Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1912-03-22
CONV|CTS IN A RIOT
TRIO OF DESPERATE CRIMINALS
IN LINCOLN, NER., SHOOT
WAY TO LIBERTY.
PRISON WARDEN IS DEAD
elimination Of Series OF OHehses w
curing in Penitentiary.-
Militia and Posse on
the Trail.

Lincoln, Nebr. - Three prison.
ers at the Nebraska penltentlary d.
Lancaster, three miles south OF here'
assassinated Warden James Dele
hunty, Deputy Warden Charles wag'
ner, Usher A. C. Heilman, and wound
ed Cell House Keeper Doody.
The three convicts then made their
escape from the front entrance OF the
penitentiary and disappeared IN the
storm. The killing was done by Con-
victs Morley, Taylor and DoWd, all OF
whom were sentenced for bank ROD
berry. Morley has previously served
in Missouri for murder.
The trio shot Deputy Warden Wag-
ner in his Office, just off the chapel,
which looks out into the prison yard.
Doody was shot just outside the cell
house, of which he was keeper. The
murderers, after blowing off the lock
of the first steel door which leads
into the public entrance of the prison
rushed the turnkey at the point OF
gun, forced him to unlock another
door, took his keys and let themselves
out into the main corridor. Before
the men let themselves out they had
shot Warden Delehunty and Usher
Heilman by shooting through the
barred doors at the two men who rush
ed out of their offices into the main
corridor when the first shots were
heard. The warden was shot once and
Heilman twice. AS the trio rushed
past the warden another bullet was
put into his body as he leaned against
a door casing.
49, Other Prisoners Quiet.
None of the other convicts, except
the three who did the shooting, at
tempted to escape. The turnkey lock-
ed the doors Immediately after their
departure and the remaining convicts
were locked in their cells. No liberty
will be allowed to any of the convicts
until Governor Aldrich orders it.
AS soon as news of the uprising
reached the governors Office an order
was received calling the local COM
pany of the state militia. 1t was
marched to the station, where a spe-
cial train was waiting to carry it to
the penitentiary. Sheriff Hyers and
posse also started Immediately for
the prison, together with Chief Hunger
of the Lincoln police department, and
five patrolmen. Governor Aldrich was
at Peru, visiting the state normal
school, and from there directed that
Adtutant General Phelps of the state
militia be put in temporary charge of
the penitentiary. He also directed
that Steward Robb take supervision
OF the prison. 1t is not known where
the convicts got the guns with which
they committed the murder, but it is
believed that they were smuggled in
from the outside. The first clue to the
trail of the three murderers was when
word was received at the penitentiary
that three men had been seen going
into a hay stack about three miles
west of the penitentiary.
Posse on Trail.
The outbreak is believed to be the
outcome of spirit of unrest that has
been prevalent among the convicts for
over a month. On Sunday morning
Feb. II, negro convict, Albert Prince.
fatally stabbed Deputy Warden E. D.
Davis during the chapel service. No
attempt was made at a general ont.
break at this time, although the con.
victs were assembled in the pews.
On Friday, March 1, employees of the
prison saw former convicts pass a
phial of morphine through the gate of
the prison. Restrictions were i'm.
mediately placed on the convicts. with
view to stamping out the traffic in
the drug.
Last Saturday Chaplain johnson of
the penitentiary resigned after a con.
versation with the governor relating
to prison discipline. A week ago the
governor had issued an order barring
women prison workers and sundav
school teachers from visiting tho
prison during services, declaring that
their association with the convicts
was undesirable