The Bismarck tribune., 1924-12-01

Theodore Hanson, guard, clubbed
on the arm, and Frank Carr, guard,
slashed across the fingers with
knife by the convicts, were recovering
today from effects of their injuries.
Break After Supper
The break for liberty came about
G:l5 Sunday night, and the convicts
struck at the weakest spot in the pri-
son-the gate room. But for the fact
that the weakness had been recog-
nized by the warden and extra guards
placed on duty, the coup would have
been successful. The convicts had
taken the keys to the outer gate and
the prison vault and were ready to
free themselves and fellow convicts
when Deputy Warden Ben Bailey,
hiding in the visitors room, dis
charged his shotgun. The cOnvicts
rushed back into the prison interior,
and the plot was broken.
Smith and Bell had been preparing
for the break. One had contrived
blackjack made out Of piece of rub
ber hose with lead in the end. The
other had obtained n twine plant
knife. Bell, high-gradc mechanic,
had made a wooden pistol and stained
it so that it was almost perfect
initiation of a .3S calibre automatic
pistol He had even cut notches in
the sides and put on the safety"
AS Smith and Bell were walking
from the dining room they made
their break. Theodore Hanson, q
guard off duty, was in the hallway
near where they made their dash.
Smith lunged at him with the black
jack, and Hanson warded off blow
aimed at his head but caught it on
the arm and was disabled. The con-
victs dashed on and Bell slashed at
Frank Carr, another guard, who hap
pened to be in the waiting room.
with his knife. He slashed Carr
across the fingers.
Grab The Keys
Reaching the outer gates, Smith
held up Mack Tellinger. prison farm
er, and showed the imitation pistol
against him saying Glands up, mean
business" The other grabbed the
prison keys from Henry McLear, out
er gate keeper.
"Comc on, boys" give got the
keys" one Of the convicts shouted.
McLear. Warden Lee said, had been
ordered to give up the keys without
a struggle, if attacked, as other pre-
parations were made for such an
emergency. Deputy Warden Bailey
was in the visitors room to one side.
in the dark, with shotgun. Chief
Keeper G. X. Osjord was in the hall
way beyond the outer gate, hiding
under the stairway, with gun. War
den Lee was in his office, few feet
At the time the prisoners 60 from
the dining room to their cells, the
"trusties" who make up the prison
farm crew are taken by the prisoner
farmer through the outer gate to do
the night chores around the prison.
Smith and Bell took advantage Of
this situation to make their thrust
toward liberty.
Other convicts were in the gate
room, waiting to be permitted to go
to their work. They made no effort
to help Smith and Bell and one or
two told the warden they were ready
to battle Smith and Bell when Bailey
fired his shot. Warden Lee express.
ed belief that practically every farm
prisoner would have helped the
guards in preventing a wholesale
prison delivery. A bloody battle
might have resulted had Smith and
Bell succeeded in opening the ann
munition vault, the warden said.
Officers Ready
Every prison officer was close by,
ready for emergency the warden
said. According to Warden Lee the
outer gate room, part of the prison
built in territorial days, is recogniz-
ed as the weakest spot in the prison.
For the last two months. the Warden
has kept extra guards on duty DUR
ing the early evening until the pri-
soners are locked up. A tower man
also has been kept on duty for long
period by the warden to prevent
breaks over the prison walls. A
shortage of prison guards. due to
lack of funds, has caused the officers
to put in extra hours, since Warden
Lee started in to break up. the
escapes from the prison. But one
prisoner. regarded as q harmless