Evening journal., 1903-07-28
C0NVICTS FIGHT
WAY TO LIBERTY
Desperate Criminals Escape
From Prison After Booldy
Battle With Officials
OUF EIIARO gIllER TWIN INlIIRED

Desperadoes Used Officers For Shields
and, Securing Arms and Ammuni-
tiOn, Escaped-state Troops Called
Out.
Sacramento, Cal. July 2S.--1 hirteen
desperate prisoners confined In the
Folsom penitentiary made a successful
break for liberty. After fierce fight
in the captains Office, during which
Turnkey Cochrane was fatally stabbed
William Cotter, guard. killed, and an
other officer wounded, the c@victs
seized arms and ammunition, and using
the warden and other officers as
shields, escaped. 1t is believed they
are making for the Bald Mountain.
State troops ordered out b. Governor
Pardee have gone to the scene.
The convicts went to the office OF X.
]. Murphy, captain of the guard and
seized Warden wilkinson, his grand
son, Harry Wilkinson; Captain Muir
ply and several other officers and
guards. A desperate fight took place.
The convicts were armed with knives
and razors. and with these they as
sailed Warden Wilkinson and his Off
GERS. The warden's clothing was
slashed into shreds with a razor but
the blade did not touch the flesh.
Turnkey Cochrane fought the conyicts
with a chair, raining blows upon them
right and left. Finally he was felled
by a knife thrust in the back. Guard
Cotter was disemboweled by a cut in
the abdomen, and he died later. Guard
Palmers was severely cut in the head
The floor of the Office was covered
with blood.
The officers were easily outnumbered
and were soon relieved Of their arms.
Then. using the officers as shields, the
convicts started for the armory on the
outskirts Of the penitenuary grounds,
They passed a Calling gun on one Of
the walls. but the guards were afraid
to shoot at the convicts for fear Of
killing the prison officials. When the
armory was reached officers there at
tempted to interfere, but were quickly
0verpowered, and the cOnvicts, after
fortifying themselves further with
rifles. knives, pistols and ammunition,
made a dash for the country.
Convicts, each armed with rifles
marched one on either side of War
der wilkinson, who was threatened
with death II he made an attempt to
escape. and the officers were told that
If any of the pursuers took the life OF
one OF their number that they would
retallate. life for life At Mormon
Bridge. about mile from the peniten.
tiary. the warden, his grandson and
Captain Murphy were released and senl
back. The others were marched alone
with the convicts.
Further on. the convicts went to
farmers house. seized his four horse
team and wagon, stripped the house
of all its portable valuables, took tho
farmer with them as a driver anC
headed for Bald mountain. Evidently
it is their intention to reach Alabastel
cave. situated near this mountain.
All the convicts are still at large
Among the officers carried eff by then
Is General Overseer McDonough. Som'
fears are felt for his safety. as hi
bears the especial ill will Of the con
victs
Later in the day Governor Pardel
ordered Company H, of Placerville, e
the scene, and Company G. Secon'
Infantry, of Nevada City, was ordere'
to be in readiness.
The several hundred remaining pris
oners made no attempt to get away
and were quietly returned to their cell
and locked up.
Warden Wilkinson was the first u
return to the penitentiary. The con
victs had taken his hat Captain Muir
ply appeared afterward, minus part o
his clothing, and later young Wilkin
son came in
All the prisoners who escaped ar
noted desporadocs, and were sentence
to long terms. several for life.