The San Francisco call., 1899-04-23
MURDERERS PLAN AN ESCAPE
HACK SAWS AND FRAME FOUND
ON THE LEADER.
An Unknown Woman Smuggles Tools
Into the County Jail and Aids
Prisoners in Their Con-
spiracy.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.

90S Broadway, April %
Sheriff 0. L. Rogers to-day frustrated
well-developed conspiracy which had
for its prime object the delivery of two
murderers, prisoners at the County Jail,
and the success of which might have re-
suited in wholesale jailbreak
The leaders in the conspiracy were Will
liam A. Brandes, convicted of murder in
the second degree for beating to death his
13-year-old daughter, Lillian Brandes. and
whose motion for a new trial will be ar
gued before Judge Hall next Monday and
Joaquin Eslabe, the convicted murderer
of Charles Gates, the crippled tomale-
vender, whom he beat to death with a
piece of lead pipe.
Eslabe is the instigator and the two
prisoners found a formidable ally in a
simple-minded married woman, whose
name Sheriff Rogers declines to make
public. This woman has frequently Vis-
tied Eslabe at the County Jail and she
appeared smitten with the murderer, who
with Brandes, James Gilligan, the slayer
of Jockey Epperson, and other important
prisoners, occupied the Grand Jury corri-
dor during the day time and up to y
About ten days ago Sheriff Rogers, his
chief taller Louis Schoenau, ana Deputy
spiracy was brewing. This fact they dis
covered through words dropped by the
leaders in conversation with other prls-
oners.
and allv visited the Jail and left small
package for her Jailed lover; she had had
frequently brought fruits and delicacles
for him and the package was. passed 10
the prisoner without examination.
This morning Eslabe and Brandes ap-
peared to be in unusually cheerful spirits.
Hints were dropped that reached the
Sheriff's ears and an immediate investi-
CATION resulted. Eslabe was taken into
his cell and searched. On him were found
hacksaWs, files and a frame. w hen con-
fronted with the evidence the conspirator
frankly admitted his purpose and ms al
lies. confessing that he had sent for the
tools. He thredtenin9ly asserted that ne
would yet make nOles in the county
Jail" The delivery was to nave been Ell
fected to-day, and ESlabe remarked TO
Sheriff Rogers and JailerS SchOenau and
TAYLOR. who conducted the search, that
they could not blame him for trying to
in the face" Eslabe's case IS now, pend
ing in the Supreme Court on appeal.
The strictest secrecy was preserved at
the Jail and in the Sheriff office. In
fact. Chief Jailer Schoenau vigorously de-
MED the report of the attempted deliv-
cry. Sheriff Rogers, however, though with
much reluctance. finally verified the story
as given herewith.
Yes. we have been expecting this"
said the Sheriff, but l felt confident that
we were perfectly able to cope with it.
We are fully prepared to handle such
matters and were well Informed as to the
movements of outsiders We did wish
TO keep the matter quiet until after
Brandes' case had been disposed of; but
now that it is all out, why, that's all
Brandes and Eslabe have now been
placed in solitary confinement and each
in his separate cell Will so remain until
his case is disposed of. The woman in the
conspiracy will in all probability be ar
rested.