The morning call., 1894-11-11
SLABS McNULTY.
A FellOw=Convict Tries to
Kill Him
IN SAN QUENTIN PRISON.
Ex-POliCeman Smith Meets the
Murderer.
ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE Baked.
Investigation by the Prison Conn
mission Discloses a Bad State
of Affairs.
TO ESCAPE Baked.


James Collins in San Francisco and es-
caped to San Quentin prison for life with
his neck, came very near receiving some
of his own medicine" last Wednesday in
the prison Instead of being assassin
this time he was the victim, and only the
greatest good luck saved him from death.
McNulty's asSailant was Pat Smith, a
fellow-convict, who stabbed him in the
back with short knife used in the jute-
mill.
Owing to the agility of McNulty in get
ting out OF the way Smiths second
lunge failed to drive the blade into a vital
portion of the lumbar region with prob
ably fatal effect. AS it was, however
McNulty escaped with stab in the back
and blacBened face the latter from a
blow by Smith
The prison officials found it impossible
to get at the facts leading up to the muir
derous assault, and had to accept contra
dictory stories told by Smith and Nc
Nulty. There is little, if any, doubt in the
officials minds that tbe quarrel was the
climax of a feud OF old standing. Smith
used to be Il policeman on the force Of San
Francisco, and was discharged for being
drunk while on duty. After his dismissal
Smith fell in the social scale like a rocket
commit crimes against society. He COM
mltted highway robbery, was caught and
convicted, and now be is a convict in San
Quentin prison. atonlng for the otfense
McNulty met him in the County jail and
there the two criminals became acquainted
They will not own to any i'll Will between
them, and yet their actions showed II
plainly in the State prison.
Both men were taken before the State
Board of Prison Commissioners yester-
day at San Quentin and examined regard
ing the sta bbing ARRAY. The commission
got little satisfaction out of them, but re-
scinded six months credits that smith
had earned.
Smith pleaded guilty. but claimed he
acted in self-defense.
McNulty said he had heard that Smith
was told he (McNulty) had Sandered him,
so ne went to Smith TO explain, but was
not allowed to tell his story. as Smith was
greatly excited and attacked him with
knife. The atfray occurred in the prison
yard after sapper while the prisoners
were waiting for the lookup bell. Nc
Nulty first resented the attack, where
upon Smith struck him 10 the face and
made another slash at his back with the
knife. Then McNulty took to his heels
and ran for a piece of lumber, but they
were not allowed to meet again. This is
McNulty's version, but it is known that
the fight was caused by some old grudge
The wound was near the small of the
back and is not dangerous, though another
inch would have made 1t so.
George Mitchell and William Howe. two
or the most Troublesome conVics in San
Quentin, were tried by The board for re-
slstng a guard on October 8. Mitchell is
serving fourteen years and Howe i've
years for burglary. Iney forfeited one
wears credits each for acts of insubordi-
nation. Mitchell pleaded guilty and asked
for clemency, as ne had spent nineteen
DAYS in the dungeon chained to the wall
and given only bread and water. r. did
not feel well and put his supper In % his
coat pocket to take II into the cell. Guard
Kelly noticed the bulky appearance of
MitchelPs coat and tried to search il, but
tie prisoners gathered around and got the
coat away. Intercollegiate football men
would call it a Scrimmage that took place
when the cOnvicts passed the coat and ac-
tualIy held up Guard Kelly. The gar
ment disappeared after being last seen
by the guard in Howe's grasp. Boh men
lost three months credits, and in addition
to this punishment Howe was committed
TO the dungeon for sixty days and Mitchell
for thirty days, there to ponder on their
evil ways and exist on simple menu of
bread and water.
Prisoner McCaferty lost three months
credits for carving a package of opium
from Prisoner Williams in the restaurant
to the cells. Williams lost six months
credits for his connection with the opjum
Al Z ~
life term al san Quentin for stage robbery
and murder IN Shasta County, tried TO
escape on October %. He cut a bar, and
after removing it dropped through WIN
dow, but ii so happened that Guard Brown
was outside al the time ana grabbed Sykes.
Joe Grant, a convict who stabbed
Charles johnson on October Is in the yarn.
pleaded self-defense. johnson and be los,
six months credit for their conduct
Grant told the commission he had been
garroted by johnson and another prisoner.
VINO took some money, toothbrush and
silk handkerchief from him in the lower
yard. Half an hour later he stabbed john
son in the throat with pair of scissors.
Chairman Devlin asked whether he wa.
allowed to carry scissors.
1--WE are now" was the reply. 'shnt wa
used to have to keep them on the board in
the jutemill Lately we have been allowed
to carry them in our pockets. We use
them in the mill"
Warden Hale denied that prisoners were
permitted TO carry jutemill scissors or
knives of any kind.
How long is it since you were allowed
10 carry the scissors?" Commissioner De-
Pue asked.
81 can't tell" replied Grant, "but it is
some time"
The board bought 5000 bales of iutp.
weighing about 400 pounds each, at 2 80
cents a pound from a local firm which
acts as agents for Calcutta exporters.
Bills amounting to $978f "a for last mon tn