Evening star., 1923-10-05
cONV|CTsBEAI OFF
BES|EGERS' ATTACK
More Troops Go to Kentucky
Prison in Third Day of
Three-Man Revolt.
ny the Associated Press.

" the Ate0ciated Press. .-a
EpDYvILLE, KY October s.
Three lone convicts who for over two
days have defied efforts of the execu-
tive and military departments OF the
state OF Kentucky to dislodge them
from an improvised fortress In the
peniteptiary prison here seemed as
sured Of holding their position until
evening. following an announcement
made by Warden John Chiffon today.
Warden Chiffon said further con-
ferences and efforts to dislodge the
mon would be held UP until $50 this
afternoon. awaiting the arrival of
three members.of the state board of
charities and correction Just what
methods the board might suggest that
have not been tried by the military
power the warden did not know.
Laughter, even in the face of the
crisis, was caused, however. when
some one suggested the board might
advise the uprisers be issued pardons
and thus end the. controversy.
Effective Hiding Place,
The effective hiding plaza the con-
victs possessed was said by Warden
Chiffon to be the main difticulty the
state faced. He said the convicts evil
IDENTIFY had used four ninety gallon
iron steam boilers In the front of the
building and u steel-sheeted bread
mixer in the rear as hiding places,
and said they were located at the only
entrance ways to the building.
In the wardens opinion. the con-
skg,A. - u
each man could stand off a regiment,
due TO the strategic range of fire they
would control IL an advance was
made upon them.
Their hands red with the lifeblood
of three prison guards. Monte Wal
ters, Lawrence Griffith and Harry
Ferland, convict murderers. passed
through two barrages from high
power rifles and two machine guns.
that drove a hall of teel-jacketed
bullets through the mess hall walls,
tearing out large holes In the north
and west sides at points where the
fire was concentrated; a gas attack
released by tear gas bombs lobbed
into the building through the breaches s
in the walls and bombardment of
rifle grenades.
Mere Troops Ordered.
Just before midnight Gov. Edwin
p Morrow ordered additional guards
men TO the scene. Acting upon a re-
quest for reinforcements from War
den John Chiffon, who said the ma
chine gunners were worn out by the
strain of the long watch and needed
guard relief, Gov. Morrow ordered
twenty-five members of Company L,
1isth Infantry, from Mayfield. to the
scene.
ammunition. together with supply
OF rifle grenades. arrived late yes
terday from Camp Henry Knox. In
addition the besiegers have obtained
a quantity of dynamite, and it has
be made to mine the building and
ra1e it with a heavy blast of the
explosive.
The sensational break for liberty
by the convict trio. which resulted in
the siege. was made early Wednesday
morning. Having obtained automatic
pistols in some undetermined way
Walters. Griffith and Ferland initiated
the dash by shooting to death Guard
Hodge Cunningham. Other guards
running fight ensued.t isi (which v. B.
MattingIy. w. p. Gilbert and william
Gi1f5han were. wounded. Mating gly
and Gilbert died from their wounds.
stand on Attackers.
Failing to win the main gate of the
prison wall. the convict gunmen took
cover in the mess hall Their refuge
tired to the second floor, and, using
windows as loopholes, stood of at
tackers.
During the two nights of the siege
score of acetylene torches, placed
at vantage points in the prison
grounds. have cast their. fiickering
light against the mess hall walls.
forming a circle of light through
which a man might not pass unde-
tected by the eyes of the ring of rifle
men who waited and watched from
the shadows on the outside of the
illuminated circle.
Opinion was expressed in some
quarters that the beleaguered des-
peradoes had been killed or seriously
wounded by the volleys directed
against their fortress. 1t was proved,
however, that at least one of the trio
still was able to walk when a figure
was seen to emerge from the mess
hall door. Greeted by a squirt of bull
lets from the rifles of watching
suards. the man fed back into the
dark interior of the building. Later
a guard, in attempting to place to
more advantage one of the torches,
tnonaertarily deserted cover, and three
fshots were fred from the building.
kshowinR that the ammunition OF the
mess hall defenders had not been ex-
=, agsufad