The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-05
two CONWCTS
PLACED ON TRIAL
Given Hearing Under Court
Martial-Other Two Es-
capped Men at Large.

Bismarck. n. D., Sept. Sc. G.
Robinson and Frank Irwin. inmates of
the state penitentiary who escaped
from the institution at about $3.50
last Wednesday evening. but were lat
er captured. We're given 4 hearing un-
der court martial and both received
twenty days in solitary confinement
and sixty days in striped suits as pun
ishmert for their escape.
1t will be remembered that the two
defendants and two other prisoners
escaped over the wall Wednesday
evening following n ball game. Rob-
inson and Irwin We're captured near
Mckenzie. while the other two are
still at large.
The court martial was called to or
der by q. V. Noah. a life-termer. who
is judge advocate of the court. The
defendants We're brought before the
court and the charge read to them.
They were charged with absenting
themselves from the parade grounds
without permission n making their
escape over the prison wal! with the
aid of a ladder and rope. The men
were tried jointly. at the request OF
the prosecuting officer. Bert Conroy.
Both of the defendants refused to en-.
ter a plea and defied the jurisdiction Of
the court. When asked to select an
officer to defend them. they positively
refused to do so. stating hat they did
not recognize the power Of the court
Officers We're appointed to defend them
and the trial proceeded. Only three
witnesses, including Warden Hellstrom
and two guards were examined, they
being for the prosecution. The de-
tense refused to offer any testimony in
their case. The prosecuting attorney
in his plea to the court stated that the
men had broken their pledge OF honor
and if the inmates wished to continue
serving under the military rules thta
the defendants must be punished. Rob
inson pleaded to the court in his wi
he enter any agreement. verbal or by
writing. whereby he would abide with
the rules OF this court and therefor
would not recognize 1t. Robinson's
talk did not seem to have much
weight upon the court. as it took only
a few minutes for the jury to decide
on the case. The punishment means
that Robinson and Irwin will be COM
PEELED TO live On bread and water for
the next twenty days with a meal once
every three days. wear the striped suit
for sixty days and to be deprived Of all
the privileges.
Robinson was convicted for the not
ed Sawyer bank robbery and was sent
enced to seventeen years. while Irwin
received a nine-year sentence for rob-
berry. Under their conviction of the
court martial they lose all of the good
standing that has been credited to
them.
This case is the first important case
that has been tried under the court
martial and its outcome had much to
do with the convicts' privileges in the
future. This is the first institution to
adopt the military rule system and 1t
has proven a success. The system
was adopted and put in force during
last April. The majority Of the con-
victs pledge themselves to this sys-
tenn and they are given many privi-
leges. Since the adoption Of the sys-
tenn not so many guards have been
kept at the institution. The prison.
ers who r members of the military
organization are given the privilege to
the parade ground and are not kept
under surveillance. Any member who
breaks a rule by fighting or any dis
orderly conduct is given a hearing I'M
DER court martial and is punished by
the prisoners.
Are Still at Large.
The other two inmates who escaped
with Robinson and Irwin are still at
large and the authorities have given
up the search. All Of the guards who
have been searching in surrounding
country for them have returned TO the
institution. not having found any trace
Of them. Warden Hellstrom states
that he thinks the men are in other
states by this time and will rely upon
the sheriffs in the different states to
arrest them.
Dogs Returned.
All Of the bloodhounds which were
put on the trail Of the escaped con-
Nicts have returned. Three of the
dogs were badly cut up and the
wounds look like they had been in
ficted with a sharp knife. It IL
thought by the authorities that the
dogs encountered the escaped con
Nicts. who made ar effort to kill them.
The last hound, which arrived at the
institution and its throat cut from ear
to ear. but it is thought that its life
will De saved. The wound was un-
~doubtedly inflicted with a sharp knife
and if II had been a tenth Of an inch
deeper it would have cut the jugular
vein. which would have meant instant
death to the animal.