The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-01-28
Battle IN PRISON
THREE. .C0NVICTS, THREE GUARDS
and A JUDGE DEAD
GUARDS Fight BRAVELY

GUARDS fight BRAVELY|
Securing Pistols Three Inmates Of
Ok1ahoma's "Pen" Shoot Down
-Four and Fire at Girl Telephone
Operator-Guards Come up and
Pour Merciless Fire into Them.
Seven persons were killed and a
telephone operator injured during a
pistol battle at the Oklahoma State
penitentiary at McAlester, Okla,
Monday when three prisoners with
reyolvers made 3 dash for liberty.
The dead are: John r. Thomas, Mus
kogee, former United States District
Judge; D. C. Oates, deputy warden;
F. c. Godfrey, store house sergeant;
H. Il. Drover, record clerk; China
Reed, serving two-year sentence for
murder; Charles Koontz, serving for
ty years sentence for murder; Thorn
as Law, serving six-year sentence for
larceny.
The men armed with two reVolVers.
which had been smuggled into the
penitentiary, broke from the ranks
while the prisoners were being
marhced through court yard. AS
they ran through the Office they fired
several shots at random, one Of the
bullets striking Miss Foster. >. -.
Next they encountered Judge
Thomas, visitor to the penitentiary
in the corridor, and botn Of the men
carrying pistols opened fire, several
Of the bullets striking the attorney
and infncting mortal wounds. Oates
and Drover intercepted the men as
they left the corridor and were shot
to death, the prisoners continuing
their flight. By this time half doz-
en- guards were In pursuit and In a
running battle Godfrey and the three
men were killed.
None Of the other prisoners at
tempted to escape. The attempted
mutiny occurred at the end Of the
days work. Reed, Law and Koon.z
worked in the tailor shop, and when
their work was done they approached
the back door Of the Office in the ad-
ministration building. heTre 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
q large revolver, shot him through
the cheek and robbed him OF his
keys.
The three prisoners, all armed with
reviewers, shouted to others to follow
them, and ran towards the warden's
Office. There they met Oakes, the as
sistant warden, and before he could
defend himself, Reed shot him
through the heart. The greatest con-
fusion ensued. Convicts 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 Droyer, the Ber.
tillion officer, killed him.
Godfrey, the guard, sprang direct
" into the path OF the mutineers.
discharging his revolver at them. He
too fell victim to Reeds deadly
aim.
John r. Thomas, formerly United
States District Judge and widely
known through Oklahoma, was sit
ting in the warden's Office awaiting
the return Of warden r. w. Dick.
with whom he had business engage
ment. Apparently mistaking Judge
Thomas for the warden, the mutt
neers fred a volley Of shots At him
He sank to the floor mc:tally wound
ed.
Fearing alarm might be given by
the telephone operator, Mary Foster,
the three men next gave their atten-
ton to the telephone switchboard.
They turned it over and tried to dis
connect it. "You come with US" they
shouted as they dragged the girl into
the prison yard, holding her before
them to keep the guards from shoot
ing,
Shielded by the girls presence and
cheered on by 1900 convicts, the
three Zen made their way across the
n.ison yard. Only one shot was fired
at them and 1t struck the girl. AS she
sank to the ground wounded the con-
victs sprang to the prison gate. With
the keys they had taken from Turn
key Martin they unlocked it and were
free. Outside the gate the horse and
buggy Of the warden was hitched.
The three men sprang into it.
you'll never take US alive,
shouted Reed as he stood up In the
buggy and fred at the approaching
officers. The other convicts bent low
to avoid the scattering bullets. Reed
fought the fight alone. Fear-stricken
the others crouched behind the stag
ering horse. The guards poured a
merciless dre into the buggy. The
horse fell and the convicts ceased fir
ing. The three mutineers lay in a
heap in the bullet-riddied buggy.
6esd