The New York herald., 1921-09-25
Island Prison, Handouts and Leg Irons Fail
to Hold Daring Western Post Office
Robber, Though Love for His Wife
Twice Caused His Surrender
to Face Long Terms

milled about, scowling at the guards and
glancing longingly toward liberty.
This diversion kept the guards busy for
a few minutes until they had quieted the
suddenly aroused convicts Then they
started the hunt for Gardner. The island
covers about twelve square miles and most
of it is densely wooded. A fire was
started in the underbrush to drive Gardner
out. Instead it helped him by raising
thick pail of smoke.
Rowboats and launches were sent
circling around the island to head off
Gardner should he try to swim to the
mainland. The officers were uncertain
whether he could have secured a start
before they were able to block his path.
Some of them said Gardner had been
wounded and could not go far. Others de-
clared that he had merely stumbled and
went like the wind when he regained his
footing. Warden Thomas Moloney. ex-
pressed the opinion that Gardner was in
hiding on the island and would be driven
from cover to get food.
So the third search by Uncle Sans ex-
pert man hunters was on after Gardner,
the "human ee" AS a last resort a close
watch was set on Mrs. Gardner in the hope
that her husband would try to communi-
cate with her. Each previous time that
Gardner escaped and was recaptured 1t
was while he was trying to reach her or
communicate with her. Mrs. Gardner,
when she received word that her husband
was again at large, hurried from ranch
where she had been living to San Francisco
to await news of him.
Hoped He Would Escape
Because of His Long Term
Il am sorry Roy made the break, but
since he made it l hope he gets clear
away out of the country" she said. "Will
the world blame a wife for holding such
q hope? Fifty years of Imprisonment is
terrible prospect for man to face, no
matter what he has done. And up to now
Roy never has killed a man. / hope he
has not revolver with him. Roy is not
all bad. He sent our baby girl doll he
bought out of his prison allowance. 1t
came last Thursday. | thought he was
becoming reconciled to his fate and l was
going to live in Tacoma so | could be near
him."
So the hunters arranged to keep close
tab on Mrs. Gardner in the hope of trap
ping her husband. Gardner and his wife
both blame an injury received in mine
accident several years ago for his impulse
to criminal acts. He has silver plate
in his skull and there had been some talk
about an operation designed to correct his
impulses and perhaps cure him of criminal
tendencies Gardner had a chance of lib
erty in this direction-a slim chance, it is
true but no simmer than his chance of
being able to outrun the gantlet of armed
guards at the prison.
Gardner had committed several small
burglaries, one in jewelry store, when on
April 16, 1920, he first attracted serious
attention by daylight holdup of United
States mail truck in San Diego, Cal
Single handed and in broad daylight
the bandit held up the truck being driven
by Raymond Stock through crowded
street and escaped with half dozen sacks
of registered mail The loot in negotiable
securities was $4,000. The driver of the
truck was able to give a good description
Of the bandit Gardner was trailed and
arrested without resistance. He denied
the crime. His wife pleaded with him to
tell the truth and he finally gave in to
her pleading.
The bandit apologized handsomely to
Stock for epithets' he had used to him
while holding up the truck. He did not
mean to hurt his feelings he explained
TO Stock, but just cursed him to scare him.
Gardner was sentenced in the Federal
District Court to serve twenty-five years
on McNeils Island
I'D like to do IT to please the Judge"
he said with broad grin. "but I'm afraid
Mcneil will never see me, and IL | ever
happen to land there 1t will be a short
visit"
Held Up the Prison Guards
With Weapon of One of Them
Gardner was put into stateroom on
the solid Pullman running from San Fran.
cisco to Tacoma Two Federal officers
were in the room to guard him. Two
Chinese prisoners going north were taken
along, and Gardner was loaded with leg
irons and was handcuffed to the Chinese