East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-09-06
Theory That Gardner is Still
on Island is Abandoned and
Work Starts on Mainland.
BELIEF THAT CONVICT HAS
ASSISTANCE STRENGTHEN
Officers Expect to Find Con-
vict's Discarded Clothes as
Clue to Direction He Took.


TACOMA. Sept. 6.-(U. P.)-Offi-
GERS guards and possemen, working in
the vicinity Of Mcneil Island peniten-
tiary, have abandoned the theory that
Gardner is still on the island and arc
NOW working on the mainland. They
think the daring bandit made good
his escape across the treacherous wa
ters This strengthens the belief that
Gardner had confederates with whom
he planned his escape. Bogart and
Impyn are believed to have been
drawn into the plot by Gardner's mag
netic personality solely as shield for
the bandit himself. Every time Gard
ner planned an escape he has had an
other prisoner escape with him. thus
dividing the trails Officers expect to
lind the convicts discarded clothing as
the first clue to the direction he took.
Escape Believed Planned.
TACOMA, Sept s.4-tu. P.)-Roy
Gardier is free again. 4 thorough
search Of aIcNeiis Island following his
escape yesterday failed to reveal the
whereabouts of the daring mail ban
dit. II is believed he escaped to the
mainland, although the government
launches are patrolling the waters alIs
about the island, and searchers are
guarding every cove where the fugi-
tive may he, Gardner's escape 1t is
believed. was planned. He had wire
pliers with him. He had evidently ar
ranged with Lawardus Bogart and Ev-
erett Impynn to escape with him and
draw the guards fire while the mail
bandit made good his escape. Gard
ner's companions failed, one being
killed. and the other possibly fatally
wounded. His escape was timed to the
minute, the trio leaving the other
prisoners during an exciting moment
in the labor day baseball game.
Cuts Wire With Pliers.
Gardner, after cutting the wire with
pliers, crawled through, followed by
the other two fligitives. The guards
dropped Bogart and Impynn before
they had a chance to get far Card
ner mingled with a herd OF cattle, pro-
tecting himself, dashed for the woods
a mile away. and disappeared. The
other prisoners were immediately
placed hack in the cells ana every
available guard was sent out after
Gardner The brush was set on fire.
but the smoke aided Gardner more
! than it did the guards apparently. As
night fell a thick fog settled over the
island, making pursuit more difficult.
Government launches closely searched
ed the waters and coves, both on the
island and mainland. Searchlights
played over the island, but the fog de-
streyed their effic ency. Prison off
cials believe the bandit may have had
friends awaiting him. They scout the
theory that he escaped to the main
land BY swimming. The waters are
swift, cold and treacherous and he
never would have been able to make
lit.
Convict Wrote Checrfully to Wife.
According TO advices from Califor-
MIA, Mrs. Dolly Gardner. Roy's wife.
Expressed considerable disappoint-
ment that the daring bandit had at
tempted to escape. She had planned
to SO north to be near him and see
him as frequently as the prison Off
cials would permit her and take her
little daughter with her She said
Gardner wrote her a cheerful letter
recently. looking forward to the time
when he would be with his family
again. She expressed the hope that
her husband would either be taken
without injury. or would escape
through the Gordon OF officers hunt
ing him.