Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-06-13
Gardner's
EscapeIs
Described
Deputy Marshal Ex-
plains How Prisoner
Outwitted Guards In
Stateroom


tails of the escape of Roy Gardner
mail bandit. and N. H. Pyron, con-
victed counterfeiter, from tkeir
custody near Castle Rock, Wash,
early last Saturday morning were
related by United States Deputy
Marshall Thomas F. Mulhall and
Federal Guard D. w. Rinckle, who
returned to San francisco late
last night.
I'VE left Portland about IL
o'clock Friday night and the por-
ter came to make the berths about
midnight" said Mulhall. I'VE
moved Gardner and Pyron to the
smoking room and then moved
them back. Pyron was put to bed
first. We put leg irons on him
and put him in an upper berth.
Asked To Wash Hands.
Gardner asked to wash his
hands and we took him to a basin
in the corner of our drawing
room. He was leaning over the
basin. with me right in back of
him. Quick as lightning he swung
around. He had whipped out a
pistol from beneath his clothing
and had me covered.
Stick up your hands, he said
talking quickly, as if excited.
Now Gardner, what's the use
of trying to scare me?' l asked.
Stick 'em' he said. saw he
meant business and l did.
"Rinckle rushed at him, Gard
ned stood his ground. With the
cleverest move ever saw, he got
my gun and backed into a corner,
where he could cover us both and
be safe from attack
Threatened To Shot.
"Pyron jumped down from his
berth to the floor and Gardner
told him to search us for keys.
He found them in the first pocket
he went into and freed himself
and then Gardner. Gardner took
off the Oregon boot, covering us
all the time with both guns.
HE then told Pyron to hand
cuff us. This Pyron did, putting
us face to face and placing the
handouts very tight. Gardner
then demanded Rinckle's gun.
Rinckle said he had none, but
Pyron found it in a satchel.
Gardner gave my gun to Pyron
and ordered us, under penalty OF
death. to be still. He made me sit
on the edge of the berth and fas-
tened the Oregon boot on me.
Another part was fastened to some
pipes SO that we were handcuffed,
booted and chained to the car. He
twisted my leg so that it hurt and
when l complained he said he
would unfasten it before he left.
Left SIS for Meal
"They then searched for money.
Gardner took my purse with $50
in it from one pocket. Pyron took
Rinckle's roll of $120 and told
Gardner to go back for Pyron's
purse of $40 in my pocket.
What are we going to get
breakfast with?' I asked Gardner
and he threw down a five dollar
bill. Then he unfastened the boot
from my leg and made us promise
to be quiet for twenty minutes.
He said he would leave the hand
cuff keys in the washroom. We
joked with him as best we could
asking what way he was going !
and telling him he would have to
hurry to get over the line.
Promises Big Job.
"Tll get over the line alright,
be said, and you'll hear from me
pretty soon. I'll pull a big job
that everybody Will hear about.
We talked this way for about
twenty minutes, and when the
train slowed down for Castle Rock
he pulled down the shade so no
body could see US in the car. He
then raised a window and backed
out Of it, never once taking the
guns off US. When he dropped
outside he opened his gun. threw
out the cartridges and tossed it at
US.
Here's a souvenir he said,
the gun you got stuck up with"
Pyron according to Mulhall.
dove head first through the train
window.
Gardner before he left showed
MulhaH and RinekIe where be had
concealed the gun with which he
held them up.
According TO Mulhall IL had
been sewed into a pocket in front
Of his undershirt. Gardner said
the gun was given him at the
county Jail in San Francisco. II
was q calibre cylinder type weapon
and nearly new.