The San Francisco call., 1899-03-26

terviewS with the head Of the prison,
but the latter remained inf1exible.
Two weeks later the Warden came to
San Francisco with the intention of re-
pairing his political fences He learned
something that put him on the anxious
seat for he found it necessary to make
several more visits. What he did or
said nobody seems to know. but it was
only a short while before the guards
began to drift back to the saloons
again Now a casual visitor can drop
into the rear room of Robinson's at any
time and see the guards enjoying them
selves at the same old stand and in
the same old way.
That Gage has heard of this seems
certain in view of the fact that he re-
Gently approached a Director in this
city and asked when the next election
for Warden was to be held. He was
told that April was the day, and in
return asserted that he intended to take
a hand in the game himself and wanted
to consult with the board prior to that
day. The saloon proposition affords
legitimate excuse for the politicians
antagOnistic to Hale. for a good many
guards have been discharged on ac-
count of drunkenness and for going to
sleep on duty after imbibing too freely.
Again, prisoners have been released and
known to have spent ali their money
in one or other of the places, with the
result that they reached this city pen
niless and soon found themselves be-
hind the bars for vagrancy.
Gage is known to have promised
Martin Aguirre, former Sheriff of Los
ha va in the r
denship, and the latter does not wish
to wait a year to become Warden of
Folsom.
Not only has the aged head of San
Quentin prison had to worry over the
antipathy shown him by Gage. but he
has other troubles of a nature border
ing on the domestic. Captain j. c. Ed
gar. who has charge of the prison yard,
is at outs with the Warden and has
been for two years. The trouble be-
tween the two has resulted in constant
clashing Edgar has frequently con-
Quoted himself toward Hale in such
manner that he would have been speed
lily consigned to another walk in life
were it not for fear on the part of
Hale that he would find the action
boomerang.
The latest instance of the contempt
shown by Captain Edgar for his su-
perior is the manner in which Hale
was thrown down" before the convicts
who were charged with conspiring to
break out of the penitentiary and were
cast into the dungeon. Hale now has
all the credit-dubious as It is-for be-
ing duped by Sir Harry Westwood
Cooper, the cunning schemer who
planned to get himself a pardon by
playing the part of stool pigeon, but
if common prison talk is to be taken
for anything Hale was not only fooled
by Cooper but by Edgar as we'll.
This story, which has been traced
back and found true in fact and IN
detail, is to the effect that for all Hale
knew of the intended outbreak until
the night the convicts were thrown into
the dungeon, they might have mur-
dered every guard in the prison, hber-
ated all the prisoners and flooded the
State with thousand criminals of the
most vicious character to be found in
side the walls of a penitentiary.
Ten days before the intended out
break-accepting Cooper's tale as true
Edgar received a confession from Coop
er. He said not a word to Warden
Hale. but held a conference with Coop
er every day. His idea in this was
plainly to take all the credit of cir
cumventing the conspiracy himself, and
he proceeded with this end in view.
On the night the conspirators were
thought to be in a fair way to make
the intended break Edgar found that
the Warden must be notified. and go
fod h ha
state Of affairs. Hale was naturally
furious that a subordinate had shown
such contempt for his authority. but
was in some measure Modified by the
statement of Edgar that he had with
held the facts from the Warden on ac-
count of the ill-health of the latter and
did not want to see him worried until
the plan was nipped in the bud. Hale
Immediately ordered the men placed in
solitary confinement.
When the next meeting of the Board
of Prison Directors was held Hale did
all he could to prevent Guard Shields
from getting chance to exonerate
himself from the charge, by 1nnuendo,
that he had aided in the plan of escape.
He tacitly admitted that he had been
bunkoed by Cooper by saying at that
meeting that he was going to put
Cooper in the dungeon with the others.
and thus gave Gage other reasons for
antagonizing him for reelection. But
the most significant fact was the alb
sence from the meeting of Captain Ed
gar, which prevented the conspiracy
from being investigated. Fortunately
for all concerned, Edgar was taken i'll
few days before the meeting, and
nothing could be done until April 8,
the day of the appointment of new
Warden Edgar is a personal friend
of Lieutenant Governor Jacob Neff.
who has stood behind him at all times.
1t was for fear Of the influence Neff
might exercise over Gage that
Hale did not make quick work of Ed
gar as soon as he found that he had
been fooled by the so-called conspiracy.
Between Cages candidate for War
den. the impending struggle over the
election of a Democratic Director. the
mutual antipathy of Hale and Edgar
and the desire Of the Democrats for
the patronage of the penitentiaries in
retaliation for Cages attitude over
IL.