Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-20
RIGID INVESTIGATION
OF CONVICT MUT|NY
Warden Conducting Probe of
Oklahoma Prison Riot,
Fatal to Seven.
HOW INMATES GOT GUNS
is CRUX OF THE INQUIRY
Girl Phone Operator Used as Shield
in Futile Dash of Three From
Penitentiary.

McALESTER, Okla, January 20
Quiet prevailed today at the state peni-
Tertiary, where last night seven persons
lost their lives during a battle between
guards and three convicts who attempt
ed to escape. Bodies of the three prison
employees shot down while at their posts
Of duty and the three convicts were at
the penitentiary morgue. while in the
city, a few miles distant, the body Of
Judge John r. Thomas Of Muskogee, a
visitor at the prison, killed by a con-
victs bullet, awaited final preparations
for conveyance to relatives. In the
prison hospital, suffering from bullet
wounds, were Miss Mary Foster, tele-
phone operator at the prison; John Mar
tin, turnkey, and c. L. Wood. guard.
The bodies of H. H. Drover, head of
the Bertillon department.: Patrick
Oates, assistant deputy warden, and
F. c. Godfrey. a guard. Will be held
for word from relatives as to their dis
position, which was expected to come
today.
Pistols Struggled Into Prison.
Pistols smuggled into the prison and
reaching the hands of Charles Koontz.
China Reed and Tom Lane the convicts
who gave up their lives in their dash
for liberty. were the cause OF the trag-
edy. Today Warden W. R. Dick con-
tinued the searching investigation to
discover the means by which the weap-
ons came within the walls. Word came
from Oklahoma City that a special
commission might be appointed to
make an Investigation of the affair.
Armed with their pistols, Reed, Lane
and Koontz. when labor ended for the
day in the tailor shop where they were
employed. made their way through a
hos cfs av,1 Il IL Tot
way to the entry room of the main build
ing There stood John Martin. the
turnkey, but before he realized what the
presence of the men meant a shot pass
ed through his cheek. knocking him down.
Quickly the men took his keys.
With shout to the other prisoners to
join them the three rushed forward.
Oats, the assistant warden. was in their
path. Reed shot him through the heart
Near the door of the Warden's Office sat
Judge Thomas, who was waiting to see
Warden Dick on business.
Innocent Bystander Killed.
Boys, I am an innocent bystander
just here on, private business" the
judge called as he sprang to his feet
and put up his hands.
In reply came a shot from the con-
victs, and he fell dead. Another shot
wounded Wood, guard.
Miss Foster, the telephone operator,
| then came in for attention from the
three. With an oath they overturned
the switchboard hoping to disconnect
the wires.
BY this time the greatest excitement
was sweeping through the prison. Con-
victs We're shouting cheering words to
the escaping men. and guards were
shooting as they ran about to quell
the outbreak. Half crying as the rifles
of the guards cracked from various
quarters, the three convicts hesitated.
but only for an instant.
Lured by the hope of freedom, the three
went forward toward the gate, dragging
Miss Foster with them. AS they neared
the doorway they lifted the telephone OPP
orator, and. carrying her as a shield, the
three huddled behind her as they rushed
from the building.
Stray Bullet Kills Official.
Godfrey. one of the guards, attempted
| to halt them. Promptly he was shot to
death. A bullet that went wild passed
through the Office door of Drover. the
Bertillon expert and killed that official.
Out OF the building, Reed, koontz. and
Land made their way on a trot to the
| gate. None of the guards dared to shoot
| because of the human shield. the tele-
phone girl, carried by the desperate men.
A shot finally was fired and it hit
| Miss Foster in the leg. Reaching the
| gate, the three men dropped their bur-
den. after unlocking the last barrier to
freedom. and sprang into a buggy. Lash.
| ing the horse. the convicts sped down
| the road
The Dash for liberty was short how
| ever. Guards on horses quickly came
within shooting distance and a runn.n,
| fight began. The convicts made a des-
perate fight as the buggy lurched along,
| but it. was soon over. Bullet after bull
| let from the guns of the guards found
| its mark. and when the horse at asst fell
from shot and the guards came up the
three convicts lay dead in the buggy.
Within the prison guards worked
heroically, driving the convicts to their
cells and holding at bay those who
threatened to overpower them. Order
was soon restored and none of the other
prisoners went beyond the walls