The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-20
Three Prisoners in Oklahoma
State Penitentiary Use Girl
Stenographer as Shield IN
Flight.
Her Pluck and That of an
Outer Guard Halt Trio. Eek.
Congressman and Prison
Officials Victims of Daring
Escape Attempt.

McALESTER. OKLAHOMA. Jan.
19.---Judge John r. Thomas, former
congressman from Illinois; ID. Z.
Oates, assistant deputy warden: f. Z.
Godfrey, day sergeant. and II. ii.
Drover, Bertiiiion expert, were killed
this Afternoon at the State penitentiary
by Tom Lane, Chimney Reed. and
Charles Kuntz. conyicts. who secured
money and then fed from the prison.
The escaping convicts were. how
ever killed before they succeeded in
getting off the prison farm,
The attack on the prison officials
was made at 4 O'Clock in the after
noon The three prisoners slipped
through the storeroom In the base
ment and UP dark stairway that
leads to the cage at the entrance OF
the main building. They appeared at
the door OF the cage Just JAS IN" turn
key was locking the gate. after let
ting out some parties
Thrusting a gun in the face of the
guard they demanded the keys After
little parleylng they succeeded in
getting them, and as they reached
through the bars to unlock the gates,
the guard, John Martin, ran for the
wardens room.
Pat Oates the assistant deputy
warden. was the only officer in the
Office, and Martin told aim 10 get
gun. that three prisoners had pos
session nj the keys and guns
No guns are stored In the Office, but
a guard was despatched for firearms.
Judge. Pleading. Is Shot
oates and Martin stepped into
side room as the coneicts entered the
first OF the suite Of rooms used by tho
officers of the jail. They ran through
the first room, which connects with
the second. Both rooms were vacant,
~ the news was made known that The
men had escaped. Then they con
tinuei into the last room. which is
Warden Dicks.
In the warden's room was Judge
John r. Thomas. former congressman
from Illinois. and OF late years c.tt-
zen of Muskpgee, He was sitting In
the warde.ns office talking TO a pris.
oner. whom hs had been ceSed to
Mira lester tn consult.
The ccnvicts rushed into the room
aud demanded that all present put up
their hands. Judge Thomas respond
ed. ard begged that he be not killed.
hut in the fight that followed he was
shot through the heart.
Make Girl \ Shield.
Day Sergeant Godfrey and Parole
Clerk Rice were in the room. and
they pat mp their hands at the con-
/
made half turn uf the body, God
frey attempted TO grasp him. and the
sergeant was shot through the head
by another convict.
The s,cnographer. Mary Foster. who
had run into the wardens office to
get away from the convicts. was cor
nered and placing her in their arms.
with Rice in front. the prisoners at
tempted to beat their way back to the
ff-yxy s4Sgs.s- as,yf t NJ ~ va ~
by this time Pat Oates had secured
a gun. and as they attempted to come
nut If the wartien's Office into the dep
ufy's office. Oates shot and wounded
kuntze,
The convicts made a stand against
Oates. and as the officer tried to shoot
stftcv held The girl and Eice in front
OF them Watching his opportunity,
one convict threw his arm around the
casing of the door and shot Oates
through the head, killing him in
stanfly.
Through Doors Into Heart.
During the shooting a shot went
through the oak door of the Office
opening into the entrance, across the
entrance, into the west wing OF the
building. through an open door, and
through another door, in line. that
was open. to the far end of the room.
where Drover. the Bertiilon man, was
standing. The bullet entered his
heart
Working their way to the entrance
md unlocking the front gate the con-
4 victs pushed the girl and Rice In front
OF them right past the tower, where
the two entry guards stood. and de-
fed them 10 shoot
Realizing their helpless condition,
and knowing that the prison was sur
rounded by a Gordon OF guards. these
N.-.- NJ u Ax,I
Ing on circumstances to arise so that
\ the girl and Rice could be relieved of
danger.
Guard HaIta FIigAt.
- Getting into buggy that was stand
Ing at the driveway in front of the
prison. the men loaded In the girl and
Rice and lifted in the wounded kuntz,
and started on the farm road that
leads west Of the prison.
They were frst met by a guard who.
\ not expecting anything OF the kind.
was told to put his hands up. and
needing the advice Of Rice. he did SO.
They next met the keeper of the
hioodhoundS George Richie, who was
riding horse. Taking in the situation.
Richie dismounted and began shooting
& regardless OF the girl and Rice. His
first shot hit Lane IN the head, and
! he dropped forward on Rice.
Chiney Reed answering the fire. was
4 next sSnot by RICHIE As Lame tuhh-
4 bled from the buggy. Rice threw Reed
out and fell himself to the ground, and
n lay still. as though shot.
by this time guards We're running
Il and number OF shots had been Aired
i ~ the occupants OF the buggy from
long distance The girl. who was
prostratsd and also shot through the
thigh. lay in tho buggy. and was res
cucd In few minutes after the firing
z
SteneGrapheF Gets Cur.
The toll Of human life was seven.
four killed in the Office by the con-
Il vtctx. and the three convicts In trying
q IN AacAp3.
! Martini the turnkny, WAs shot IN the
n {ace, while making the light nv the
6l1e Nh 0atas but not perto1ely hurt.