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Attempj^to Burn tta Auburn Prison.A Supposed Plot Dlscovered»--Tlie! In-ceddiary Shot, - i[From iiic Auburn Advertiser of Friday.]A most determined and probably ‘well studied attempt to destroy the'Stte prison in this city, with a supposed view tolt; releasing the convicts, was foiled on Thursday by the promptness and executive ibili-ty of the officers in charge. - !As our information goes, the instigator and ringleader of the plot is an Irislimacr named Kaley, confined on a sentence for incendiarism and committed from Watertown, JrftVrson county. After the prisoners bad heen marched into the dining-room for dinner; Kaley was1 excused from table on account .of feigned indisposition, and hnd leave to go into the yard. Up proceeded at once to the tool shop, where he was. employed, and Immediately began overturning the cqal stoves, of which several are required to warm the premises^ scattering the btirning coals by shovelfuls among the Chips and shavings mi the floor, there being nobody present but one of the foremen, Mr’ Samufcl Sheldon, who being busily engaged in eating his dinner, failed to.,see what' wras going on until Kaley stole siljantly toward hitn from behind with a murderous looting knife when the forerpan was wjtrned of his approach by a slight noise, and sprang to his fee tin season to escape, Finding it impossible to arrest the incendiary, Mr, Sheldonran up to the keepers! hall and gave the a-lnrm, when a party was dispatched to the shop, whore the infuriated convict had been improving the brief time by ascending to the second floor and throwing down a mass, ofstrivings through a trap-door, to aid in thework of destruction.Before the flames had gained any considerable progress, however, the party arlrived at the scene, and the various fires werp extinguished, Kaley was commanded to surrender to the keepers, but refused, and evinced aj determination to fight it out, brandishing Ms weapon defiantly, perhaps expecting to gain time for the arrival of assistance from his' fellow plotters, who, however, failed to appear, and be was shot down and secured, iiis wound, from a revolver ball, was a little to the left; and just below the heartj, but has not as yet proved fatal. He was alive this (Friday) morning, but Very weak.It is reported that lie confesses • to other convicts being engaged in the diabolical plot to hum i h • prison, and will divulge the. whole all,air.’ Kaley has been subject to fits of mental 'depression, but was considered, in prison parlance, “a good man,” never having been punished for any misdemeanor during his■confinment.The report of this'affair created great ex-citomen among our citizens and the usual variety of reports circulate in regard* to |t. The probabilities favor the idea that the scheme was intended to create an alarm by the burning of the prison, and as the firfe-men and citizens entered the gates to extinguish the fire, the convicts Were to rush out and make their escape in the confusion.Whatever truth there may be in this supposition will be developed soon, and if the facts prove that a'plot really existed, its prompt suppression and the consequent's strata tion of this important Sttto institutionwill have been a matter of deep congratulation to its officers and the government. '1BATER*At noon to-day Kaley Was quite comfortable and lively, notwithstanding the i^ct that tho Ipill remained unextracteu. liedivulges the fact, that suits .of citizensdoilies hnd hcon furnished himsejf ijna tj,companion by some party outside,: * 'The clothes wero hidden away J to bp* donned when tho rush of firemen and others shouldset in through the gates, at which time the . .. .. . , ... •plotters were to mingle with the crowd, in; their disguise, and if necessary, wfere amplyprepared to cut CGeir way out- :ijKaley has served eight years of the tenfor a Inch he was sentenced. •We ae unable to leirn, as yet, -that more than the t-vo men above spoken I or wereconferne-1 in tliti project of escape, Aougliamong so many turbulent spirits there is jja’fii likelihood that they were not alpno in'the undertaking.
Newspaper Details
Elmira Daily Advertiser
Elmira, New York, US
Tue, Feb 11, 1868
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 03 Apr 2024
Other Publications Near Elmira, New York
Elmira College Weekly
Elmira Gazette
Elmira Daily Bazoo
Elmira Sunday Telegram
Elmira Advertiser
