New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-09
OSBORNE BLOCKS
TAIL BREAK PLOT
BY HIS LEAGUERS
Prison Clique, Capturing
Election, Appoint Con-
federates to Office.
ARRANGE FOR AUTOS
TO BE NEAR GATES
Warden Steps on Scene, Prefers
Charges Against Leader
and Gusts Officers.

and Gusts O1IlceTS'
Rscsuss Of the discovery Of plot
- u,s the Mutual Welfare League TO
.s.e. the escape Of dozen convicts'
warden Thomas Mott Osborne has set
s,ide the result of the recent election
- the prison and restored the former
oBcers Of the league to duty.
In the scheme the conspirators had
outside counsel the plan involving
among other things the supplying OF
.n.or,obiles which were TO be waiting
near the prison for the men who would
make their informal departure. Ihis
v.. 20 have been made on a night when
,be delegates to the league met.
ut was a clever scheme to use the
machinery of the Mutual Welfare
League against the system and against
the warden" is the explanation MI
o.borne made of the affair before leav-
ing the prison for Washington "Ohiy
few of the men were in it, but those
tev srranped to use ,hc others in their
MA, When it was all over those VINO
Rad engineered the thing might be at
liberty. prison reform would have been
given black eye, the system OF self
government discredited and old condi-
tions perhaps restored.
But it did not 90 through-that Is
all"
Co far none of the men in the scheme
has been transferred away from the
u,;,on because Superintendent OF
PRISONS John r. Riley refuses 20 trans
fsr any prisoner Warden Osborne may
ask 10 have transferred unless he pre-
fers specifc charges against the man.
Under former wardens a request TO
transfer a prisoner was invariably
granted.
plotters Were "Tammanyites.'
This" said Mr.. Osborne, SIS only
another attempt TO make trouble IN
the prison. Men who should have been
sen, to Clinton long ago remain here
The idea seems TO be to have as many
trouble makers and bad eggs as pos
sible and TO transfer the men whose
presence is desirable
A. An example OF how the policy
works the case Of Peter Duly, the eN-
police sergeant sentenced for grating
IN Harlem. is cited Duffy is declared
10 he one OF the most troublesome men
in the prison and has boasted that ne
has too much Of a political pull LOT 'he
warden or any one else TO nave MN
removed. His boast was put 10 the
test yesterday when Spencer Miner
the deputy warden, asked Superintend-
ent Riley 70 transfer him. The re-
quest was refused.
The plot 10 free a number Of men.
the most dangerous nov in the prison,
Was discovered soon after the recent
election Of delegates TO the Mutual
Welfare League. The undesirable ele.
ment taking 20 itself the name OF
Tammanv Hall, selected as its slogan;
"Of with the lid, in With Iammany.
lts promise was greater liberty IN the
prison. and this bait caught many yot-
ers. Then, when the ffty-six delegates
we're chosen. the best Tammany Hall
rs.hods were followed in making up
tlS,e
This was adopted at a caucus sur
ieptitiously called and held in secret IN
one Of the shops during a rainy recre-
alton hour. At .his meeting the thirty
I've men invited agreed upon a STATE OF
line for election 10 the executive com
flftee the governing body Of the prs
onefs. Among other things this body
selects the sergeant-at-arms, who has
ne freedom Of the prison, and his
aids.
Autos To BE Ready.
Wind OF this reached the warden's
once, but IL was decided 20 let the plot
ters 90 ahead as far as they might In
consequence, the election was lively
session, some Of those who had been at
TIE caucus, but who had failed to get
place on the slate, attacking those
who had and charging bad faith. An
informal ballot, with each man voting
;or fye men, showed the slate 70 have
real minority, but on a formal ballot
ths slate had 81 votes, and was elected.
The nrst act was 20 replace John
Satper, the old sergcant-at-arms and
one OF the most trusted men in the
prison, with an East Side gang leader
who had just begun the serving a long
Term. Jasper's aids were also dis
paced and the escape programme bade
4alf 70 20 through on schedule.
me next move was 20 arrange, on a
hlshi when the delegates Of the league
met for automobiles % be near the
prison for a quick getaway. The meet
ing would be DTotracted on one pre-
tsnee or another, and In the delay and
confusion Of getting all Of the men back
% their cells and counted in the lucky
oczen were % make use Of the exit pre-
pared By the friendly members Of the
ssIgeant-at-arrns' staff.
The night the new officers Of the
league wore their shields, Principal
Keeper Dorncr warned his guards 20
bs unusually careful iu watching
ihin2s, and for some nights more men
nan usual we're on duty Meantime
warden Osborne and the better ele-
ment in the league were busy. Charge
violating prison rules were made
against the convict Who had arranged
ne caucus. The prison court, by
gplf of three % twO, dismissed the
fnafges, but On appeal the warden gus-
,sinsd them. holding the caucus 20
hsEe been Illegal because improperly
NED and automatically yoidlng the
election.
Then Jstper and his trusted deputies
. Ssrs oven back their shields Of Office
re the officers Of the prison felt