Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1903-07-31
DASH FOR LIBERTY
Thirteen Convicts Escape from
Folsom, Cal, Penitentiary.
Fierce Fight In Captains Omce - A
Turnkey Fatally Stabbed - One
Guard Killed, Another officer
Wounded - Sharp Battle
at Pilot Hill.


Thirteen desperate prisoners con-
fined in the Folsom penitentiary made
successful break for liberty at the
breakfast hour Monday morning.
After n fierce fight in the captains
office, during which turnkey was fa-
tally stabbed, n guard was killed and
another officer was wounded, the
convicts seized arms and ammunition
and, using the warden and other of
ficers as shields, escaped. 1t is be-
lieved they are making for Bald
mountain. State troops ordered out
by Gov. Pardee have gone to the
scene. The dead
|. William L. Cotter, a guard, cut in
the abdomen, died five hours later.
Wounded: c. j. Cochrane, turnkey,
stabbed in back, will possibly die.
W. c. Palmer, cut in the head.
The convicts made their break for
liberty about n. m. They went to
the Office of II. j. Murphy, captain of
the guard, and seized Warden Will
kinson, his grandson, Harry Wilkin-
son; Capt Murphy and several other
officers and guards. A desperate
fight took place. The convcts were
armed with knives and raZors and
with these they assaulted Warden
Wilkinson and his officers. The war
den's clothing was slashed into shreds
with razor, but the blade did not
touch the flesh. Turnkey Cochrane
fought the convicts with a chair, rain
ing blows upon them right and left
Finally he was felled by a knife
thrust in the back. Guard Cotter was
disemboweled by cut in the abdo-
men and he died about noon. Palmer
was severely cut in the head The
| floor of the Office was covered with
blood.
The officers were easily outnumber-
ed and We're soon relieved of their
arms. Then, using the officers as
shields, the convicts started for the
armory on the outskirts of the peni-
tentiary grounds. They passed n
Gatling 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 Of
ficers there attempted to interfere,
but were quickly overpowered and
the convicts after fortifying them
selves further with rifles, knives, pis-
| tolls and ammunition, made dash for
the country.
Convicts, each armed with rifles,
marched one on either side of War
den Wilkinson, who was threatened
with death if 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 they would
/ retaliate, life for life. At Mormon
Bridge. about mile from the peni-
tentiary, the warden, his grandson
and Capt. Murphy were released and
! sent back. The others were marched
/ along with the convicts.
/ Later in the day Gov. Pardee or
! dered Company II, of Placerville, to
the scene and Company C., Second in
| fantry. of Nevada City, was ordered
| to be in readiness.
Placerville, Cal, July 29.-Of the 13
convicts who escaped from the state
penitentiary at Folsom on Monday 12
are still at large. Joe Murphy, who
was serving a 14-year sentence for
robbery, was shot dead Monday night
at Pilot Hill. S. NJ. Gordon, the re-
ported leader of the gang. who had
been sentenced to. As years for rob.
berry, deserted his followers soon
after they left the prison. He was
heavily armed and it is not known in
which direction he sought safety.
The fight at Pilot Hill between the
convicts and their pursuers seems to
have been more serious affair than
at first reported. After they had
looted provision store at Pilot Hill
they were practically surrounded by
the sheriffs of Sacramento and Placer
counties, each commanding a strong
posse.
All four horses of the convicts
wagon were shot and one of the Grim
inals was killed outright. Then the
outlaws raised white flag and
marched up the road with the guards
and others whom they had captured
on each side of them. \ general vol
ley was not ordered, as it might have
killed several innocent men. In thi.
deliberate manner the second escape
was made.
The pursuing officers have been in
structed to shoot the convicts or
sight and their death or capture il
the near future is expected.
Sacramento, Cal, July 29.-The cor
oner's jury in the case of w. l.. Cottel
rendered verdict of murder agains
all the conNcts who escaped.
Fatal Explosion In "A Brewery.
New York, July 2S.-Three men are
dead and six injured, one perhaps
fatally, as the direct result of the
blowing out of cylinder head of al