, 1921-05-19
CONVICT HOLDS CITIZENS AS HOSTAGE

I"VvNI IUl
A convict, AL Biscaro. serving {
term of from 8 to 10 years in the
state penitentiary, made his escape
from that institution Monday last In
q unique and Sensational manner
Biscaro, who was about 80 years o.
age was sent to the p%enitentiary some
six months since, having been found
guilty of grand larcency in Laramie
county. He was charged with steal
ing an automobile and after being
arrested assaulting the officer who
arrested him. 1t was brought out
ut his trial that he had already ser.
sed three prison terms, one in the
Wyoming penitentiary. one in Colo.
RADIO and one in Montana. He had
an exceptionally bad reputation and
was considered at all times as a dan.
gerous man.
Since being confined In the Wyom.
ing p~enitentiary he has been q model
prisoner, causing no trouble of any
sort.
The latter part of April he was
taken sick with an attack of appen-
dicitis and was operated upon by the
p~enitentiary physician, DR.. R. Bar
Der. The operation was entirely sue
cessful and the man was getting
along nicely. the wound having heal.
ed up entirely although the bandage
had not been removed and the pa
tient was still rather weak.
Monday morning Biscaro, who was
still in the hospital, sent a note to
the warden stating that he desired
to see either Warden Hadsell Or F.
r. Keifer deputy warden. as soon as
convenient. Owing to press of other
business neither Of these gentlemen
complied with Biscaro's request, al.
though they would have done so at
some later time.
Shortly after nine O'Clock Monday
morning DR.. r. Barber, Penitentiary
physician, wen to the pen on his
daily visit. Rich Mayor, also went
to the pen to look ver a couple sue
ton pumps to see II they could be
used in pumping some water from the
cellar of the City Steam Laundry,
Rich looked the penitentiary pumps
over and finding that neither would
answer the purpose, he went on into
the penitentiary with DR.. Barber tc
wait until the doctor got through In
order that he could ride back down
town with him.
In the penitentiary hospital or
Monday morning was but one patient
Biscaro, and two convict care-tak'
ers. One of the prison guards con
Quoted five convicts to the hospita
to receive treatment from DR.. Bar
Der. While these patients were be
ing examined and treated Biscare
~rrA 1H~l~- 40 AHo H CYhHn Al
mornings work was completed thu
Barber. Rich Mayor and the guart
started to leave the hospital. Al
this point Biscaro confronted then
with a leveled revolver, demanding
that they line up against the wall
The two attendants were also lined
up with the guard, DR.. Barber and
Mr.. Mayor. Biscaro then sent the
guard for Warden Hadsell with the
demand that all GUT rds be taken from
the walls and that an automobile
carrying four women be brought t1
the hospital door. Death Of DR.. Bar.
Der and Mr. Mayor was threatened II
this request was not complied with
Following the departure of the guard
DR.. Barber and Rich began a discus
sion with the convict, explaining tt
hi mthat it would be impossible tt
secure women to ride in the auto
mobile. Biscaro finally agreed thai
he would be satisfied with the two
men present as his hostages in his
escape. One Of the hospital attend,
ants was sent to inform the warder
OF this decision.
BiscarO, who was armed with a .2E
calibre Colts automatic, was absolu,
tely desperate and seemed not tc
care at all what happened to him
simply affirming that II he was mol.
ested in any way he would take two
men with him.. It was thought al
first that he might be bluffing but tc
prove that he wasn't he fired a shot
into the corner OF the room. Fol,
lowing this shot Biscaro had the
other men watch him while he threw
q shell into the chamber Of the gun
HE then took the magazine out and
filled 1t from a well-stocked sack Of
lshells. Biscaro, who raj an inmate
LOT the hospital. did not have hit
elothes with him, 80 he forced DR.
Barber to remove all his clothes. HI
put these clothes on, keeping be
tween Barber, and Mayor Ut all time.
|so THAI 1t would be impossible fol-
ANYONE outside to shoot him withou,
hitting one of the other men. Bisca.
iro forced the remaining convict at.
tendant to remove his clothes and or
dered DR.. Barber to put them on
At n time an effort was made Il
overcome Bfscaro. but the attempt
was unsuccessful. Following this at
tempt Biscaro lined all three men NJ
against the wall. and stood on a. Il
Ito shoot them. Calling them all sort
OF vile names the craxed convict In,
formed them that he was going t.
kill each Of them and then himself
While deciding which one Of thu
three he would shoot the condemned
msn managed to persuade him tina
IL was unnecessary to kill them u
they would assist him to escape and
thai ~ he killed them thera Wa ne