The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-13

ON a solitary cell Of the dungeon at
San Quentin, manacled and shackled
to a stone wall, rests Albert Ross,
convict who passed through this city
yesterday in charge Of Sheriff Mat
thew Stewart Of Santa Barbara, to
serve ten years for burglary. 1t Will not
be his fault II he is not murderer, but
the only thing that worries him is that
by smearing his hands with the blood OF
fellow man he did not regain his liberty.
In a hospital at San Luis Obispo lies
W. J. Ward Deputy Sheriff of San Diego
County, with bruised and battered head.
the victim of Ross desperate attempt TO
regain his freedom. the probability being
that the brave officer will never again IN
this life gaze on the features of his wife
and three little children.
Sheriff Stewart related a bloody tale
when he reached the prison yesterday OF
the attack Of Ross on Deputy Sheriff
Ward. Ward left San Diego Saturday on
the steamer Santa Rosa in charge Of
Ross, and was Joined at Santa Barbara
by Sheriff Stewart, who had in custody
Andrew Castro, a Mexican sentenced to
san Quentin for two years for grand
larceny. Castro was formerly sentenced
for ten years, but was granted new
trial on appeal to the Supreme Court,
with the result that eight years were cut
off his term Of Imprisonment.
When the party of two officers and two
prisoners reached Port Hartford at 2
o'clock Saturday afternoon: they were
standing on the upper deck. Ross ex-
pressed a desire to lie down. and was
taken to his stateroom by Ward. Fifteen
minutes later Stewart was amazed to
hear his name called and. upon looking
over the side Of the vessel 10 see Ross,
stu shackled, swimming in the water.
Ross was reached with a rope, hoisted
u Knocked him on the head, was the
laconic reply.
Running to the stateroom door and find
ing it locked, Stewart brokeit in and found
Ward lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
He was given medical treatment but on
regaining consciousness became delirtous
and begged those around him to keep the
fend away.
Don't let him hit me again."
The injured officer was taken to San
Luis Obispo, and shortly before Sheriff
Stewart left the prison he received a dis
patch that Ward could not live until
morning.
In relating the tale of the assault to
Stewart. Convict Ross gave the following
coidblooded description OF what occurred
after he left the upper deck.
Ward sat in a chair he said, and
lay on the bunk. In a few minutes l saw
he was nodding and taking the heavy
glass bottle CONTAINING water prepared
three times to hit him, but my nerve fail
ed me AT the fourth attempt I gave II
to him square and with all my might. He
Jumped and grabbed me by the arm, beg
eing me 10 quit but I kept on pummelng
him until he sank to the floor. Then |
took a revolver, a bunch Of keys and $50
out Of his pockets and going outside lock-
ed the door. Hiding in another stateroom
] tried to unlock my shackles, but found
the key was missing. I was afraid to. go
back, so sliding down a rope, I started
to swim. After going thirty feet 1 found
that with the shackles l had either TO re-
turn or drown so came back and called
you"
If Ward dies, which is probable, Ross