The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-07

Reporter al q PeepnOie sees Wnat secnts
% ne a Key slipped into Vale Lock
of CeII in which Escaping Expert ID
"Manacled' Wouldn't re Searched.
Hohdini, the King Of the Handouts.
NJ he il described by his press agent, tried
10 escape from a locked cell in h York
viIle police court prison yesterday and
encountered a sharp eyed keeper who dis
arranged his plans. The expert lock picker
went to the office Of COMMISSIONS OF Cor
rections Lantry a week ago inc told him
that the locks on the district prisons were
no good and that an expert burglar could
easily escape.
sNone has ever escaped in my time and
r-hope none will" responded the Com
missioner.
sWhy, / can get out Of any cell in your
prisons went on Houdini.
sI don't believe il. Who are you any
Sny2' snapped the Commissioner.
I'm an expert lock picker, and I'll show
you that / can open any locked cell In your
prisons" the visitor said.
The Commissioners gave his permission
20 try the locks in the prison Of the York.
VILE court. The expert went to the prison
ono day last week, examined the looks
On the cell doors and that he
swould return yesterday and allow himself
70 be locked in a cell.
When he got there in the afternoon he
found a number of Hea dquarters men,
precinct detectives, lawyers, court clerks
and others waiting for him..
Il have been locked in the prisons OF
Germany, France and England and in
eome in this country, and in every instance
j managed to get out, said he. Il haven't
met failure yet and the prison officials
were unable to explain how l did it.
He'll have a different story to tell after
mis- experience in the Yorkville prison.
Things were arranged for his attempted
escape from a cell. The cell was selected
and he went into another one and disrobed.
his purpose being To go undressed into tho
kpell from which he was to escape to show he
had no key concealed about him..
As O. preliminary, stunt he swallowed a
dozen needles and a piece Of thread, and
then pclled out a piece OF thread from his
mouth with a dozen needles threaded.
sWonderfull" was the comment Of some
Of the crowd.
hNHugh Cooney, a prison keeper, was stand
Ing IN the cell door to sec that nothing was
Nmuggled in. He had been Watching the
Performance and stepped up TO the expert.
Let me examine your mouth with my
Singer said the keeper.
Srpert.
Cooney went to the faucet at the end Of the
room, and while he was doing so the expert
walked over to a cell and elected something
from his mouth When the keeper came
back he didn't zee any necessity Of examin-
ing for the needles.
The expert then announced that he was
ready to enter the cell from which he was
3 o escape and was willing to be searched.
Cooney stepped up and ran his fingers
through the experts bushy hair, but found
nothing. Then he examined the hands,
fingers and looked under the finger nails
for q concealed key. There was non there,
10 the keeper went to the feet. Nothing
under the left loot.
Lift your right foot" said The keeper.
Hold on. Leave me alone" responded
up with that foot, ordered the keeper.
I've swallowed it. Don't touch me .
said the expert as he doubled up as though
In pain:
that foot and IL you won let me look you
rant go into the CELL said the keeper.
The export did some thinking and finally
walked over to the cell where his clothes
were lying: He then consulted with his
manager. The keepNr called Warden John
Lynch and told him that the expert refused
TO be searched. The Warden said that
In that case the jail wrecking would be on.
just then Deputy Commissioner Of Cor
section George W. Meyer entered.
No ShIu lLdb AL pIlHOneIS WERE SedTCneu
and the expert would have to he or else
acknowledge that he had something con-
pealed under his toes. The expert made
the ackno wledgment and was then allowed
to enter the cell. A sheet was draw n over
the door. The experts hands we're con-
fined In handouts attached to Rwaist belt.
b audience was ordered out into the
next room while the prisoner" was es-
hapinR.
Ono OF the audience found a peephoIe
and sawt the experts hand come out between
the bars of the door and insert something
Into the Yale lock. He unlocked the door
and showed that he had removed the belt
hnd hanHo,,era xuhiIa ~ the oan