Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-04
BRICK FELL: RUSH OF GUARDS.
p, tho Merrst Accident Well Palm
ned scheme WAS Frustrated Early
sunday M"rnins-Tri" OF 5csrer-
ate Criminals the singicnders.

atc Criminals The Eingfcnders.
r4e calling of brick from the wall of
iha nenitenuaIy upon a tool box left
ssndi;sg just beneath was the means OF
f-eyeatug what might have been one of
q, greatest prison deliveries in the his
ta-. Of this State at an early hour sun
DAY morning.
G.ut Tor the noise caused thereby, three,
c,r.atuly and in all probability all of the
twenty-five occupants of one of the large
NJ the heel OF the horseshoe of the
so4.c penitendary, would have made
d@Tcrate dash for freedom. AS i, was,
t noise aroused the attention of the
GUARDS. and the plot to escape, which has
irfs been SO fariuitouSly frustrated was
discovered and prevented
Tlii3 CRITICAL MOMENT.
was The critical moment to the occu-
lu,s OF the cell, who. after patiently and
lsEartauslE picking away at the two-feel
tltA NAIL for many weary hours with
memorable interruptions 10 delay and
7rLa55 them. and in constant anxiety lest
tra.~ steathy attempt be discovered, We're
Of the point Of bringing to a climax THEN
carefully concocted plan, swinging down
be twenty-five feet Of height to the grass
aal5w and then swiftly and sIIeutly GID
way into the shadows. The falling of
.la last loosened brick that let in the star
light through the orifiCe thus created in
sa instant thwarted the work of many
aa.lrs. The alarm was given and the hole
be wall al once observed. Guards flock
81 to the spot, heavily armed, and the
3-a@YGnts Of the cell were quickly placed
aa more secure cell. An opening twenty
roar by nineteen inches was found, ex-
tending entirely through the twenty-four
hen wall, with the exception of a sigle
las Of bricks, a mere shell, which could
have been kicked out and doubtless would
IN another moment have been pushed out
7at for the location Of The tool box direct
S below. This received the falling brick. |
and the rcsoundinE Goise made by il |
Immediately attracted the attention of the |
guards not far away
a DESPERATE TRIO.
Three OF the twenty-five prisoners in
TINS big cell are regarded as the chief con-
splrators in this daring and desperate at
tempt 10 win freedom. They are Joe JEFF |
ferson. alias Indian Bill. sentenced from |
this city for a term. of ten years; Wash |
Fields. sentenced from Norfolk for TWEEN
y
this being his Third. sentence: and Nose |
Dennis. sentenced from Roanoke for
fehtteen years for attempted assault. All |
ere negroes and thoroughly desperate |
characters. These three men are regarded /
oE the penitental'y authorities as the NOV
ing spirits and chief operators in the at
tempted escape. just how much knowI-
sdEe The other nineteen had OF the design
ot this trio is not known. but it is believed
~ Ill. H. 49,
the conspiracy, and would have profited
Eg the opportunity had the sortie of the
LADDERS proved successful y bullet or a
l9ad Of buckshot III their hides would have
tecn the penalty in the event of detection,
ou- to men doomed to prison labor and
restraint Cor life, the alternative was not
deterrent with liberty as a reward in the
event of success.
SMtGGLED a SCREW DRIVER
The search made by the guards develop
cd the fact that one Of the prisoners had
secured possession Of q screw driver in
some way. and il was with this that the
mortar had been scraped and picked from
ehe crevices between the bricks. It is the
custom of the guard TO pass along the
corridor every hour on his inspection
found to see that all is well, and the work
Of the patient miners was often interrupt
ed at such times the sappers either heard
the guard coming or We're warned by their
fellow prisoners in time to escape detec-
ton. After the guard passed the long
task was resumed Thus. little by little.
hoar by hour, they were approaching an
opportunity seldom presented. Then the
brick fell. and with it were dashed all the
cherished hopes Of the convicts.
a RACE WITH DEATH
The cell in which the men We're located
mr. - L. ~, 1S
lhe horseshoe There would have been
40 other wall to scale had the prisoners
succeeded in reaching the lawn. beneath
tile cell But it would have been a run
lNnE gauntlet with death in desperate
race Ii is presumed that all the other
men In the cell must have been aware
OF The PLAN though ii is possible they We're
not The trio involved may have worked ,
While the others slept Any one OF the /
other nineteen would have been given his {
tgeeinm had he Informed on the others. .
On the other hand he would have had a ,
CHANCE for his life had he taken advan- ,
tage OF the opportunity SO nearly af- :
lordcd !
SNAIL CHANCE OF ESCAPE.
III was nearly 4 O'Clock A NJ when the i
bEtcs lel and the alarm was given Even /
aa4 1he men swung down through the en- {
4afged aperture by means OF the blanket {
!o9e they had fashioned for the purpose. {
Ae!e would have been small chance OF c
eseaTe from the guns of the guards. Ii I
vas lOt the darkest night on record, and c
rs" large locomotive headlights with re- i
isGs5F bases swept the space which they
"uuld have had 10 cross The prisoners a
vel knew this but had evidently deter
mined TO dare death itself. The timely
discovery alone prevented bioodshed and !
great excitement | |
There is a penalty attached to attempted
escape from the prison. The men in the
eel all Of them, will be given a hearing,
ana n the event that they are found TO
nave had guilty knowledge Of the plan