Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-31
CLYDE STRATTON
IN A DARING DASH
SECURES LIBERTY
Noted Yeggnan Convicted From Rock
Island County Escapes From
Joliet Penitentiary.
BORED HOLE IN ROOF OF CELL
Was Sent Up for II Years for Murder
of ]. Lee Crowder-PuIled on
Jail Delivery Here.

Joliet, ILL.,, July 31.-A plan for a
general jail delivery, which if sue
cessful might have resulted in the
escape OF 200 Convicts from the state
penitentiary here, was revealed today
when Warden Michael thinner investi-
gated the escape of three prisoners
who fed last night. Two conviCts con-
fessed that so or more fellow prison
ers were involved in the conspiracy to
break out and that inability of any of
them except Clyde Stratton to pick a
small safety lock on their cell doors
prevented others from getting out.
With Stratton, who is notorious as
a jail breaker, fed two TRUSTEES. Will
liam A Hart and William McGlade,
who, according to the confession, were
leaders in the conspiracy. None of the
three has been retaken
Failed to Throw Switch.
The conspiracy has been going on
were taken from the workshop by con-
victs and finally a spot was selected in
the roof through which a hole was
bored last night. In 20 minutes an
exit was furnished. The 80 in on the
plan were TO pick the small locks on
their doors whenever the opportunity
came for one of the TRUSTEES 10 throw
the switch which opens all the cells
except for the small locks
This opportunity came, according to
the confession. when Harry Dady a
guard. was absent from his post for a
short time. Either McGlade or Hart
threw the switch and Stratton sue
ceeded in picking the lock and escap
ing with the other two but the rest of
the men were unable TO do their part
though the return of the guard inter-
rupted two almost successful
Warden thinner today suspended
Dady pending the hearing of his case
by a civil service board. The con-
victs who confessed are in solitary"
Chicago. July 31.-Clyde Stratton.
noted convict and two other prisoners,
scaped from the Illinois penitentiary
at Joliet yesterday, according to a
telegram received by the Chicago de-
tective bureau last night. 1t was the
sixth time Stratton had broken out of
some prison in a comparatively short
criminal career. William A. Hart and
William McGIade. the other two to
escape, were serving life sentences for
murder.
Stratton had been serving a IA year
sentence for the murder of banker at
Silvis, III.
Stratton has had a picturesque ca
reeT. He was arrested here soon after
the LOgue murder in the McVicar
building several years ago and turned
over to the federal authorities for a
postoffice robbery and sent to Leaven-
worth He escaped from LeavenwOrth
by crawling through a mile of sewer.
Stratton twice got out Of the Ohio
penitentiary.
The manner of escape last night was
still mystery early today. One theory
as that the three men sawed locks on
their cell doors.
Bored Hole in Roof.
A hole bored in the roof of the cell
corridor at the prison furnished the
means Of escape for the three con-
victs il was found today by investiga-
tors directed by Warden Michael Zim-
mer
While the serach was going on for
the prisoners today, two others were
detected just after they had picked a
lock on cell door. Warden thinner
has instituted an investigation of the
conduct of the guards whose laxity is
blamed for the escape.