The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-12
CONvICTS' TRIAL.
RingIeaders in Prison Mutiny
Are Arraigned Today.
The Charge Is Murder and
Conspiracy.
FIVE BEFORE COURT.
Two Others of First Indicted
Group Not Caught.
Story of the Daring and Sue
cessfuI Escape.

Leavenworth Kan, Oct. 12.-The trial
of five of the ringleaders in the United
States penitentiary mutiny was COM
menced in the federal court here today
J. G. Waters, of Topeka, appears for
the mutineers and ]. S. Dean and F. d.
Mekeever for the government The
charge is murder and conspiracy
Late in the afternoon of November Z,
1901, twenty-six prisoners made a dash
Tor liberty past armed guards at the
gate of a stockade at Leavenworth,
Kan, within enclosure of which they
had been at work erecting-a new federal
prison building. The convicts were in
possession of two revolvers. While at
tempting to rush the guard house in
which more arms were stored the mutt
neers shot Guard J. P. Waldrupe, who
died a week later from his wounds.
Eventually all but six of the mutineers
were recaptured. dead or alive. A grand
jury in the district court found indict-
ments against 20 of the mutineers on a
charge of murder. Seven were included
in one Indictment and Is in another and
it is the trial of the first seven which
is set for this term of court Two of
these convicts are still out of custody
Those who remain to be tried are Gill
oert Mullins, Fred Robinson, Turner
Barnes, Bob Clark and w O. Murray.
Arthur Hewitt is believed to be in the
Texas nenitentiary for a crime commit
ted since his escape from Leavenworth.
Iom A. Rating made good his escape.
Among exciting and remarkable Kan
sas events the eLeaVenworth penitentiary
mutiny will remain one of the most
important Its echo IN The present trial
has awakened very deep interest
-Four hundred conVicts were at work
on the construction of the new federal
penitentiary some distance away from
by a stockade which was watched by
guards. Within the stockade unarmed
guards acted as superintendents of the
work in charge of Superintendent T. +.
Kinds. Arthur Trelford was chief of
the guards About five o'clock in the
afternoon the prison guards prepared
TO march the convicts back to the old
prison for the night. One of the con-
VictS, Gus Parker, had gotten into
possession Of two army revolvers which
had been concealed within the stockade
by some unknown means. One of these
revolvers he is said to have handed to
Frank Thompson, negro prisoner
who is to be tried as one of the ring
leaders OF the mutiny.
AT the approach of superintendent
Kinds and three unarmed guards the
two armed convicts covered them and
made them march to the northwest
gate of the stockade. Guard G. E. Bur
rows who stood guard at this gate,
turned the two leaders back but re-
ceived two bullets in the neck in the
exchange of shots. Running from
Burrows gate to the one on the south
side where Guard Trelford was station
ed they attempted escape there. Trel-
ford repulsed the men but was wound
ed by bullet in his leg. Attracted by
the shooting other mutinous convicts
joined the two leaders and all rushed
for the guard house on which Guard
WaIdrupe was stationed. In defending
his post Waldrupe received the wound
that proved fatal but not until after he
had shot and killed Ford Quinn, con-
vict.
Rv a rush of the guards from the
outside the mutineers were prevented
from entering the guard house. but
seeing the unguarded northwest gate
twenty-six outstripped the guards and
escaped under fire. taking Superintend-
ent Kinds with Them Kinds was re-
leased in the timber two miles away.
w F. Peaslee. convict whose nerve
failed him. returned to the prison after
running a short distance. In the fight
inside the stockade Andrew Leonard a
guard. fell and broke his leg. Some of
the escaping prisoners received wounds.
For twenty-four hours the federal
guards. county authorities and private
citizens searched for the prisoners but
made no captures
Meanwhile the mutineers were pillag-
ing farm houses for clothing, weapons.
food and horses. Reports of convicts
escaping or plundering in all directions
made considerable confusion in the gen
eral plan of pursuit which was directed
by Warden McClaughry. The first en-
counter with the conVictS occurred at
Nortonville in Jefferson county on the
afternoon following the mutiny. Five
of them concealed themselves in a barn
near town where they were discovered
and attacked by party of citizens.
The five convicts ran from their cover.
J. J. Poffenkolz and James Huffman
were killed and John Green, Willard