The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-03-08
Supposed Object CT Yegg-
mems Visit to Atlanta.
BOLD, BAD GANG NABBED
Warden Moyer Of the Atlanta Federal
Prison Thinks Fiot Was on Foot
to Release Some of His
Notorious Guests.

The report leaked out from official
sources at Atlanta Monday that the
r:ne alleged safe crackers arrested in
the Cannon house in that city several
Gays ago composed a gang, or were
members of a gang, who were in At
lanta for the purpose of dynamiting
the United States pen:tentiary, In
South Atlanta, for the purpose of lib
Grating certain members Of this gang
row confined in the institution, and
members of other gangs who are serv-
ing sentences at this same prison for
highway robbery and the holding up
of trains in the west.
The report has it that the men ar
rested are believed to have visited
the city principally for the purpose of
making delivery from the federal
prison of some of their pals, and that
they found out that other men were
present for the purpose of freeing, by
similar means, several of the real bad
men who are serving time for high
way and express robberies. The re-
port has it that there is also at least
one woman who has been aiding in
the work OF making this delivery for
the purpose Of rescuing her husband,
who is now a prisoner.
Warden Meyer, of the federal prison,
when asked regarding the report, said
that he could not make any statement,
although he admitted that one of his
guards had been fired on short time
before the men were arrested, and
had returned this fire, and that previ-
GUS to this another guard had fired on
two men who we're about the institu-
ton shortly after midnight.
The warden, when asked as to
whether any preparations had been
made in the way of preventing sucn
an attack, stated that every precaution
had been taken for any such attempt,
and that every possible arrangement
had been taken to make the outside
sentry service of the penitentiary so
perfect as to make it cost the life OF
>any unknown man who tried to get
within 200 yards of the prison at nlgnt
or at any other time.
Warden Meyer also stated that Har-
nv Swain, one CT the nine men arrest
ed in the gang, had been liberated
from the federal prison about Jam
uary 20. While serving his sentence
he had the reputation of being good
prisoner, so far as his conduct in the
institution was concerned. 1t was after
his liberation that an attempt was
made to shoot Officer Lee, one OF the
outside sentries on duty at the prison,
and that this fire came from the dark
ress beyond the big circle OF electric
arc lamps which light up the federal
reservation for several hundred yards
from the building where the prisoners
are confined.
Warden Meyer also stated that 1t
was believed that there were two pr1s-
oners now in the institution who be-
longed to this same gang, some OF the
members of which we're arrested At
the Cannon house.
AS to the inmates in the federal
prison, it is known that they include
members of some of the most noted
gangs which were for years the terror
Of the western country.
AS the United States penlten-
tiarv is built along the most scientific
lines for the prevention of any escape,
if is believed that the intention of the
gang was to blow up some portion OF
the big cell, block with nitro-glycerine
or gun cotton, and take chances on
l;berating the prisoners they were al
ter. even if the explosion necessitatea
the killing of some of the prisoners
OF the institution, as we'll as the guards
and officials on duty, and those VINO
s1eep ir the prison while eff duty.