Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-08-02
HUMAN GOPHERS.
They Tried to Tunnel Underneath
a Penitentiary.
Daring Attempt to Release n NOtOri>
GUS Real Estate Swindler frOnA
His Cell In Riverside Peni-
tentiary, Allegheny, PA.
Why 1t Failed.


Why 1t Failed.
Pittsburg, July 27.-One of the
boldest and most systematic plans
for the release of one or more pris-
oners from Riverside penitentiary
was thwarted Thursday by accident.
The first theory advanced when the
matter was discovered seemed TO
point to the release of Alex Berk-
man. the anarchist who is serving a
D. years sentence for the shooting OF
II. c. Frick during the Homestead
strike in 1892, but the conclusion
reached by Director Muth, of the Al
lcghcny police department, is that
the real object of the rescucrs was
to secure the freedom of the notori-
Gus real estate swindler, j. Z. Boyd,
who is serving a seven years sentence
in the penitentiary for his misdeedS.
This opinion is shared by the Pitts
burg police officials, and many rea-
sons are brought forward to confirm
the theory. Among these are the
facts that Boyd is wanted in nearly
every state in the Union on charges
of real estate swindles, has confeder-
ates all over the country and is ac-
counted one of the wealthiest prison
ers in Riverside. 1t is argued that
Perkman's friends could not afford
the expensive outfit which was used
in this instance and their resources
could not possibly equal those of
Eoyd's confederates.
The plan by which the rescuers
hoped to reach the inside of the peni-
tentiary wall was by a tunnel from
the cellar of a house on Sterling
street, nearly opposite one of the
gates. Their work is remarkable,
considering the obstacles to be over
come. Investigation showed that it
was over 200 feet long, but because
OF it's zigzag course had not reached
the prison wall. One of the officers
who crawled distance of POI feet in
the dark passageway was compelled
to return before reaching its end, by
reason of the 1oul gases arising.
From this it is inferred that the tun-
mel had tapped a sewer. Director
Muth. however, believes that the dead
body of one of the tunnelers will he
discovered when the tunnel is opened
from the surface, as is the intention.
He thinks the man was overcome by
the gases and his companions, for
fear of complications, fled.
The elaborate arrangements that
had been made for completing the
tunnel and for providing for the
safety of the diggers amazed the au-
thorities. An electric bell, connected
with the entrance of the tunnel in
the cellar, was used in giving the
workers and watchers an instant sig
nal in case of alarm, and an air pump
had been used to keep the tunnel free
from gas. 1t is estimated that the
electric plant and other appliances
used cost the liberators at least
$1,000.
On March Is Thomas Brown, who
represented himself as a Chicago
patent solicitor, purchased from
John {. Langenfitt, who is an engi-
neer in the penitentiary, the house AT
2s Sterling street for $4,000, paying
$3.50 down and agreeing to pay the
balance in installments. Soon after
ward Brown, a woman whom he said
was his wife, and his brother-in-law
moved into the house and operations
were probably begun at once.
The Misses Letitia and Jennie Me-
Carthy, who lived just opposite, had
their suspicious aroused because of
the small quantity of furniture GO
ing into the supposed home of the
new family and by the fact that the
principal article taken in was piano.
During the occupancy of the house
the shades We're always down. but the
piano was rarely silent. Mrs. Brown
played and sang almost conStantly
During the intervals when there was
no music the Misses Mccarthy heard
grinding, whirring noise, which
gave them the impression that the
Browns were always grinding coffee.
Their suspicious of crookedness
were confirmed when they saw load
of galvanized pipe and a load of
lumber taken into the house. They
called the attention of the police to
the place, but no charge could be
made against the inmates The
Browns left the house on the night of
July 5, leaving word for Mr.. Langen-
fit that they were going to New
York, but would return on July 24 to
pay the first instalment on the
house. Their failure to return led 10
an investigation by Mr.. Langentitt,
with the result given above. The the
ory is that the Browns were fright
ened away, because all of the appara-
tus was found in the house with the
exception of the digging tools, which
Director Muth thinks are in the tun-
mel with the body of the digger.
Beers Fought StubbornIy.