Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-12-24
PRISONERS FAIL
IN ATTEMPTED
JAIL DELIVERY
Pipe Ripped Out and Walls
Torn in "BuII" Pen of
County Jail, Where Three
Men Are Confined

"Alt III " SNlt'h'NNN
Ripping out sections OF water
pipe, prisoners confined in the
lower part OF the county jail
made a desperate attempt to es-
cape Friday night, through tear
ing a hole through the stone wall
with the pipes. Three men are
confined in this section Of the
Jail, which is known as the "bull
pen." and these three are con-
fined under the most serious
charges now hanging over any
county prisoners.
The three confined in the Sec
tion where the attempted escape
was made are Harry j. Ford,
George Driver and Elmer Ben
son. Ford is being held on q
charge of murder, in connection
with the shooting of Martha Do
mer Thursday night, on South
First street. At the inquest held
yesterday Ford was held guilty of
having caused the girls death.
George Driver is one of the two
men arrested Friday by Sheriff
Tondre of Los Lunas, for alleged
completely IN the safe blowing at
Los Lunas Thursday night. Ell
mer Benson has been held for the
officials at Trinidad, Colo, He is
wanted at Trinidad on Il charge
of larceny, in connection with a
radio set.
The attempted Jail break was
discovered yesterday morning by
Jailer Abran Gutierrez. lie ar
rived at the Jail for duty at about
8 o'clock, he says. Upon looking
into the "bull pen" section he
found ample evidence of the work
which had been done the previous
night.
An investigation during the
morning failed TO elicit any in
formation from the prisoners,
They refused to say whether or
not all three were implicated in
it. However, the condition Of the
Jail gave every evidence that moro
than one man had been at work.
The light metal water pipe
which runs down from the upper
floor had been ripped out. In
ripping it out n large section of
tin in the corner of the ceiling
had also been ripped out, 1t APP
peared as though the men first
attempted to tear out the mason
ry about the bars at the window
furthest east on the north side of
the cell room. This window is
the closest to the point where the
pipe was torn out.
Failing in this attempt, or find
ing 1t too slow and arduous, 1t Is
believed, they then attempted to
break through at the opposite
window, on the south side. The
same method OF tearing out the
masonry about the barred win
dow, so as to release the bars, was
followed.
Officers are at a loss to UNDER
stand why the men failed in their
attempt. They were not inter-
rupted, no knowledge of the at
tempted break being obtained un-
til Jailer Gutierrez discovered the
condition of the "bull pen" in the
morning. And the metal pipe had
proved effective as far as it had
been used. as there are great holes
torn in the rotting masonry of
the walls and some Of the stones
have been removed.
Two theories are advanced by
those who have investigated. One
is that the work was started by
the meu too late to accomplish
their purpose. The other Is that
they became so fatigued with the
heavy work that they finally be-
came discouraged and desisted.
1t is the opinion of many that if
they had maintained their efforts
for two or three hours after they
stopped they would have cen
successful.
After discovering the condition
of the "bull pen" yesterday morn
ing Jailer Gutierrez ordered the
men to go inside the steel cages.
Elmer Benson, who is a great,
powerful fellow, more than six
feet tall and powerfully built, in
vited the sheriff to proceed TO a
community where ice water Is not
to be found on the menu.
Gutierrez says TINT when he
opened the door to force the men
to retire within the cage, Benson
led an attack upon him. The
Charge of the Escaping Brigade"
was suddenly halted when Jaier
Gutierrez drew his revolver. He
then compelled them to go inside
the cage, he reports.
Owing to his powerful physique,
it is the opiuion of the officials
that Elmer Benson was leader of
the attempt and probably per-
formed most of the labor. How
ard Briggs, held with Benson in
connection with the alleged at
tempted theft OF a radio set, was
in another section OF the Jail.
Both Briggs and Benson are to
be started back to Trinidad to-
day.
George Driver, arrested by
Sheriff Tondre, was lodged In the
county Jail, while Bud Ward. who
had been arrested with him, had
been held in the city jail. Sheriff
Tondre took both men out of Jail
yesterday to return them to Los
Lunas.