becker could identify them. Though a
thorough search was made In Pawtucket
and this city no clue OF the thieves could
be found.
A week went by and then Ryan was
captured. Ills capture came about In this
way. On the Sunday morning next bu
one after the highway robbery Patrolman
Rich while going nis beat on Richmond
and Friendship streets in this city found