The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-01-27
WOMAN FOILS
JAIL BREAKERS
Matron Murray's Vigilance
Detects Prisoners
Scheme Just
in Time.
SEVEN IN THE PLOT
Two Help Along Their Plans
Two Get vaccinated
Twice.

livery was only averted early this morn
ing through the vigilance of Matron Rose
Murray. Warden Terrence Sullivan and
Night Keeper James Knowles.
Never IN the history Of the old gray
prison on the Heights has an attempt at
Jail breaking been frustrated wien 50
near contamination. Every preparations
had been carefully made and with TEN
minutes moro time to spare at least three
ard possibly seven priscners-one q
United States prisoner charged with
breaking into the Edgewater, n. j. post
Office on December IS OF last year-wouzd
have again breathed the air Of freedom.
It was about one o'clock this morning
when Matron Murray. whose sleeping
apartment is underneath the drug room,
was awakened by an unusual noise as Of
moving feet on the floor above. She list
ened for while and thought she heard
a rasping sound, and then summoned
Night Keeper Knowles. who hurried TO
the rooms on the secon d floor Of the
northwest corner of the jan. where civil
and United States prisoners awaiting
trial and witnesses are confined.
Knowles noticed nothing unusual IN
either of the rooms All the prisoners
were in bed and apparently fast asleep.
He did not, however. 60 into the drug
room. but in accordance with Sherin
Ruempiers orders at once notified War
den Sullivan.
The Warden then made a complete ex-
animation of the premises and found the
drug room in a condition that heggared
description The private drug closet at
the south end of the room in which DR..
Converse keeps ali poisonous drugs had
been torn down with scrupulous care the
nails having been carefully removed one
by one with the pinchers used for ex-
tracing teeth. All the drugs had been
previously removed from the shelves and
were stacked on the floor of the room.
The object in removing this closet was
to facilitate work on the iron bars Of the
window on the south side Of the room.
which pens on the kitchen extension about
twelve feet below. To prevnt possibility
of discovery the fanlight of the drug room
over the door opening into the corridor
had been covered by sheets taken from
the beds and the other wincow OF the
room through which the light BY which
the prisoners were working might have
been detected from the street was covred
with newspapers.
The bricks holding the bars had been
loosened, the County Physicians surgical
instruments being used for the purpose Of
removing the mortar which fell into a box
held by one of the prisoners. IN fact but
little more work was necessary to have
removed the iron grating entirely from
the window and then drop to the kitchen
extension. one side of which is but TWO
-so1, zee
rear yards of the houss on Willow Court
from the county property.
Having reached the roof of the exten-
sion it would have been a comparatively
easy matter to have scaled the wall and
escape by way of Willow Court, which
thoroughfare is but little traversed at
night.
When Warden Sullivan discovered the
condition of the drug room he at once
sent to the room in which are August
Marks the postoffice robber. and Emil
Wagner, Of Hoboken, who is de-
tained as a vicil prisoner on ae-
count of his inability 70 furnish
bonds to answer a suit Of New
York wofan. growing out of his failure TO
keep his promise to marry her. Both
were apparently asleep but the Warden
noticed that the sheet OF one bed and the
Quilt Of another were missing and that
Marks was fully dressed exeept for his
pants and shoes Both men strenously
denied responsibility for the condition OF
the drug room. but finally Marks admitted
he was a party to the plan to escape.
which he claimed had been devised py
Wagner. He said that the two OF them
worked together in removing the closet
and bars while A. Boswell. a negro. held
as a witness against a man named Taylor.
charged with numbering his aunt on Ply
mouth street, watched that their work
might not be interrupted.
Marks said that the plan had been for
muiated over two weeks ago whee Nsvr
with the other prisoners in one Of II
rooms were taken to the drug room /.
vaccinated by DR.. Converse. They the
had an opportunity of seeing how easy
escape would be through that channel and
after discussing the matter together de-
termired TO again obtain adnittance TO
The drug room in order to make further
observations With this object IN view
they washed the virus from their arms
Immediately so that the vaccination would
not take. Their plan worked to perkec-
tfon, and when two days ago they were
again taken to the drug room 10 be re-
vaccinated they were able to complete
their observations.
The iron barred doors from the civil
prisoners and witnesses rooms which
open on the same corridor, are left open
at night. The drug room door. which p
Of wood, also opens on this corridor ~
ter it was thought that everyone but the
night watch had gone to bed last night
II ,x-as = ,.orot,a RI lively casx matter to