Glasgow Courier. — 1847-09-02 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

ESCAPR PROM THE COUNTY PRISON.  On Monday last a most daring and violent, though fortunately unsuccessful, attempt was made by the convicts under sentence of death, Larkin, Daniel, and Walsh, to escape from the county jail. At about half-past nine o'clock in the morning the transport convicts, who occupy cella adjoining thaw of the murderers, were removed to one of the yards, and the three unhappy men were then let out of their cells, and the whole corridor left open to them, in order that they might either pray together or take exercise. One of the turnkeys, named Lee, was engaged In removing the break. fist things from the cells, when the three prisoners followed him to the door, and just as he had unlocked it to take his departure from the corridor, Larkin called out, "Now, you thief, I have you-come on boys;" the villain then immediately struck Lee on the head with a stone which he had had concealed in his bosom. The turnkey seized Larkin, and knocked the stone out of his hand, but immediately received some severe kicks in the ribs, hip, and shins; and, fearing that he would be murdered, he ran down the stairs, 'hotly pursued by the three convicts. At the foot of the stairs, a side debt, whielvled to the front of the prison by a long yard, was lying open, and Lee endeavoured to get out and shut it after him, but Larkin again struck him with another stone, which he also took from his bosom, cut his head severely, and knocked him down. At this moment one of the prisoners, confined under former rules, came to Lee's assistance, and disarming Larkin .of the stone, succeeeed in shutting the door. At the same moment the governor heard Lee's cries, and immediately gave notice to the police stationed at the jail, and locked a door of communication bets een the yard where Lee lay and the front of the jail. The murderers, disappointed in their first object, and being of course quite desperate, made their way into the north passage, where they mixed with the other convicts and used every effort to force their way into No. 10 yard, Where the smith's forge is situate, for the purpose, as they now confess, of arming themselves with the sledges and iron bars therein contained. They were here, however, encountered by the police, who, aided by Corrigan, the head and another turnkey, as well as s Inc of the prisoners, but not without the greatest difficulty, and after a violent struggle, succeeded in conveying them to their cells and placing them in handcuffs and leg-irons. The governor was, during the struggle, engaged in loading the policemen's guns, in case of a general revolt amongst the prisoners, when they might be requisite. The murderers, two of whom (Larkin and Daniel) are to be hanged this day, are heavily ironed, and a guard of police, by the shetiff's orders, has been placed upon them. The unfortunate wretches have confessed to the governor that they were long meditating plans of escape. Their first plot was to be put into effect upon a Sunday whilst at lease. They were suddenly to rise and kill the two attending turnkeys, Corrigan and Murphy, and then, with the assistance of the other convicts, to endeavour to force their way out of the prison. This plan, however, they subsequently abandoned in favour of that in which they failed of success. They intended to kill Lee whilakin their COI ridor, and when another turnkey should come to see what kept his comrade, they intended to murder hint also, and so on with all the officers in succession as one came to look for the other, till they had disposed of the governor himself, though they say that they always hoped Mr. Robins would not come to the cell, as they did nut wish to put him to death. It is presumed that the villains obtained the stones through the connivance of some of the trans. port convicts, who must have brought them in from the day-yard, and left them concealed in their cells. Thirteen of these prisoners, supposed, upon good grounds, to have been concerned in the conspiracy, are also iu irons. It is intended to recommend such of the prisoners as aided the police to the Government for a mitigation of their sentences.  able  CONFESSION op THE THREE CULPRITS Of AN ATROCIOUS ATTEMPT TO MURDER THE opticians OF