The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-08-03
INMATES BREAK FROM
CALIFORNIA PEN.
One Guard Murdered and Two Others
Fatally Wounded - California
Troops Are Pursuing-Con-
victs Took Officials as
Hostages.

| Sacramento, Cal, July N.-Thirteen
notorious criminals today escaped from
Folsom prison by using the overpowered
head officers of the prison as shields
| to protect them from bullets until they
had fed into the mountains. During the
struggle In the prison William L. Cotter'
guard, was stabbed to death by the
convicts. A. j. Cockrane was probaply
fatally stabbed In the back, and w. y.
| Palmers was severely hacked about the
| head.
| When the escaped desperadoes were
we'll away from the prison they released
Warden Wilkinson, Captain Murphy ana
| one or two other men who had been
used as shields. General Overseer Nc
Donough and five or six guards are stili
| In the hands of the fugitives who say
that they will kill the prison officers
If the militia attempts to retake the
convicts.
Soldiers Are on Trail.
Tonight 1t Is believed that the convicts
and their captives are making for the
| Bald mountains. Governor Pardee mas
| ordered out several companies or nllilia
| ana SOldlerS are OF the tidh " 'NO ="
gitives. All the escaped men are des-
perate characters and blood Is likely TO
flow before they are taken. The thirteen
convicts had been acting strangely OF
late and when they were seen talking
| among themselves this morning Cap
| tain Murphy called Warden Wilkinson
| and four guards into his office TO con-
! slider what was best to do with the
| men.
| The prisoners seized this moment ro-
escape. They made straight for the cap
tain's office and rushed in on the very
men whom prisoners wishing to escape
usually elude A desperate fight FOL
lowed.
The convicts were armed with knives
and raxors and with these they assaulted
Warden Wilkinson, his grandson, Harry
wilkinson, and his officers. The war
den's clothing was slashed into shreds
with a razor. but the blade did not
touch the flesh. Turnkey Cockrane
fought the convicts with a cnair RAIN
ipc blows on them right and left. t1naliy
he was feled by knife thrust in the
back. Guard Cotter's abdomen was
ripped wide open and he died TINS a.
ternoon while Palmers was nearly
scaIped. The floor OF the once WAS
covered with blood.
Used Officers as Shields
The officers were outnumpereu anu eoo"
had to be relieved Of their arms linen
using the officers as shield the CON
vIcts started for the armory post on the
outskirts Of the penitenuarX grounds
They passed a gating gun on one OF the
walls but the guards were afraid 10 turn
II on the convicts When the armory
most was reached officers there attempt
mo 70 Interfere were quickly overpower-
fur bp1
,,-ftb ,,ifles knives pistols and ammuni-
ZION they made dash for the country
,,.i+h several guards, the warden and the
captain in tow.
rho convjcts armed with rifles marched
ona on either side Of Warden WILKINSON
who was threatened With death II ne
made an attempt to escape L ne ohlcvio
the life of one of the conNIcts the con
,,icts would retaliate. life for NE AL
Mornon Bridge about a mile from the
penitentiary the warden has grandson
and Captain Murphy were sent oach' me
others were marched along with the CON
VlCtS
farmers house. seized his four horse
team and wagon, robbed the house OF
everything of value, took the farmer with
them as a driver. and started for Bald
mountain Evidently it is their inten-
toin to reach Alabaster cave.
Among the officers carried off by them
is General Overseer McDonough Some
fears are felt for his safety as he bears
the especial il-wiu of the conVicts.
Several hundred remaining prisoners
made no attempt to get away and were
quickly returned to their cells and lock
ed up. AS soon as Governor Pardee heard
Of the delivery he ordered out the mil
tia.
Warden Wilkinson was the first to re-
turn to the penitentary The convicts
had taken his hat Captain Murphy APP
peared afterwards. minus part of his
Among the convicts who escaped are:
Fred Howard San Francisco fifteen
years for robbery.
years for burglary
j. II. Wood San Francisco, life for
robbery.
]. Davis. san Francisco, thrty-three
years for robbery.
A Seabls OF Sacramento, twenty-five
years for bigamy.
J. ROBBERS. san Francisco twenty years
for robbery
r. NJ Gordon. Sacramento, forty-hve
wears for robbery
RAY Fahey, Sacramento, life for rob-
S. ]. Case. Los Angeles, life for robbery
Two Convicts Killed.
According to a report just received
fight between the escaped convicts and
posse has taken place near Pilot Hill,
in which Fred Howard was killed and A.
Scabio wounded. Both are convicts. The
eonvlcts are said to have scattered and 10
be making for the surrounding woods. A
company of militia Is on the way 10 Pilot
Hill and should now be near the scene or
the fight.
Joe Murphy Shot Dead.
Placervile Cal, July 2S.Of thirteen
convicts who escaped from the state penl-
tertiary at Folsom yesterday, twelve are
still at large Joe Murphy, who was serv-
ing a fourteen years sentence for rob-
berry. was shot dead last night at Pilot
Hill.
S NJ. Gordon, the reported leader OF the
gang who had been sentenced to forty
five years for robbery, deserted his fol
lowers soon after they left the prison. He
was heavily armed and it is not known IN
which direction he sought safety. A ne |
gro convict named Seavis, who was re- |
ported wounded i'll the first encounter !
with the officers, appears to have not been |
injured.