The San Francisco call., 1897-06-26
TINY SAWS FOUND
IN WORDEN'S CELL
Attempted Jail Break
Prevented by Folsom
Officials.
Steel Tools Hidden Beneath a
Plaster on the Condemned
Mans Back.
Conspiracy Discovered After His
Acoonnplices Had Cut Through
Iron Bars.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, June 25-An at
tempt at Jail delivery has been discovered
at the branch prison at Folsom. Salter
ID. Worden, the convicted train wrecker,
and several other prisoners are impli-
Gated. Worden had concealed upon his
person six fine steel saws, fabricated from
watchsprings which were to be used in
saving the locks from the cells and the
doors from the building in order that the
wards Of the State might again breathe the
air of liberty. The saws were found this
morning beneath courtplaster on Wor-
den's back.
Preparations for the escape have been
in progress since May %, when two of the
most desperate prisoners were committed
to the dungeons for some infraction of
the prison rules. Following their incar-
ceration a mum Der OF their close comrades
committed various misdemeanors in order
to be confined in the dungeons, and the
suspicious of Warden Aull and the prison
officials became aroused at this evidently
precon certed desire to incur such punish
ment and they determined to await de-
velopments.
1t is claimed that on the evening of
June 10 Chief of the Night Watch SeaweH,
hearing suspicious sounds from the cell of
Morton, one of the occupants of the dun
geons, made search and found that the
prisoner had been cutting through the
cement floor of his dungeon with drills
stolen from the power-house. He found
several letters which detailed fully the
plot to escape, in which all those who had
purpoEely got themselves committed TO
the dungeons were to engage. They could
carry out this plot without much risk of
detection, since the dungeons are kept
locked day and night. These letters dis
closed the fact that on the grounds out
side the prison arms had been planted by
q confederate on the outside. Certain
prisoners were 10 "sneak" these arms
from their hiding place and secrete them
in a refuse barrel near the dungeon cor.
ridor. The plan was that Morton should
cut his way out, IiberAte the other dun
geon prisoners and with them ovsrpower
the night watch, with the aid of the pis-
IOls, and escape.
After this discovery it was decided to
remove some of the men TO the con-
demned ward, and they were placed in
cells directly under those occupied by
Warden, Berg and Barthieman, who are
all under sentence of death.
Last night spicious sounds were heard
in these new quarters, and this morning a
search brought to light the fact that
convict named Wilson had made consid-
cradle progress in the work of saving a
square aperture In his door, which would
be large enough to permit him TO pass
through. No tools OF any description
could be found in Wilson's cell, and how
he could perform this job without their
aid mYstitied the officers. They searched
the adjoining cells, but could find nothing
As last resort the Warden this morning
1t m n IA pad
dor brought out and stripped.
There was porous plaster on Worden's
back, which was removed, revealing BE-
tween the plaster and the flesh six fine
steel saws, made with the aid of a fi!e out
of a watch spring, and each about six
slippers were found two pieces of iron,
fixed together, used as a handle for the
saws, and file
Ali of the prisoners shoes were cut up.
In the shoes of Wilson were found hiding
places for the tools, by which means he
had brought them 10 the new quarters
Wilson, IL was found, worked at night on
the door OF his cell, while Worden Sc
creted the tools on his person during the
day, hosting them by means of string
dropped down to his wicket each night by
Wilson.
The plan of the prisoners was to let
wilson escape by means of the aperture in
the door, go 10 the cell of Woroen and cut
the hasp of his door paddock, thus freeing
him. The pistols In the barrel would be at
hand, and with their aid it was proposed
to oVerpower the one or two guards on
duty there Iberste the other prisoners
and all escape by means of the skylghts
on the roof, to which they would be able
TO gain access.
All Of the articles in Worden's room
have been replaced by others, and all the
usual privileges denied him.