The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-12
CONVICTS NIX
IN FATAL ROW
Joseph PeteIena Dies as Result
of Blow on Head From
Stick.
STRUCK BY JAMES GORDON
TROUBLE OCCURS IN THE PRISON
LAUNDRY.

Convict No. 1917, known in the days
of his freedom as Joseph Petelena, lies
dead in the mOrgue at the Utah state
penitentiary as the result of a blow on
the head received last Saturday morn
ing in a row with convict No. 1888, who
in the old days before the doors Of the
state prison opened to receive him, was
known as James Gordon.
The latter is locked i'm his cell pend
ing the outcome of the cOrOner'S in
quest. which will be held at the peni-
tertiary this morning at II o'clock by
Justice Dana T Smith PeteIena died
yesterday afternoon at 4:4O O'clock Of
myelitis, an acute disease of the spinal
cord, an aftermath of his injury. Cor
don struck Petelena with a heavy stick
IN resentment Of a vile apDellatfOn from
| the lips of the enraged Austrian
The trouble between the two convicts
occurred in the prison laundry, where
both were employed Warden Arthur
Pratt secured a statement from both
convicts, which viii be presented at the
inquest.
PeteIena Starts Trouble.
Gordon was in charge of the laundry
and five convicts worked with him. AC-
cOrding to the story that was told to
| Warden Pratt, the cOnVictS were en-
! gagged in washing the prison laundry
and Petelena approached a boiler in
| which some of the clothes were being
boiled and attempted to put a piece Of
carpet into the boiler. This piece Of
carpet was part of the furnishings OF
Petelena's cell Gordon, who was stir
ring the clothes with a heavy stick,
objected and Informed Petelena that II
he wanted to wash his piece of carpet
he must wait until the other clothes
were taken out of the boiler.
Trouble began at once. PeteIena
made some ugly remark, which called
/ for a reply from Gordon. Petelena re-
piled in language it is said. that would
not look we'll in print whereUpOn Cor
don struck the Austrian on the head
/ with his stick, the blow landing on the
frontal bone above the left eye.
Prison Guard Arrives.
Guard H s. Shurf~F. who was in
/ the guard house just above the laundry.
heard the row and descended to find out
what il was all about He took Pete
/ lena to the prison hospital. where his
I injury was afterwards attended TO by
/ Dr. A G Young, the prison physician.
and locked Gordon in his cell where
( he has been confined ever since.
Petelena's injury was not considered
{ serious. and on Thursday he was talk
/ ing about going back 10 work in the
/ laundry. Yesterday, however, he grew
worse and DR.. Young was hastily sum
moned. The injured man was beyond
medical aid and expired at the hour
given. DR.. Young said last night that
Petelena was q sufferer from a cOnSti-
tutiOnaI disease that acted against him
and caused the complication that re-
suited in the prisoners death.
Prisoner of the First Class.
/ Gordon was prisoner of the first
class. and his conduct has been good
since he entered the prison, Dec. Il.
/ 1903 said Warden Pratt last night.
| "Petelena was prisoner of the second
! class He was received last Jan 13.
/ He had been a good prisoner up to the
! time Of his trouble with Gordon, and
/ so far as 1 have been able TO learn. he
and Gordon did not have any previous
/ difference.
In the Utah penitentiary we have
/ three grades for prisoners All are en-
/ tered in the second grade when they
are received, and if their conduct Is
/ good for a certain period of probation
| they are but in the first grade. On the
! contrary. if they become ugly and do
not obey the prison rules. they are
placed in the third grade which is
solitary confinement. Petelena would
probably have soon been advanced to
/ the first grade.
James Gordon was convicted I'm the
( district court of salt Lake for robbery
and sentenced to serve q term of five
years. He was a labOrer- Whether he
will be charged with murder depends
upon the verdict of the coroner's jury
/ today.
! Joseph PeteIena was convicted IN
! Salt Lake of assault with a deadly
/ weapon. The crime for which he was
convicted occurred at Bingham. He en-
! gaged in a quarrel with a man named
! Peterson. who owned q chicken ranch
near Bingham. and shot him. He was
/ % years old and was n miner. So far
as is known ne has no relatives in this
country.