Evening journal., 1901-12-11
MANY NOTORIOUS PRISONERS
WHO WERE IN THE OLD JAIL

Now that the county Jail in New Castle
has become an institution of the past old
"reminiscences are recalled of the many
notorious prisoners who have been con
fined within its walls for various crimes.
some Of whom had criminal reputation
which was known throughout the entire
country.
Many sensational escapes have been
made from the 'old jail, some OF which
have been at the point of the revolver,
and others by cutting through the roof of
the building and sealing the Jail yard
walls by means Of ropes constructed from
bed clothing torn into strips. which were
tied together and attached TO an impro-
vised hook
The most notorious criminals upon
whom the locks of the prison were turned
We're the four New Workers. who attempt
ed to rob the National Bank of Delaware,
at Sixth and Market streets, and who
would have succeeded had it not been for
the presence of mind of the niece of the
cashier. who gave the alarm. and thwart-
ed the purpose of the burglars Perhaps.
at this time. il would not be amiss to give
"A brief account of this daring attempt at
crime which startled all Wilmington by
its boldness.
Early in November 1872. five stylishly
dressed men, strangers. who were from
New York. as it was learned later. came
To this city and rented an unfurnished
house in the eastern section of the city, in
/ East Ninth street. They apparently had
no particular occupation. were from ap-
pearances men of means who made them
selves hail fellow, well met with all
they met On account of their appear
ance and general good fellowship. nothing
was thought Of their living in Whining
ton without any apparent cause, and their
presence was mnoticed except by those
whose acquaintance they made.
About c o'clock one evening of Novem-
ber, Samuel Floyd. who was at that time
cashier of the bank and lived in the build
ing with his family, was sitting at the
supper table i'm the dining room, which
was then located in the basement of the
institution which faces ON Sixth street.
] With Mr.. Floyd lived his niece. Miss
/ Floyd. The evening was dark and rainy.
and but few pedestrians were upon the
streets. While the family was at their
meal knock came at the side gate and
Mr.. Floyd, arising from the table. opened
the dining room door and going TO the
yard gate opened it also. In an instant
five men. with masks over their faces
rushed in upon him and forced him back
into the house and at the point OF re-
volvers gagged and bound those at the
supper table. Miss Floyd alone escaped
land rushed nip the basement stairs to the
first floor, pursued by one of the burglars
who proved later TO be Big Frank" Nc
Coy. Miss Floyd ran into the street with
the burglar still close behind her. She
called for help loudly and Mccoy seeing
that the game was up, gave up the chase
land returning to his companions hurried
ly gave the alarm and all five Of them
fled.
The next day the police raided the
house in which the stylish strangers lived
and arrested Big Frank" Mccoy. Jimmy
Hope. John Lawlcr and Charley Hurl-
burt, the fifth man escaping.
The men were given a speedy trial be-
fore the Court of General Sessions. found
guilty of burglary and sentenced to be
whipped with forty lashes and to he inn
lprisoned for period Of ten years in the
county Jail
When the day for the whipping came
there was such "a crowd in New Castle as
was never seen before nor since. Special
trains and excursion boats brought hun
dreds of persons and it IS estimated that
there were over 5000 strangers in the city
to witness the whipping.
, 1t became noiscd around that q crowd
B of New Workers had come to New Castle
, and would make an effort to rescue the
celebrated prisoners. Uncle Lew" Arm
strong was sheriff at the time and feeling
that trouble might ensue he obtained a
detail of thirty police from Wilmington
and had them drawn up in line in the jai
yard, al a distance of about fifteen feet
from the whipping post, to hold tn,
j crowd back. Each man had his revolver
- in hand ready TO shoot the instant any
4 trouble occurred Upon the wall sur
D rounding the Jail yard men were seated
I each of whom held shot guns and hat
g.. any attempt been made to rescue tn,
prisoners bloodshed would have followed
The whipping took place. however. with
out any trouble and each of the gentle
e men burglars received his forty lashe
j on the bare back, well laid on" II is sal,
i that the men previous to the whipping of
q fcred $4,000 apiece for anyone who wonl'
/. take their place at the post. The day wa
2. the most exciting ever seen in NcY
70 Castle.
d SENSATIONAL ESCAPE
The notorious burglars cared nothn
FOR their sentence of Imprisonment AN
only stayed in the Jail long enough fo
s. their backs to heal before they mad
It their escape.