The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-01-23
THREE CONvICTS IN MUTINY
IN OKLAHOMA PENrTENTIARY
Make Desperate Dash for Liberty
Seven Lives Lost and Three In
jured-Trio of Mad Prison
ers Riddled With Bull
let's After Killing
Four People.

GA meH were ShOC 10 OeaCn ana three
persons 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 dash for liberty was Jehn r.
Thomas of Muskogee, formerly
United States district Judge and once
congressman from Illinois.
Despite the commotion caused by
the three men in trying to shoot
down every one who came in their
way, no general attempt was made
by other convicts to join in the deliv-
cry.
The three mutineers were encour-
aged by their less desperate fellows,
who cheered the onslaught of the
armed prisoners.
A Rapid Break.
So rapidly did the three convicts
shoot down those in their path that
they reached the prison gate before
the guards could return their fire.
These desperadoes 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. Even af-
ter the escaped convicts were lying
dead in the bottom Of the careening
buggy the frightened horse dashed
onward until felled by bullet from
the pursuers.
How the men obtained the weapons
and planned the escape has not been
discovered but rigid inquiry will
begin soon.
The dead: John R. Thomas, Musko-
gee, former United States district
Judge; H. H. Drover, superintendent
Bertillor system; Patrick Oates, as
sistent deputy warden; F. C. Godfrey
guard; China Reed, under sentence of
two years for larcency; Tom Lane,
Paul's Valley, under five-year SEN
tence for forgery; Charles Koontz,
Comanche county, serving 4O-year
sentence for manslaughter.
Wodnded: John, Martin, turnkey,
shot through cheek; C. L. Wood, J
guard, shot through arm; Mary Fos-
ter. telephone operator, shot through
leg.
Make Desperate Break.
The men, armed with two revol-
vers, which had been smuggled into
the penitentiary, broke from the
ranks, while the prisoners were being
marched through courtyard. AS
hey ran through the Office, they fired
several shots at random, one of the
bullets striking Miss Foster.
Next they encountered Judge
Thomas, a visitor to the penitentiary,
n the corridor, and both of the men
carrying pistols, opened fire, several
of the bullets striking the attorney
and inflicting mortal wounds. Oates
and Drover intercepted the men, as
they left the corridor and were shot
to death, the prisoners, unwounded,
continuing their flight. BY this time
half dozen guards were in pursuit
and in running battle Godfrey and
the three men were killed. None of
the other prisoners attempted to es-
cape.
Secure the Keys.
The attempted mutiny occurred at
the end of the days work. Reed,
Law and Koontz worked in the tail
ors' shop, and when their work was
ended they approached the back door
of the Office in the administration
building. They met John Martin, the
turnkey. They told Martin they
wanted to see the parole officer. AS
Martin opened the door, Reed struck
him repeatedly with large revolver,
shot him through the cheek and rob-
bed him Of his keys.
The three prisoners, all armed with
revolvers, shouted to others to fol-
low them and ran toward the war
den's Office. There they met Cakes,
and before he could defend himself,
Reed shot him through the heart.
The greatest confusion ensued
Convicts ran about shouting words of
encouragement to the mutineers. BY
began firing. A random shot passed