Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-20
ESCAPED PRISONER
PLEADS FOR GUARD
CLYDE STRATTON, JOLIET CON-
VlCT. USES ONLY LETTER TO
cEFEND THE PENITENTlARY
WATcHMAN BEFORE CIVIL sE9.
VICE BOARD.

test against the discharge OF Harry
DaveY a Joliet prison guard. who
was on duty when Stratton and two
other, prisoners escaped. Davey was
foundi guilty some time ago on a
charge of ,aiding in the escape and
was removed.
stratton solemnly vows that Davey
was not to blame,
After reading his letter, the state
civil service commission today re.
versed its finding and reinstated Dav.
ey on the eligible list. He will get
his job back as soon as there is a va.
cancy.
Davey comes of q good family in
Chicago and he has always borne
good reputation, Even his family al.
given before the civil service com.
mission locke. bad for him. But his
brother, Robert f. Davey, who is a
membfr of the Chicago fire depart .
ment, wasn't satisfied. He kept wo..
rying tyer the matter and about a
montb after the escape of the three
prisoifrs. which occurred in Septem-
Der, ny heard that Stratton had been
caught ana sent to Leavenworth. He
wrotefo him and asked him whether
or noghis brother had helped him es.
y Nkrdt ~, Il 4
for honth, but he used his first op,
portunity to answer
Here. is his answer:
Tear Sir:
i hope you will pardon my
seeming lack Of courtesy in not
answering your letter of Novem.
Der Is, last but | assure you that
it was thru no fault of mine |
was In the third grade here end
was denied all privileges. Today
was promoted and just this min.
ute received your letter. In order
10 convince you Of my sincerity
III this, | will tell you that | am
now using my single opportunity :,
to write for at least another
month in order to do my very best y y
toward proving that Mr.. ravey :
was IN no way to blame for what =
happened 9
! should have written 10 my
motfer tonight as she has had no '"
word from me for 70 ',a.;a .s., tu,,le, but
your brother was always a gentle !,
man and want you to know that ! !,
what he says is the truth. !.
lie did inspect my lock not :.
over ten minutes before | left the :
cell. The lock was riveted from
the inside of the cell with six -
very soft one.fourth inch rlvets.
had in the cell high-spced au. 20
tomato drilling d vice with one 4
fourth inch diamond point drills a
In order to remove the outer plate :
OF the lock on the inside OF the
door simply had to drill the
heads Of four rivets and bend the da
plates back, thus gaining access ar
70 the tunblers and to remove On
the tongue Of the lock A demon. IA
stration of this would prove thar te,
tbs could Re ACCOMPLISHED in less Ia
thah hYe minutes. had every TIL
move Of Mr. Dayey timed and IN,
knew just where he should be 10
Everything I worked Ike clock. "A
work and DO one could have nv
avoided thef result Of nv plans an
no matter how ygiant he should
have been. don't plan to be
caught in the act at any time,
Furthermore even had Mr.
DaYey tried my lock after I hao in
removed the plate and tumblers pa
ne could NOT have known it was m,
tempered With, as the lever devise br
controlled from the head end OF kn
the cell gallery still held the Co
doors securely locked and AZ the Coz
plate was taken from TIE inside con
OF the cell no one could see from 'n'
the outside what had been done ye'
am very sorry to hear that ~
hard luck has come to Mr. Davev qu'
thru my e2capade as he was al ''V'
ways q gentleman and as square
ana Just as any officer ever ~.
knew In any institution of that T..
KIND II any blame rests on any rao
one II is Captain Kane himself nm
VINO drove me to make the at. r.
tempt by his inhuman treatment TN,
mad Just been released from str,
eiGht months solitary confinement Cor
where ! was ;kangarooed by Kane is \
LOT no reason whatever, as the sta,
records SHOW no charge, placed doe
against me. fro,
Sincerely, fall
CLYDE STR ATToN. ron,