Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-24
JAIL BREAK PLOT
Fooled BY CONVICT
CONFESSION OF PRISONER IN
SING SING Needed
Inadequate Quarters at New York
State Penal Institution Are
Feared by Warden to
Be Insecure

fession of a fear stricken convict pre-
vented an attempt of 300 prisoners in
Sing Sing prison from making break
| for liberty New Years night, and even
then their plans were frustrated only
by desperate and quick action on the
part of the prison authorities. Since
the word of the contemplated outbreak
was first received the prison guard has
been doubled.
Owing to the inadequate and crowded
conditions prevalent at Sing Sing 300
convicts are housed in an imprqXised
dormitory removed from the main
buildings and before the proposed out
break they were insufficiently guarded
and a plan to overpower the six guards
in charge of them was temptingly feas-
ible.
Probably never before in the history
of penal institutions has such a great
number of prisoners entered into plot
to gain liberty.
Unlike those in the main cell houses
the prisoners confined in the lmpfo-
vised dormitory have privileges Whlcn
permit of their being together several
hours after they quit work and they
are allowed to converse among them
selves long after the convicts In the
main buildings are put away in solitary
confinement.
New Years Day Chosen ~
This condition was responsible for the
breeding of the plot for a wholesale
delivery. New Years night was select
ed. according to the convict who weak
ened and told the story because the
mon did not have to work that day
and naturally they expected lenient
and holiday spirit would be manifested,
extending to the guards.
When the guards were appIisea "
the situation they were oVerWheiiIleu
with fear until steps were taken 10
prevent the outbreak and reinforce
ments came to their aid. 1t is SAID
that several men were immediately
mustered in and rushed to the tin shop
dormitory, where they renamed
throughout the night. The conVlcts
were told that their plans were known
and any attempt to obtain freedom
would prove disastrous. The word
nassed among them that the first man
making a suspicious move would be
shot dissipated all hopes of concerted
attack.
Warden Jesse D. Frost, on being un-
able to obtain sufficient men on such
short notice for the task. heavily
armed himself and acted as guard
throughout the night of terror which
followed. When the hour appointed for
the outbreak had passed there was
deep feeling of relief among all the
guards on duty.
The building where the three hun
bred convicts are domiciled every night
stands some distance from the other
buildings, and in all likelihood the SIX
guards on duty could have been over
powered and the large number of pris-
oners get away over the wall without
attracting the attention of the guards
or officials in the main buildings.
The large room where the convicts
sleep is adequately barred at the win
dows and doors, but an ordinary
wooden floor is the only obstacle the
men would have to face once there was
no resistance or interference from the
guards. The building is a two-story
structure.
Prison OVercrowded
The crowded condition of the prison
is a source of terror to the officials,
and they fear that unless relief comes
soon a successful outbreak is immi-
nent. For the 1903 prisoners confined
there there are 1900 cells. Last sum-
mer it became necessary to remove the
hospital above the mess hall, and pro-
vision was made for housing sixty
three conVicts in the old hospital build
ing. The Protestant chapel was dis
placed and prisoners of that faith now
worship m the old Catholic chapel.
Two hundred convicts were then
placed in the Protestant chapel. The
dormitory where the New Years plot
was Matched was pressed into service
last October, the tin working machines
being crowded into the wagon fac
tory below.
Relief from the congested condition
is being sought in several directions.
C. V. Collins, superintendent of prls-
ons, has asked the present legislature
for a big appropriation to carry on
the work of erecting ample prison
buildings on the site purchased last
year in Washington county, north of
Saratoga.
The prison site commission pur-
chased another 500-acre tract last year
on The west shore of the Hudson river,
at Bear Mounain, between Fort Mont
gomery and Iona island, which is six
teen miles north of Sing Sing. The
preliminary work of clearing this land
has begun, 100 convicts quartered in
stockade being at work, but since the
land is included in the site of the pro-
posed state park, which is to be ere
ated from land donated from Mrs.
Edward H. Hartman and other
wealthy persons, some of the prison
authorities believe the work will be
stopped and the site abandoned.
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