The San Francisco call., 1908-09-10
Mark Barrett Attacks Prisoner
Miller and the Watchers
Fire
Fight Is Reported to Be a Ruse
TO Start General Break
for Liberty
Shooting Causes Great Excite
ment Among Inmates of
the Folsom BaStiIe
SPECIAL DISPATCH 10 THE GAIL


|. SACRAMENTO, Sept. g. - The
I-spirit of unrest among the convicts
of the state prison at Folsom which
has been apparent since the change in
the head of the institution from the
strong rule of former Warden Archi-
bald Yell 10 that of Charles Reilly
was brought to head today, when
Convict Mark Barrett engaged in a
terrific fight with an aged convict
named Miller, and was subsequently
shot TO death by Guards Flackenstein
and Clark when he refused to halt.
II is generally believed that Barrett
was trying 20 escape from the prison,
but a bullet from the rife of one Of
the guards brought him down before
he proceeded far Had he succeeded
in breaking through the guard line, it
would undoubtedly have been the sig
nal for a wholesale attempt TO break
BARRETT BEATS MILLER
The trouble between Barrett and
Miller began shortly before noon to-
day The two men have been at outs
for some time, though no serious trOu-
ble between them was looked for. They
were working in the sandpit when the
quarrel started. Words were exchanged
between them, which were not heard
by the guards, and Barrett suddenly
jumped upon Miller, who was much
older than himself, and began beating
him severely. Barrett knocked Miller
down and would probably have killed
him II Guard Clark, who witnessed the
-r,4-
his head. which SO frightened him that
he stopped
Flsckenstein ordered Barrett to re-
fc-t st once 10 Warden Reilly at his
once Barrett started 10 go. but turned
around and jumped dercely upon Miller
again. The guards opened fire upon
him the second time and he got up and
ran Evidently fearing he intended 10
make a dash for liberty. Flackenstein
and Clark both fired. this time TO Kill,
and the shot from one Of the guns, be-
lieved TO be from Flackenstein's. passed
through Barrett's head He fell dead
IN his tracks.
CREATES EXCITEMENT
The affair created great excitement at
the prison, both among the conVicts
and officials. 1t was the first time any
thing Of the kind has occurred since
Warden Reilly took charge
The prisoners were Immediately
called in by the warden and locked up
IN their cells. All afternoon they kept
up ooleful rnutterings back and forth
IN the prison. which seemed TO forebode
no good The prisoners are more un-
easy now than they have been since
Warden Archibald Yell took charge five
years ago Many Of them feel that the
discipline Of the prison is not so strict
now as IL was under Yell They are
anxious TO test Reillys ability and
trouble is looked for at almost any
time.
CORONER INVESTIGATES
Immediately after the shooting Of
Barrett today, Warden Reilly notified
Coroner w. +. Gormley. who hastened
10 Folsom in an automobile TO inves-
rgate the death. District Attorney E
S Wachhorst, accompanied by a
stenogrspher. also went TO the prison
70 ascertain the facts concerning the
shooting Wachhorst took the state
ments OF all the witnesses TO the
shooting. Coroner Gormley conducted
an inquest over the remains OF Bar
rett, and the jury found he came to
his death from gunshot wound infiict-
ed by Guard Flackenstein in the dis
charge Of his duty
! Barrett was known to the prison au-
Sh0rities as No 62o1. He was sent up
from San Francisco several years ago
for bribery It is not believed that
Miller's injuries are serious.
Guard Flackenstein. who is believed
20 have fired the fatal shot, also figured
in the attempted break several years
ago when a plot TO escape had been
planned by the convicts. but as soon
as the first move was made, the guards
under Tellf's orders, fired to kill, and
put an end TO the trouble before it had
more than started
Three prisoners were killed and sew
eral others badly wounded That
taught the convicts a lesson that Ar
chibald Yell was not TO be fooled with,
and from that day until the end OF
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