The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-29

ACRANENTO. Sept. 2s.-Gover-
= nor. Pardee to-day made pubic
- the report Of the State Board OF
~ Prison Directors concerning the
recent break at Folsom prison
At he same time the Governor gave out
his letter 10 the Directors, referring to
the chief commentators in the report
The reference CT the Directors in their
report 10 the .'sickly sentmentality' al
legged 10. exist concerning the treatment
Of coEvicts goes to the agitation against
the use Of the straitjacket The sub
stance OF the report follows:
On the morning OF July q, 1903, at
. about O'Clock. while the prisoners were
going out Of the main building and when
over 800 had reached the yard, some
twelve or fourteen desperate convicts. ali
armed. some with knives. some with
razors and some carrying dynamite,
broke from the line and attacked the off,
GERS and guards present, and finding
Warden Wilkinson and Captain Murphy
IN the captains Office, overpowered them
and threatened, with drawn knives, TO
kil them should they make any resist
ance. There ensued a desperate encoun-
ter, wherein Guard ". L. COtter was
killed and Turnkey Cochrane desperately
Gforoed- the Warden and Captain Murphy
tg give a signal from the yard TO the
guards in the gun posts not 10 shoot
The Prison Directors say that. in their
opinion. had either Warden Wilkinson or
Captain Murphy refused TO order the
guards nor 10 shoot the officers and
guards captured by the convicts would
have been severely injured, If not muir
dered. Yet the board says the report,
IS unanimously OF the opinion that the
outbreak should have been stopped at all
hazatds.' Unfortunate as II may be TO
sacrifice a free mans life in such
cause proceeds the report. we believe
that those who accept positions where
ou<E sometimes makes il necessary TO en-
danger their lives. this duty should be
fe2rlessly performed.
OFFICERS ARE CRITICIZED.
The board expresses itself as con-
Vinced that had the officers and guards
shown the same spirit and daring s did
the prisoners the cOnvicts would never
. have escaped. The board also says that
Il believes the Lieutenant of the guard
cOuld have stopped the outbreak at one
time. and THAT under no circumstances
should he have surrendered the armory
10 the cOnvicts. However, the officers are
not charged with cowardice, the surprise
CT the proceedings being considered in
excuse, Warden Wilkinson, says the
q board. proved that he was not deficient
i1 courage by his conduct after being re-
. leased He is credited with conducting a
lookup at the imminent risk Of his life
The board has issued orders. applicable
10 both prisons. that hereafter the es-
cape Of cOnvicts must be prevented If
possible. at ali hazard. whether they
have free men in charge or not" The re-
port then proceeds TO say that the recent
break. In its opinion, was not the re-
SUIT OF 2 lack Of experience on the part
OF the officers" and then gives the terms
Of service Of the Warden, Captain Muir
ply and Lieutenant Kripp.
The board expresses itself as consider |
ing il was most unwise and imprudent
for the Warden and other officers Of the
prison to meet every morning in the cap
tain's Office just as the line was pass
ing OFT" as il afforded the opportunity
Of doing just what was done in this
case.
GOOD WORK OF TRUSTEES"
The board refers TO the criticisms Is
TOO the appointment Of TRUSTEES and,
says that in this instance the TRUSTEES"
rendered immediate and valuable services.
both AZ the time Of the break and to
those who were so grievously injured"
The report then says II is a bad com
nenrary 10 say that because Of lack Of
sufucient prison accommodations II is
necessary 10 confne prisoners. who en-
d6svcr 10 assist the prison officials in
their cells 10 protect them from the
fury and assaults Of other prisoners.
such. says the report, lis practically
the condition in both prisons to-day ana
your board is helpless and powerless to
change 1T without legislative action"
. The report then proceeds 70 say that
many causes led TO the prison out
break. not the least Of which has beer,
the record Of convicts in other prisons
who have become notorious because Of
their exploits in breaking JAIL " etc
"Agaia." says the report. there seems
u Dervade sickly sentimentalftv
among some people concerning the
treatment of prisoners in the State
prisons. which found voice during the
last session Of the Legislature. when ii
was made 10 appear, in pulpit and ros-
trllra. that the real felons were those
who were striving TO control the con-
xicts ia both prisons by enforcing the
sharp discipline that experience has