New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-26
Unpleasant Chris t
mas Gift from Six
Ready for Break.
THIRD TERMER
WARNS WARDEN
Sing Sing HUNS with Yule
Joy While Escapes Are
Halted Quietly.
IRON s,.r cor,.pord.n, Of IN, rrbuns.l

Owining, y. Y, Dec. 25.-A whisker-
less Santa who wore prison gray in
stead Of reindeer red dropped into
Warden Osbornes Office to-day with a
Christmas offering that made up in i'm
portsnce what il lacked in pleasant
ness
It wasn't the kind of gift that could
Be hung on the warden's own private
tree. bought and decorated by "his
boys" Il was news a vital tip expos
ing the biggest escape plot Of the Os-
borne administration-and it was whis-
pered into his ear.
Since he didn't wish to spoil the big
lay he had been planning for the 1903
men within the walls, the warden con-
tented himself with taking precautions
10 Illustrate the break.
At least six prisoners were involved
IN the plot, and it is understood they
Intended 70 make their getaway in the
course Of the Christmas Night exer-
Uses. But if friends were waiting for
hem outside the prison with money and
change Of clothing they waited in
ain. When the cells were at last
Ioeked for the night and noses were
,Ounted the tally was still 1903.
Plot Revealed by Convict.
Nr. Osborne returned from visit TO
lfiends in Boston in the forenoon to
snd the convict Kringle nervously pac-
M the corridor outside his Office. The
nan was an oldtimer, serving his third
isrm-one Of those who know what Sing
sing was before the honor system came
and who appreciated te change. He
'ollowed the warden into the once.
81 got a Christmas present for
-ou. boss" he stammered ITS moth
a. you can wear, or eat or use for a
ernament, but it's somethin' you ought
% know. I never squealed before IN
ny life and if this wasn't Christmas
Day don't know could bring myself
10 do it now. was a long time de-
,itin', at that. But the boys all feel
hs. anybody who tries 10 escape and
70, you in bad amt entitled to any
;ourtesies'
Escape % echoed the warden,
'iartlea out Of his mantle Of Yuletide
Isniality. What's all this?"
The story came haltingly TO- the
nan who was telling it had been
brought VI in a school which teaches
hat the lowest Of all crimes is TO
iquawk" The information impaired
Ea' punctuated with philosophic bits
II 'elf-iustifcation for the imparting
On one point the informant stood
"i He would not reveal the identity
d the men who planned to escape,
although he exposed the whole scheme
1rouga which they expected TO gain
heir liberty.
haroen Osborne proceeded with his
"n eounterplans so quietly that not
: hnt Of what had transpired found
. way onto the prison grapevine ~
the the Christmas celebration went on
Hlhout hitch.
HE men had the run Of the prison
VI csy. In the morning they were
zee 10 stroll IN the yard, TO lounge
= me shops, 10 read in their cells
70 attend services in the chapel, as
1sy chose. There were three sets
services the first conducted by the
saholic chaplain, the second Prot
aAht and the third led by group
y Chust.an Scientists, who recently
tsFe gained a strong following in
Ae peniteHt.ary.
'ss. az Christmas I've had been like
/" other in Sing Sings gloomy his
Siy' 70 Christmas Day itself was
A1tIent from any which had gone be
,Ne There was hardly a man with
ne walls who did not give or re-
sNs present. Prisoners who had
Dns folks % send Christmas boxes
,ltfso their contents with others who
.s not been remembered by the out
nss world. Others, with money 70
.aeif credit IN the controllers Office.
,s4snt dozens Of cigars and sacks Of
,,oseeo % distribute among their less
N1sttte pals.
Christmas in Death House.
L'sn IN the death house the men
~ VIII zee no more Christmsses were
SS.ehsa By the good cheer which had
st"G D from the great outdoors.
shesr Miller, the deputy warden, was
~ particular Santa Claus he car
n with him into the stone walled
..ss'oom of the beyond q Christmas
tnSe FOR every one Of the twenty
,.esnntd men. Each package con-
ase box of cigarettes. a box Of
~ ard tDo oranges.
drink and be merry" remarked
S.Dhio Ponton, The Albany Law stu
- convicted Of the murder Of his
ss'sMfart lie did not complete the
~ y iller Jeff the death house he vas
tyftd ~ chorus Of "BOn Festasi"
s%r % NE half dozen Italians who are
I,a."hI their turn 70 pass through the
"',s Erssn door.
a*r Warden Osborne had taken &C.
a.. W NE eIcape plot ne started hi
ns ar N the prison Christmas BY
ls.tbg seven eonviets who had been
f~ou up IN their eslls as punishment
'1uging 70 worn Although he did
Inn