Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1904-02-13
MADE A BREAK
FOR FREEDOM
But Guards Uneering Aim
Brought Him Down
A Well Arranged Plan to Escape
From Carson Prison Ends With
Death Of Leader.

An unsuccessful prison break was
made at the state prison at Carson
Thursday morning at 8 o'clock.
James Bentley, alias Ted Smith, the
ringleader, was shot from a guard
house and the other prisoners sup
posed to be implicated made no at
tempt to follow him. Warden John
L. Considine appeared in the yard
Immediately after the attempt and
ordered the excited convicts into
their cells. The break has been ex-
pected for several months and has
been carefully guarded against by
the prison officials. Bentley was
known to be the ringleader, and when
the rush was made no chances were
taken by the guards.
Bentley has not been allowed the
privileges Of the yard for several
months but confined in his cell.
Thursday morning G. Warren, a
prison guard, opened the door of
Bentley's cell to supply the drinking
water. No sooner was the door
swung back than Bentley dashed
past him and down the corridor.
The guard followed him but could not
overtake him. Bentley ran through
the corridor door and out into the
yard. At this point he undoubtedly
expected support from other con
victs, but none came to his assistance.
He ran past the shoe factory towards
the quarry. Guard Gamble was at
post 4, the nearest to Bentley. He
commanded the running convict to
stop. Bentley paid no attention to
him and continued in his course.
Gamble fired. The billet entered
the convict's body on the left side and
passed through, The desperate Grim
inal fell to the ground mortally
wounded. Bentley was carried to
the hospital, where he died in about
four minutes. He never regained
consciousness.
The other prisoners were very
much excited, but quoted down when
Warden Considine ordered them into
line an6 they were marched to the
cell-room.
Friday afternoon Coroner Stone
held an inquest over the remains of
Bentley. Guard Gamble was exon-
Grated for the killing, The testimony
brought out that he was doing his
sworn duty in killing the would be
leader.
1t is thought by the prison officials
that several of the other prisoners
were in the plot but their nerve failed
them at the critical moment.
Bentley has made other attempts
to escape. He was detected tunnel
ing through the cell wall to the out
side several months ago. His work
had been carefully concealed for
months and was not found until his
effort was detected on the outer wall.
At one time he exhibited signs of
insanity. The officials of the prison
believed that he was shamming and
the Doctors examination substanti-
ated their belief.
Bentley's action will always remain
a mystery to the officials. His only
motive could have been to scale the
wall at its lowest point, where the
embankment has been broken down
in quarrying and make way through
the sagebrush. at would have been
possible to scale the wall at this
point" said Warden Cousldine in an
interview last evening, "but three
guns protect this point of the prison
yard.
Had Bentley passed up the EN-.
bankment without injury the blood.
hounds would have had the trail in q
few minutes and escape would have
been impossible. A daylight break
at Carson is almost an impossibility
In his cell shortly before the break
Bentley was unusually quiet ant
thoughtful. Everything pointed t.
the deep study he was INDUCED in
When the opportunity to break cam,