The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-10
PRISONERS PLOT
TO BREAK JAIL
Sheriff Schad Discovered
Plot Just in Time
THREE POLICEMEN CALLED
Gas Pipe Found in Possession
of a Prisoner

Late Friday night Sheriff Schadd dis
covered, through a hint dropped by u
young boy who is confined in the jail, that
the prisoners were planning a Jail de-
livery. and that they would put him
Cschadd) out Of the way if necessary TO
accomplish their object.
Dir. schadd and others around the Jail
had noticed that the prisoners were rather
hilarious during the evening. but the
thought Of a jail delivery had never en-
tered his mind, and the information that
they would not allow his life to stand in
the way OF their liberty. was rather start
Ling He knew that some Of the pris-
oners had bad records, but the idea that
they were desperate enough 10 take the
life OF an officer, came as q surprise
The sheriff called three policemen and
when they arrived an investigation was
begun The noise in the jail had grown
to a cIamor that could be heard for
block Some OF the prisoners were break
ing up chairs and aIFother cell furniture
that could be made into weapons The
ciamor Quoted down considerably when
oners were lined up and every man was
stripped OF his clothing Then questions
were fred at them from all sides and in
the confusion it developed that a well
laid plot had been formed to break jail
at any cost In one prisoner 5 possession
was found a long piece OF gas pipe which
IL was supposed was TO be used in prying
apart the bars. Aside from the piece of
pipe very few things were found that
would be Of any use 10 the prisoners in
breaking Jail. The pieces Of the chairs
could be used for little more than weap-
ons. The sheriff Terrified out the leaders
in the plot and as result Sid Pickens
is in the rotary and one other prisoner
who has been allowed considerable free
dom around the Jail because Of his pre-
vfous good behavior. is confined in a cell
It is said that Jimmy Rooney was also in
the conspiracy.
II is mystery how the gas pipe came
into the possession OF the prisoners. They
have been carefully guarded and a close
watch has been kept on everything that
is given to the prisoners by outsiders. It
IS fortunate that the discovery was made
at the time it was for the Jail confines
once gained sight Of liberty, it is feared
that the life OF an officer would have been
but small obstacle in their way.
Sid Pickens, who is said TO have been
the leader in the plot, is pretty well
known in police circles. This is not the
first time that he has been in the clutches
OF the law and he has been closely
watched in order TO waylay any trick
that he might turn and on this occasion
he was apprehended just in time. Pickens
IS IN Jail. charged with working con-
fdence game on an old gentleman named
Devenuey. several weeks ago. A story Of
the affair was printed in the Eagle at the
time It was the old lock scheme. Two
accomplices Of Pickens made a wager
over the locking and unlocking of two
little pad-Iocks and placed the money"in
the hands Of Mr.. Devenney, whom they
had inveigIed into taking a walk. While
the old gentleman had the money in his
hands Ptckens. posing as a policeman,
stepped up and placed the crowd under
arrest. but said that he would release
MI Devenney for q certain amount of
money. Mr.. Devenney was literally held
NJ for $50 but afterwards caused Pick
ems arrest.
The prisoners have been quiet since Fri
day night and no more trouble is ex-
pected at present However the sheriff
Is making a quiet investigation that may
make it rather warm for some Of the
r-fsr1ners