Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-11-28
THREE ARE slain
IN PRISON BATTLE.
DESPERATE ATTEMPT OF FELL
oNs TO ESCAPE AT JET
FERsoN CITY, MO.
CONNECTS AND OFFICERS
IN TERRIFIC CONFLICT
Daring Desperadoes Use Weapons and
Nitroglycerin in Effort to Break
Jail-Al Are captured-one Dies
from Wounds.

Jefferson City, Mo-, Nov. PA des..
perare attempt to escape from the
state penitentiary was made by four
prison convicts here, resulting in
a terrific battle with weapons and
nitroglycerin at the prison gate, a
running fight through the streets of
Jefferson City and the final capture
of the four convicts, two of whom
were shot, one of whom died later of
his wounds. Two prison officers were
shot dead and a third seriously
wounded.
The dead: John CLAY, gate-keeper;
e. Allison, officer of the commissary
department; Hiram Blake, convict,
died of wounds received in battle with
posse.
Wounded: Deputy Warden r. q.
See, shot in arm and hip; Harry
Vaughn, convict, St. Louis, shot in
arm.
Warden Mat W. Hall, Yardmaster
Porter Gilvin and Ave prison guards
departed Friday morning for Leaven-
worth, Kan, on special train, con-
veying II federal prisoners, who are
being transferred from the Missouri
state penitentiary to the government
prison at Fort Leavenworth 1t is be-
lieved that this had much to do with
the outbreak, as 1t is surmised the
convicts had counted largely upon
Warden Halls absence in their pre-
meditated desperate attempt to es-
cape.
No Runor of Trouble.
There was not the slightest Fremont
ton of any trouble within the prison
walls. Suddenly Convicts Harry
Vaughn. Charles Raymond, Hiram
Blake, George Ryan and Eli Zeigler,
who were working In close proximity
to the prison gate, inside the iaclos.
ure, az il by given signal, made a rush
for the gate. From their pockets they
drew pistols, and 1t is presumed that
at least one of them carried a bottle Of
nitroglycerin. Where these weapons
and the explosive were obtained has
not yet been discovered Rushing past
the gate, they entered Deputy Warden
bOC S1uSO hAu BLU uilA do 40 SdI III
his chair. He sank back and was un-
able to resist them. Instantly they re-
turned to the gate. and met Gateman
John Clay, who had been alarmed by
the shots. Before he could raise bis
weapon he was shot dead. Guard e.
Allison, who was attracted by the
shooting, was their next victim, HIS
was shot through the head and died
almost instantly.
Gate Blown Open.
Gateman Clay had left the wagon
gate ajar when he appeared, and was
shot dead. The convicts rushed
through, dragging his body with them,
slammed the gate shut and fastened
in on the inside. they were then in
the wagon entrance to the penitentisry,
this entrance being about 40 feet long
by 15 feet wide. and leading to the
public street through another double
gate OF steel. This outside gate was
locked. but the desperate convicts were
deferred but for moment. Placing
their nitroglycerine under the outside
gate they blew an opening through the
massive steel doors. and before the
smoke had cleared the opening they
had dashed through number Of
"trusty" convicts working in the street
and ran madly for 10 blocks. Zeigler
1t was found had failed TO leave the
penitentiary walls. Almost before the
four escaping convlcts had covered the
distance of one block the prison off
cials, heavily armed. were in pursuit
Prosecuting Attorney M. P. Belch
has filed informations in the circuit
court charging conyicts Harry
Vaughn, Charles Raymond and George
Ryan with having murdered Guard E
Allison in the desperate attempt to es-
cape from the penitentiary. 1t is
considered probable they will be
piacsd ON trial within a few days. and
efforts will be made"to pusn the trial
to speedy termination.