The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-18
CONVICTS ON
THE VERGE
OF REVOLT
Officials of San Quentin Pen
itentiary Marked for
Assassination.
EDGAR WILL NOT ACT
Marin's Sheriff Swears in Depu
ties to Prevent the Lynching
Of 0ppenheimer.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

Special Dispatch to The Call.
Tuesdays tragedy at San QOen-
tin Prison IS, 1T woUId seem from
the indications, but the forerunner
of series. Desperate conWcts
in the prison, in state of almost
open revolt, are threatening the
lives of guards and prison off,
Gals, andno steps have been taken
to restrain them.
On the other hama, the stu6bnq
of Guard Mcdonald BY Open
heimer has so stirred public feel
ing IN Marin County that the clh-
zens have already organized a Wg-
lance committee to lynch the con-
Wct when he is taken to San Ra-
fae/ for trial.
y AN QUENTIN PRISON, May IL
When Guard James Mcdonald
was assaulted with knife and
~ stabbed seven times by Convict
Jacob Oppenheimer it was prophe-
sled by those familiar with the circum-
stances that only the most drastic
measures would prevent others losing
their lives. This prophecy was seen to
20 Of a
volt being SO plain that even a blind
man might realize that a crisis was
near at hand Five men are in con-
stant danger, among them being DR.
Lawlor, the prison physician.
Guard McDonalds condition is such
tonight that it is deemed a question of
only a few hours when his life will be
at an end. The knowledge of this fact
has so infuriated the rest of the guards
and the friends of Mcdonald in San
Rafael that it is a serious question
whether Oppenheimer will ever be tried
for the murder. A number of men are
already banded together for the pur-
pose of lynching the murderer when ne
is taken to San Rafael for trial, and
Sheriff Taylor, who became acquainted
with the condition of affairs this even
ing, has sworn in twenty-five men in
order to be in a position to cope with
the would-be lynchers when the time
arrives for the Marin County authori-
ties to take the case of the desperate
criminal in hand.
1t is now known that the murderous
assault on Mcdonald was planned two
weeks ago, the chief conspirators being
Oppenheimer, Jack O'Nein. a.
life timer, and John Phillips. alias
Frisco Slim Oppenheimer and
Frisco Slim were in the dun
geon together and both were re-
leased at the same time, about ten days
ago. While incarcerated in the dungeon
Oppenheimer was overheard to say that
he intended to kill Mcdonald upon the
first opportunity that was presented.
while Phillips said that the man for
whom his knife was intended was a
guard from San Rafael, named Henry
Moller That the convicts generally
were acquainted with the intention of
these villains was evidenced Yesterday
when the word went through the lutte
mill that a guard had been slain.
Frisco Slim has killed Henry Mol
ler," was the sentence that passed from
breaker to breaker, and many of the
convicts openly expressed their sur
prise when they learned that instead of
Moller it was Mcdonald who had been
stabbed.
The convicts in the jute mill were so
surly to-day and obeyed orders so
grudgingly that the slim force of
guards became alarmed, and after
consultation decided the condition WA
so alarming that unless something were
done it would be really a suicidal pro-
position for them to remain on duty.
Both O'Neill and Frisco Slim" were so
open in their threats that several of
the TRUSTEES became cognizant of the
danger ahead for the guards and ac-
ouainted them with their perilous posi-
tion.
The chief man threatened is DR.. Lave
lor. Only two months ago Frisco
Slim" made a savage assault on him IA
the hospital department, and but fe1
the interference of another convict
murder might have been committed at
that time DR.. Lawlor was lucky
enough to extricate himself from dan
eerous position and his assailant was
incarcerated in the dungeon. In view
of his intractable nature and the trou
bIe previously given by Phillips, the
Prison Directors ordered him placed in
the dungeon. He was kept there until
fen days ago, when he was released by
order of Captain of the Yard ]. G. Ed
gar. AS soon as DR.. Lawlor was ap- .
nrised of the release he went to Captain
Edgar and told that official the man
was desperate and had threatened to
kill him Oawlor) on the first oppor-
ho q
dungeon until he became humbled.
Director Devlin was quoted as saying
Frisco Slim deserved six months
solitary confinement.
"Oh. that's all right, retorted the
captain. You go and see the fellow
and have talk with him and things