Year: 1870

Wilson, tho Murderer Of tho Warden Of the


Connecticut State Prison - Interesting


Acrount of His Escape from tho Ohio


Penitentiary.


From the New Haven Register, Nov. 14.l


Mers o
works this city, has been OF the opinion that he
knew Wilson as an employe, while foreman Of the
DAYS since he visited Wethersheid and, upon con-
sultlng, Deputy Warden Martin. an interview was
stopped at the cell door, when Wilson at once
arose and called him BY name. The inter-
yet good deal was SAID. Mr.. Chambers
told him he that suspected him OF being
up and sec him Wilson expressed himself pessea s
and recalled some incidents OF his Ohio
experience. He said that after he broke
shop spent the night in cutting out suit Of clothes
and then took to the woods where he spent several
SAFE and boldly took the train for The East III It hap hap
pened that Mr. Chambers was travelling East at the
same time, and at the mteryiew in Wethersield! he
incidents that occurred on the train 1t turns out
that he travelled allone.day the same train with his
Tor few NON snts, as he saw MIR. Chambers speaS
to o policeman standing on the platform. Upon
being reminded OF dae ss circumstance Mr. Chambers
less, one suspected him Of being fellow pas.
senger. Ihe time beng up the Deputy Warden
New Haven. 1t seems that Mr.. CHAMBERS was fore
man in the OHIO prison, at Columbus, when Wilson
Sentenced to six Years. fsr bureaTg eG
In Cleveland. Wilson (whom we will Kentley, which
Is said to be mis- right name was at once sent the
work OF 1t, and pretended that he knew nothing
about the business. The foreman, however, knew
handling OF the chisel that could not be disguised
Before noon OF the first day he told Kentey that he
had cut files before and that his laundering opera
ti0ns with the chsc could not deceive any work.
man. Kentley then owned up but avowed mis- de.
termination never TO do any work In that depart
ment. He said, "Go and tell the warden that viii
net cut files for him or any other man. The fore
man reported the case and the refractory prisoner
was placed In the e dungeon where he stayed forty
dying, the laws Of OHIO provide that no prisoner
shall be lett to die IN his cell. It appears that for
ley refused to take fosd. 1t was passed into the
dark cell every day. and the usual questions asked as
to whether M h ne was ready 70 cut les BY this abs


speak. The prison physician at last directed his
mova to the hospital ana BY careful attention he was
time sworn vengeance on the warden, Mr.. Chambers
was requested to communicate with him and ascer-
tan @ a MS de o crE e Kny s tS
He recommended operations, but In o few days COM
planned that the strap which passed under his toot
TED his foot at night on purpose to get relieved. II
80 his scheme was successful for he was sent into
at nome. It was while in this shop he planned
hls remarkable escape in April, 1860 The plan was
the same as the one adopted by the Confederate
Colonel John Morgan In the early part or the war.
Morgan gained access to the long air chamber which
runs the entire length OF the prison. underneath the
lower cells, then broke through tine foundation,
scaled the walls by means OF gate grating, and
then descended with rope, which he made from
bedtickfng. Kentley says That he was three months
engaged In this work. Like Morgan, he was con-
fined In one Of the lower cells He first dug through
The solid brick and cement door, and gaiaed an en-
trance to this air chamber. 1his work had, OF
course to be done nights and in the brief absence
OF the watchman, who passed the cell at stated in
tervals The RUBBISH he carried out IN his pockets
when going to work, and disposed Of 1t as
ne had an opportunity. When once in the long air
chamber the road was clear to the foundation wall.
Digging through this wall he describes as tedious.
He spent about Six hours each night In the work,
and Of course could not be present his cell when
The watchman passed. His absence must not be de-
tected, and to this end he made dummy" man
ana placed 1t In bed AS the result or his three
months labor he removed the last obstruction, and
craWled through the foundation wall into the yard.
BY means OF the grated gate he ascended TO the top
OF the yard WALL Now he must test the strength of
cord made out Of pieces Of thread, saved at
various times from the tailor's shop, Tho cord
broke and Kentley got twenty foot 1all which ne
had not bar0alned for. Although severely injured,
no got away In the darkness, concealed himself In
the woods and left tho State in tho manner detailed
In the early part OF this article.