The Sentinel=record., 1914-01-20
DESPERATE PRISONERS REVoLvERs USE SHIELD AND PERSONS WHO INTER.
 WITH THEIR ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE
A FORMER FEDERAL JUDGE IS A VICTIM
PURSUED ALL THREE FUGTVEs BY uNERRlNe AIM OF MEMBERS OF PossE-THREE OTHER PERSONS
 INJURED THE FUsILLADE OF SHOTS

McAlester, Ok, Jan. 19-Seven men were shot to death and three per sons were wounded today when three convicts attempted to escape from the state penitentiary, and were slain by guards. One of the men murdered by the convicts in their mad rush for liberty was John R. Thomas of Mus kogee, formerly United States dis trict judge and once congressman from Illinois.
 Despite the commotion caused by the three men in trying to shoot down everyone who came in their way, nc general attempt was made by other convicts to join in the delivery. The three mutineers were encouraged by tbeir less desperate fellows. who cheered the onsiaught of the crazed fisoners
 So rapidly did the three convictg shoot down those in their path that they reached the prison gate before the guards could return their fire. The desperados had taken the keys from the turnkey, John Martin, whom they had wounded, and had sheltered themselves through the prison yard by holding Mary Foster, a telephone operator, in front of them until the only shot fired by guards in the yard hit the girl in the leg.
 Outside the gate the men seized the horse and buggy of Warden Dick and dashed away, only to be shot to death by pursuing guards. One of the con victs fought to the last, their stolen horse lashed to a gallop by the other two. They fired their last cartridge at the oneoming guards, who poured in a deadly fire from horseback.
 Even after the three escaped men were lying dead in the bottom of the careening buggy, the frightened horse dashed onward until felled by bull lets from the pursuers. How the men obtained the weapons and planned the escape has not been discovered but rigid inquiry will be begun soon.
 The dead;
 John R. Thomas, Muskogee; for merly United States district judge.
 H. H. Drover, superintendent Der tillon department.
 Patrick Oakes, assistant deputy warden.
 F. c. Godfrey, guard.
 China Reed, under sentence of two years for larceny.
 Tom Law, Paul's Valley under five years sentence for forgery.
 Charles Koontz, Comanche county, serving a forty-year sentence for man slaughter.
 The following were wounded:
 John Martin, turnkey; shot through cheek.
 c. L. Wood, guard; shot through arm.
 Mary Foster, telephone operator; shot through leg
 The attempted mutiny occurred a. Inc end of the days work Reed, Law and Koontz worked in the tailor shop and when their work was ended they approached the back door of the of fee in the administration building. There they met John Martin, the turnkey. They told Martin they wan ed to see the patrol officer. As Mar tin opened the door Reed struck him repeatedly with a large revolver shot him through the cheek and robbed him of his keys.
 The three prisoners, all armed with revolvers and shouting to others to follow them, ran toward the warden's office There they met Oakes, the assistant warden. and before he could defend himself, Reed shot him through the heart.
 The greatest confusion ensued. Conyicts ran about shouting words of encouragement to the mutineers. By this time the guards were alert and began firing, a random shot passing through a door in the office of Drover, lBertilon officer, Killed him He was