Year: 1869

Prison.
From the Providence Or. ~ Journal June "a


Charles Williams, who is now in prison awaiting
trial for burglary, and who recently made unsuc-
cessful attempt to escape tried another experiment
to accomplish his purpose on the 2st inst Since his
first effort he has been constantly confined in his
cell, except when bathing or taking exercise in the
rusty piece of old saw 1le which he used In con-
structng, out OF some of the furniture Of his cell,
machine for opening his door First he made saw
OF piece OF the iron OF which his bed frame was
constructed with which saw he could cut wood.
Then taking board forming shelf, he split it in
pieces, and made square by tying the ends of two
pieces at right angles Holding one end of this in his
hand he could thrust the square through the inter-
stices of the bars of his door, which sets in recess
in the wall, and, turning the instrument down, he
could bring the other angle on line with the Key
hole on the outward side and eighteen inches from
the inside Of the door. Next he made key-an inn
provement on his former one-from piece OF thick
lin taken from his ration dish. When new the ra-
tOn dishes have two handles, but as they get old
nj any are used with one handle. He had observed
this and taken a handle with wire in 1.-THE fact
not being noticed when the dish was removed. This
key he made had wooden pulley on the shank, and
a string made Of threads pulled from his clothing
was wound in the groove OF the wheel. The string
passed TO the angle OF the square around pivot
and along the angle held in his hand. The whole
being completed he put out his apparatus through
the grating, felt tor the keyhoe by moving his
machine until the key entered. But the key did not
ntwel, and when he pulled the string attached to
the pulley he broke the shank OF the Key leaving


orlion of 1t in the hole. An oflcer observed this
and also heard Williams eXclam when the key
broke calamity! I'm up in balloon It's all over;





AT this moment a prisoner passed his cell, TO
whom Williams whispered, 'For Gods sake pull
that key OUT His cell, however, was then exa-
mined The ball and chain had been removed from
his leg in manner truly ingenious piece OF
hard wood from his stool was fitted TO the hole in
the leg iron, and hole was made in this little
smaller than the screw, the end being served with
black linen thread When inserted and turned a


thread cut strong enough to pull the spring and
unlock the irons.


The ingenuity displayed by Williams has seldom
been equaed in the history Of prison escapes. Re-
M N
ends, and seems TO make everything subseTve his
purpose. Having nothing In his possession in the
shape OF tools but the rusty piece OF an old file,
everything else needed made from articles in his
CELL Although 6S eonvcts similar articles In their
respective cells, yet this man gives the officers in
his persistent efforts TO escape, more trouble than
all the other prisoners. His intention this
sion was secrete himself outside OF his cell and
tack the officer duty at night and, with the view
OF deceiving the watchman as he made his rounds,
Williams had arranged stuffed figure on his bed,
using for the purpose his drawers and some straw,
putting his boots the legs OF the figure, and at
tachng to it the ball and chain from which he had
so successfully cleared his own leg