Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-20
Nebraska
Prison Delivery
is Frustrated
Scheme of Convicts to Escape from
Nebraska Penitentiary is
Tipped Off.

CFrom a staff Correspondent

LINCOLN, May l9-CSpecial )-NcbrasI,a
came very near having a prison delivery
planned on the order Of that carried out bv
Grigware, the Union Pacific mail robber at
Leavenworth The scheme was discovered
by Warden Smith and four wooden rovoI.
vers and four knives made in the peniten-
tiary were confiscsted, before the convicts
had an opportunity to make the attempt
to escape.
The ring leader of the quartet which
was in the deal was Simeon Hudson the
convict who drank wood alcohol and went
blind. and who was parood this week The
others were a life termer from Douglas
county, another life prisoner from the west
end of TN state and a convict sent up for
q years from Dawes county. The convicts
were Bond, Elliott, Hudson and Maynard.
The first scheme planned by Hudson was
to steal the little daughter of the warden,
who frequently visited the green house aud
force the guards to open the east gate in
the wall by threatening to kill the child.
When the warden discovered this plot, he
and Deputy Delehanty kept a constant
watch and permitted the little girl to go to
the green house while they hid and with
drawn guns waited developments Accord
ing to confession made to the warden by
Hudson before leaving the prison this
scheme was finally abandoned because the
prisoners believed they were watched
Then 1t was that Hudson began the man
ufacture of the bogus revolvers. This work
required many months, but ,hs work is al
most perfect and the guns appear to be the
real thing, With bullets and all with these
guns and the four knives which were made
in the broom factory, the four convicts
planned to start wholesale row some Sun
day In the chapel The guards on the in
side are not permitted to carry guns and
1t was with the expectation of these con-
victs to take the guards and visitors by
surprise and get away. Warden Smith dis.
covered this plot and for six or seven
weeks, he and three guards attended every
Sunday service, armed with revolvers and
each kpt his ye on one of the suspected
convcts. Finally the warden recs!ved in
formation that the attempt was to be made
on a certain Sunday SO he left the four
convcts in their cells and received the tip
where the wooden guns and knives were
located The warden found the weapons
and just had them photographed.
Hudson who felt very kindly toward the
warden for the good treatment he received
after becoming blind told him that he be-
lieved the warden was aware OF the con-
templated attack on the guards and on
one or two occasions the date for trying the
plan was postponed because of this fear.
The four convicts are all desperate men,
three of them being Imprisoned for murder
and Hudson for forgery. But Hudson shot
the sheriff who attempted to arrest him.
School Money Distribution.
w. d. Redmon, statistician IL the office
of the state superintendent. will be able
within a day or two to certify to the
auditor the amount of Lsney each county
in the state is entitled under the semi
annual distribution of thetemporary school
fund. g. -.... go
The amount to. he sppertioned this May
Is $SeleaSB& .1hissNyiIS be 81 cents for each
pupil there being 81. 452 children Of school
age in the state at this time. Douglas
county will receive of the fund 34.4S4sS.
A year ago this May, the amount was
sos, 1872. 40; Douglas county received $3O.5OO Il
The total number of children of school
age was 500 $780, The distribution amount
ing to 70 cents per capita.
The increase in the sum apportioned this
May over the apportionment of yeai
ago, is due largely to the increased amount
of money received from investments II
bonds and in the school lands lease.
Time Limit on Session.
Governor Shallenberger may put a tint
limit on his promise to call an extra
session of the legislature to submit the in
itiatiye and referendum. When the cover
nor promised Mr., Bryan that he woult
issue the call If three fifths of the mem
did not tell Mr.. Bryan or the public hay
long that promise would hold good, o
how long he would give Mr. Bryan to sc
cure the pledges.
When asked today II in his own mind h
had decided how much time he would Civ
Mr.. Bryan the governor replied:
NO l have not. In fact l have no
given the matter of time any thought"
Would you call the Legislators togethe
after September l?' he was asked.
mo, believe not. l don't think woul'
convene the legislature that late in tn
4 year"
y So It Is very evident Mr.. Bryan mus
make good before that date.
Ludden Case Fridpay.
Arguments will be heard by Judge Eros
tomorrow on the application of Luther T
. Z Ludden for mandamus to compel tn
state auditor to issue him a warrant 70
salary ordered paid him by the State MOI
NAL board. Arthur Mullen will appear 70
the auditor, Attorney General Thompso
having suggested that he get other counst
in as much as he had written opinio