The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-14
A Convict Slabs a Fellow
Prisoner
BECAUSE HE WAS ROBBED.
Revenge Drives Victim to a
MurderOus Deed.
CRIMES WITHIN SAN QUENTIN.
Two Convicts Garroted Their COM
panions in the Yards for Money
to Buy Opium.
CRIMES WITHIN SAN QUENTIN.

San Quentin prison was thrown into
state of Intense excitement Friday even
ing by a desperate encounter between tw o
convicts. The affray was a bloody culml-
nation of a startling series of garrotlng
outrages which had been taking place for
some time past within the walls OF the con-
Wet Enlistment.
AS the prisoners were passing from the
dining hall to their cells, one convict
turned on another and slashed him saw
agely with short knife. Though the
deed was witnessed by many of the con-
victs, not one of them would speak about
II under any consideration.
The reason for this silence is only too
well known to the prison officials. For
convict to give information regarding
FELLOW prisoner is looked upon by San
Quentin society as high treason and sutfi-
cient grounds for garroting.
Owing to the peculiar nature of this
assault and what led up TO it all other sub
iects are temporarily forgotten by the
prisoners. while 1t is common cause Tor
talk among the guards. CCnvicts had be-
come terrorized by the frequent repeti ion
of rObberies on the warden's highway
that leads from the dining hall to the cell
buildings. These crimes, committed In
the very heart of the prison, strange to
say, could not be detected by the guards.
although happening every other night for
two weeks. or Whereabouts. So when the
convict who was credited with being the
chief garroter was waylaid Friday evening
by a supposed victim and had his beauty
spelled with iutemill knife, the greatest
excitement followed.
The sta bbed convict is Charles Johnson,
No. 1878, Imprisoned March l, 1880. for
ten years for a burglary he committed 10
San Francisco. He was previously In San
Quentin under the name OF McDerm0tt,
aud Is supposed TO be an incorrigible char
acter-"the worst in the prison., as he is
classed by the guards.
The prisoner who is believed TO have as
saulted him is Jesse Grant, undergoing
punishment for burglary in this city.
johnson had a omDanion in his recent
exploIts-prlsoner 1914, James Riley.
They were well selected pair. Riley was
sentenced in Alameda on May 16. 1854. TO
fourteen years in San Quentin for attempt
ing TO rob an old man. The crime was
committed just six days after he had been
discharged from Folsom State prison. He
was locked no in the dungeon yesterday
pending further inves tigati0us.
1t appears that johnson and Riley are
victims of the opium habit. They quickly
became pals in the jutemill at San Quen-
tin. When the source of supply for their
opium was cut eff and thew had no money
to replenish their stock these two WORTHLESS
act OF men driven desperate. being moth
ing more nor less than the robbery of fell
low-convic:s in the prison itself.
Recently the officers were astonished
from day to day at hearing reports of con-
victs being stood np and garroted In broad
daylight. Investigations proved futile, for
the culprits could not be detected. AS
nearly all cases reported seemed alike,
the captain of the guard concluded that
most of the work was done by the same
two men.
Usually a prisoner was grabbed from
behind. The assailant Invariably brought
his arm under his victims chin and caught
him DIV the neck. Immediately another
convict went through the hapeSs fellows
pockets and deprived him OF whatever
money he had. In accordance with time
honCred ethics of the road. the victim was
ordered t. march on without looking back.
That many convicts saw these Tobberles is
considered certain, as at the hour for
robbng they are always present In the
two yards in large numbers.
The fav0rite spot for garr0ting was at a
stairs leading from the lower yard 10
where the cell buildings are situated. And
it was there, too. that johnson was
stabbed.
Thursday evening Jesse Grant was held
uD while going to his cell. The robbers
were johnson and Riiey. and they relieved
Grant of about Sc in cash. Grant knew he
had no redress for il is breach of prison
rules for a prisoner to have money in his
possession But either he or friend OF
his among the convicls was avenged.
About the same hour Friday evening"
G'clock-Jahnson was assaulted, it is be-
lieyed by Grant. The short, sharp knife
slashed across his chin. cutting deep from
the chin along the face and slightly under
meath toward his ear. In the struggle his
coat and vest were cut 20 pieces, but be
escaped further Injury by holding his as
Saiant at bay until other conyicts sepa-
rated them.
johnson was in the hospital Yesterday
with his ugly wound bandaged up. He
refused to spaak about the encounter.
The doctor SAID it was evident from the
wound that the knife was in tended for
Johnson's throat.
Strietest secrecy regarding the robbsries
and murdernus assault was observed nv
IrIson ofic ais, one of whom remarked
when asked about them:
These fellows here would garrote YOU
for an annie - , -