The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-10-13
FRUSTRATE PLOT To
EFFECT JAIL BREAK
Deputy Warden Ure and
Guards Make Capture At
ter Exciting Chase.
FIND SAWS AND FILES
Convict Released Yesterday
Tried to Assist His Com
radeS TO Freedom.
FIND SAWS AND FILES

Frustrating daring and well
planned attempt to effect jail break
at the state penitcntiary last night
Deputy Warden Andrew Urc and half
dozen of his guards, after an exciting
chase Of half mile. captured George
Morris, who was only released from the
state prison yesterday morning, having
completed a five-years' sentence foI
burglary and who is known TO have
been one OF the most desperate men III
the prison. and James De Lair, his com
panlou.
On the person of De Lair were found
saws, such as make short work OF
prison bars, files OF specially hardened
steel, calipers and tweesers, such an
outfit as only the iailbreaker can use.
The presence of the two men. skulk-
ing under the high prison walls. wait
ing for an opportunity TO east their I'M
plements of freedom 10 desperate men
within, was made known to Warden
IRE by b. F. Scott, a ghtwatchman at
Sugar House.
At about $50 clock last night the
watchman saw two men walk north
along the Park City railroad track TO-
ward the penitentiary. The track
passes very close to the prison walls,
The men did not loiter at Sugar House
corner, but looking neither 10 the right
nor to the left, disappeared IN the dark
ness. The nlghtwatchman did not like
their looks and did not understand the
decided manner in which they wen,
about their business. He also noted
that the pockets of each were bulging
with what appeared to be small pack
ages. The yatchman telephoned TO
VI bar t>rn q r..
ters were approaching the prison
Several Alarms Sounded,
Almost at the same time that this
message reached the deputy one of the
guards on the south side of the prison
heard two men couversing i'll under
tones near the straw stack on the
prison grounds.
A general alarm was sounded and all
the guards available. without weak
ening the force inside the prison. were
called into the chase, Deputy Warden
Ure and Guard Taggert hurried to the
straw stack, where the suspects nao
last been heard. while Guards y. L.
briggs and w. J. Irvine ran IN the di'
rection of Sugar House corner TO cut
off that door of escape.
They reached the corner just In une.
for the deputy warden and his guard had
chased the two men into the trap which
had been set for them. Morris and DE
Lair reached the corner at almost the
same instan as The guaros. Both men
were placed under arrest and troncd
Thay made no resistance. as The two
guards had taken them completely ny
surprise.
They were then taken TO the pcnitcn-
tlary and searched. Upon Norris was
found nothing discriminating. but upon
De Lair were found saws, calipers and
dies and number of hooks made o!
heavy wire. II Is believed that the
inside in scaling the wall. The hooks
could we'll be tied TO the end OF a long
rope and be thrown over the wall when
they would catch on the railing outside
aud thus answer the purpose or a rope
ladder.
Neither of the men would say any
thing OF the affair with the exception
OF ouc remark made by Morris. He said
To one OF tho guards. Wei. did YOU
hnd t:'' The guard answered him in
tho affirmative. Then Norris answered
with hard smile. What do care? Do
your worst.
Both mon were removed 80 the county !
iali last night. whore they viii be held ,
10 await developmcuts In the case.
Long Jail Record.
Morris is an oN-couyict who has seen |
the inside of most of The ials i'll the |
west. Deputy Warden Ur" said las, |
night thai during his terra In the Utah |
peniteDtjarv Morris associated with the |
worst element IN the prison
Morris was arrested carly in 1905 for /