Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-27
2 CONVICTED BURGLARS
CAUGHT DIGGING TUNNEL
Prisoners Wrench
Hammock Hook
Loose and Work
at Night while
HoWling Wind
Covers Noise

Digging their way toward freedom
through the weak wooden floors OF
the cell in the territorial prison, two
desperate criminals last night almost
effected a jail-break. The vigilance
Of guards in the prison resulted in
the discovery OF the plan and its
quick Illustration, and instead OF com
ing up from q burrow into the free
air OF the front yard. the two men
landed in close confinement on a
diet of bread and water.
According to what High Sheriff
Henry has learned Of the attempted
Jail-break, II was the climax OF care.
fully-concocted plot The two prin.
cipals In the case are Howard G..
Duke and John r. hates. Both OF
them are types OF had men," Both
are serving sentences for burglary In
the first degree. They were con.
victed on August is OF this year, and
Duke was sentenced to serve not less
than one year and SIX months nor
more than twenty years. Bates was
sentenced to not less than two years
and six months nor more than twenty
years, Judge Whitney delivering the
sentences.
The plot began TO work out when
a number Of the white prisoners IN
the jail complained bitterly and per.
sisteHtly OF their foods They declared
it was poorly cooked. and the prison
officials were asked to make change
in the chefs that preside over the
prison Kitchen. One bf the convicted
burglars Duke. was said to be good
cook, and the little group OF trouble.
making white men wanted Duke put
TO work in the kitchen
II was suspected even than that the
object OF the plan was to put the
man in place where he could get
hold of knives and other iron and steel
utensils that could be used in Jail.
break The old prison is none too
safe, anyway, and in number of
places a little digging will free the
prisoners. High Sheriff Henry refused
TO allow Duke to go to the kitchen.
The two men determined to make
their escape at all hazards and last
night appeared to be an excellent time
10 carry out their plan. The~.ind was
bowling about the jail and under cover
of its noise the two evidently hoped
TO conceal their EFFORTS TO cut through
the floor and dig out.
About three O'Clock this morning
vigilant guard heard suspe. .ious
noise in the cell on the lower cor
ridor which the men shared. Quick
investigation showed that the prison.
ers were last cutting Their way
through the wooden floor, which is
made of one-inch planking laid across
timbers and offers little opposition to
any kind of a sharp-edged tool. The
men had ingeniously fashioned an in.
strument out of screw which they
had obtained from the walE unscrew.
ing hammock to get the implement
The men were surprised at their
work and after that it was nothing
but the bread-and-water diet for them.
Plans. have been completed for the
new prison, and High Sheriff Henry is
anxious to get into 1t, as the present
structure is anything but delivery
proof. The contract for the admins.
tration building of the new Jail will
be let early next month, and the rest
of the work will be done by prison
labor. The structure when completed
will be model of its kind.