The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1824-10-19 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED ESCAPE PROM PRISON.  Monday last, Telford. who is now confined in Appleby gaol on a charge of forgery, and Charles O'Neil, convietiAl at the lam Westmorland Assizes for robbing a spirit cellar, attempted to escape, and also to murder a fellow.prisoner, an old man, who had been convicted of petty larceny. I. or many days previous, the governor, Mr. Thwaites, had been upon the 100k-out, suspecting something wrong. Monday seemed favourable to the projects of the prisoners, being a stormy day. On letting the prisoners out of'' their Mill/ in the morning, they observed to the governor that it was an uncommonly bad day. " said the latter. " and although it is so bad, I shall have to go as far as }trough." This was said to throw the prisoners off their guard, thinking they would immediately commence operations upon the supposition that he I had left home. The result justified his opinion. Mr. Thwaites continued to watch for several hours, exposed to the storm. Mr. Towers posted himself on the chapel steps, from whence he could see any person ascend the walls of the prison. Others were stationed on the outside of the gaol. About two in the afternoon, an outcry was heard from the felons' yard, and the governor burst in upon them. The old man was calling for assistance. He informed Mr. Thwattes of what had passed. The other two prisoners had carried on their o;,erations, as they thought, unknown to ..he old man, who had over heard the following conversation between them : Telford said, " I am afear'd, Charley, the old man will raise the alarm." O'Neil—" Oh, d—n the old hlarkguanl, a single blow will do for him ; but how shall we do when we get to the other side? the alarm may be given by some person, and we may be taken again." 'felfoni—" The devil o' bit o' that. Charley ; if we were once fairly on the other side, they might whistle for us." The old man was sitting near to the fire, his head resting upon one of his hands, the other covering an eye which he had recently lost the use of. Ile fancied he saw the prisoners creeping be. hind him upon their hands and knees; and being terrified, jumped upon his feet, and perceived Charley close upon him, whit his Bat uplifted in order to strike him, when he called out, " Surely, Charles, you will not murder me." The prisoners then said, that if he made the least noise they would do for him ; but watching hit opportunity, he made a spring into the yard, and called out, as already stated. Mr. Thwaites searched the prisoners, and found twined about Charley's body a rope ladder of exquisite workman. ship, manufactured out of a piece of linen cloth, which had been purchased for Telford fur a shirt. It was about seven yards long, and at the extremity was fixed, in the most secure manner, an iron crook, made from two clog-caulkers. The steps were about two feet asunder, and made from the wood of a pair of bellows which they had cut up for the purpose, and the feet of a wooden stooL The spikes which surmount the walls ernes each other at right angles, and were therefore well calculated fur retaining a firm hold of the crook, and thereby facilitating their escape. The old man had been put into a rlace of safety, and the offending parties securely ironed. Telford observes great taciturnity. On the failure of their plan all that he said was, "U —n the old blackguard." He Is thirty-six years of age; about five feet tett inches high; but a most powerful and athletic man.