The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-02-05
CONVICT At STATE
PRISON SHOT
Bad Man Known As Bentley
or Smith Tried to Make
His Escape Yesterday
(From the Carson News.)

This morning after 8 o'clock State
Prison guard Gamble, shot and killed
convict Bently, alias Teddy Smith.
The prisoners all were in the yard
near the main buildings when Bently
left the bunch and ran toward the
south wall, clear across the yard
Guard Gambel at Post was the near
est officer and he called to the run
ming convict to stop. Bently paid no
attetion to the commands and con-
tinued. swerving from his course at
the rear of the old shoe shop. when
Gambel fired. the bullet entering the
convicts body at the left side and
passing through
The wounded man was quickly car
ried to the hospital. as he was still
living. and his clothing removed, ETC.,
In an effort to make him comfortable
but In three or four minutes after be-
ing shot. he was dead. without having
been conscious. apparently.
The other prisoners were very much
excited by the incident and 1t required
firmness to get them to form in line.
to be locked up, until the excitement
had simmered down. Later in the day
Coroner Stone went down and the Of
fetal investigation resulted in finding
that Mr.. Gambel had merely done his
duty, and, of course, he was completely
exonerated.
Bently. or Smith. was one OF the
hardest characters in the prison and
as long as he was alive break or
other disturbance was feared by the
officers
A couple of years ago the dead man,
who then went under the name OF
Teddy Smith. burglarized the girls cot
tage at the State university getting
number of watches. rings and other
articles of jewelry. He was detected
selling and pawning some OF the miss
ing articles along the line of the rail-
road and was arrested at Lovelock.
He was taken to Reno and lodged In
the county Jail there. One day az his
cell was opened for some purpose or
other. he rushed out and into the main
office where Sheriff Hayes was sitting.
In some mysterious manner a revolver
had been passed in to him. and he fired
|
through the closed window. The bull
let passed through the sheriffs coat
collar. but he was not wounded
| Smith made good his escape and 1t
was months later that Hayes got on
his trail in Texas. He went down,
and brought his man back, who was
tried and sentenced to twenty-five
years in the state penitentiary: five
for burglary. ten for Jail breaking and
| ten more for assault with intent to
kill Smith swore vengeance against
all who had assisted in his conviction
and doubtless intended to keep his
oeth.
He was man of great energy. never
still, and constantly melting the other
prisoners in infraction OF the rules
A few months ago he conceived the
| audacious plan or tunnelling through
the walls of his cell and through the
front walls Of the main building to
the outside. at point where he would
be under the electric lights at night
in plain view Of the guards and others.
He covered up his work well and 1t
was detected by guard passing along
on the outside who heard the scratch
ing and pecking through the stone.
Failing in this, a few months ago
Smith began to exhibit symptoms OF
insanity. The officials at the prison
believed he was shamming it for very
obvious purpose. but he carried the
thing SO far that physicians were call
ed in and they examined Smith. or
Bently. as he Is officially known, and
pronounced him sane and shamming
His action Of this morning will prob
ably always continue to be a puzzle.
He certainly could not have seriously
attempted to go over the walls. the
only available point being several hun
dred feet distant and covered with
nee rifles at least. He had absolute
ly no chance. not even the remotest
of escaping. 1t was daylight. and
even II the three guards with repeating
rifles had all missed him. the general
| alarm would have been turned in, and
the blood hounds would have been on
his trail Immediately, even II he had
was practically impossible.
1t is likely that he did believe the
guards would shoot. or perhaps 9TH.
ers of the convicts were to have as
sisted by some sort Of distracting DEM
onstration and failed. Some of the
prison officials believe that Smith had
worked up general revolt which was
to take form as break this morning.
but the others weakened at the critical
moment.
The effect upon the other prisoners
will undoubtedly be excellent, and IL
Ia not likely the lesson will soon be
forgotten. Mr.. Gambel simply did his
sworn duty. and his prompt action may
have saved the institution from sert-
sps esAssqueueeA