Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-03
JAIL DELIVERY
IS FRUSTRATED
PRISONER OVERHEARS PLOT
AND TELLS JAILER
ONE OF coNsPIRAToRs PLACED
IN SOLITARY CELL
Men Expected to Take Advantage of
Custodian and XIII Him and
Whoever Blocked Their
Flight

An attempt by seven prisoners con-
fined in the county Jail to make break
for liberty, over the unconscious or
dead bodies of their guards, came to
light yesterday when the fact became
known that Thomas G. Garwood, under
sentence to life imprisonment for the
robbery of a Temple street grocery
store In December last, is being kept
in almost solitary confinement in one OF
the blind cells of the institution, unable
to see or communicate with any of his
fellow prisoners.
Garwood's brain first conceived the
idea of the Jail break, which was rus
trated by the prompt action of Jailer
George Gallagher who was selected as
the first victim in the proposed dash for
freedom. His chief assistant in the
plan is said to have been Frank 'Meag-
her, now serving a sentence of ten
years at san Quentin, following his
conviction on a charge of burglary.
other prisoners, who were involved in
the plan, are still in the county jail,
and while not as strictly guarded as is
Garwood occupy separate cells and
their movements are carefully watched.
The fact that Garwood and those
whom he had taken into his confidence
would try to effect their escape was
first made known to Jailer Gallagher
by j. c. Sandrtrom, against whom
charge of passing fictitious checks was
recently dismissed by Judge Davis OF
the criminal court. A short time before
leaving the Jail Sandstrom overheard
the details of the plot while lying on
his cell cot, unobserved by Garwood
and his associates in the adjacent tank
Gives Jaier information
Sandstrom scribbled the information
IT. nd on
opportunity handed it to the jaiier
while the latter was making his rounds
Long confinement had made the men
familiar with the duties of the jailer
and his assistants, and of this knoWl-
edge they expected to take advantage.
1t is known that Jailer Gallagher twice
each day, at noon and again at o'clock
in the afternoon, released the prison.
ers from their cells to go to the large
mess room, and that at the same time
the guard stationed between the inner
and outer doors at the jail entrance was
changed, thus leaving the inner door
ajar momentarily.
According to the plan, as overheard
nv Sandstrom and later revealed to
Taller Gallagher, 1t was the purpose of
the seven men to overpower or kill the
taller as they were released from the
tank and go to the mess room, relieve
him of keys and revolver and make
dash for the inside door at the en-
trance, which. it was hoped by the
prisoners, would be reached at the time
of changing the guards; forcibly gain
possession of the key to the outer door
and escape.
To a person unfamiliar with the pro-
visions made for just such occurrences
the plan had in it an element or teasl-
bility. Those whose work places them
directly in charge of the prisoners, now
ever. declare it would have been I'M
possible to carry out the plot, and say
that while one man might De over &
powered or injured an attempt or the
kind proposed could go no further oW-
ing to the system of automatically clos
ing and locking doors.
AS soon as Jailer Gallagher learned Of
the proposed Jail break he placed the
prisoners involved in the s'heme in
cells far removed from one another,
thus preventing all COMMUNICATION pc
tween them. Garwood, the reputed
leader, was placed in what Is known as
a blind cell, located at some distance
from other cells and the large tanks
where the prisoners exercise. Except
for one hour each day he is practically
alone During this hour he is allowed
to exercise in the tank, strictly OBJ
served, however, in order TO prevent
communication with his fellow prison
ers.
Garwood's case is before the appellate
court. his attorneys having appealed
from the Judgment of Judge Wilbur,
who sentenced him to life imprisonment
several weeks ago after jury returned
verdict of guilty.
He was accused of aiding James D.
Pfefer and Charles Gavin in the rob
berry of f. C. Johannsen, a Temple
street grocer December 23, last year,
and while Phefer and Gavin pleaded
guilty Garwood stoutly maintained his
Innocence and endeavored to prove an
alibi. Notwithstanding the fact that
Pfefer was returned from san quentin
and testified that Garwood not only
took part in the robbery but was the
leader in the crime.
Pfefer is now serving a 30-year SEN
tence at San Quentin and Gavin was
given a 50-year term at Folsom.