The Washington times., 1925-08-22
New and Amazing Serial Describes Ont
Mans Long But Losing Battle
for Freedom

One Of the women was standing
in the center of the room brand
ishing a revolver and screaming
Historically at the top of her
lungs. The other was clinging to
her in a sort of paroxysm. The
prisoners space on the other side
OF the double screens was yacat.
ed. If there had been any pris-
oners there, they were gone.
All this we took in as we en-
tered the room.
without an instant's hesitation,
and without knowing what was
the matter with the deranged
woman, Osborne strobe up to
her, reached and quickly wrested
the revolver out Of her hand.
Someone from the office had fol-
lowed US into the room and Os-
borne handed that person the re-
volver. 1 was too excited to
notice who that person was, nor
did Osborne know either.
Two Excited Women Battle In
quirers
We then tried to learn what
had caused the disturbance, but
without success. Both women
spoke Italian and both started
pouring out the story at the same
time, rapidly and vociferously.
The more they talked and ges-
ticulated, the less | knew, and
Osborne told me afterwards that
It was "all Greek to him, or
words to that effect. Gradually the
two women quieted down and the
warden suggested that an inter-
prefer be sent for; also that it be
ascertained who the women had
colae to visit.
We then returned upstairs,
leaving the women, along with
several guards and office men. in
the visiting room. A few min
utes later when an Italian inter
prefer from inside the prison ap.
peared, and we went back down.
stairs to learn, IL possible. what
the trouble had, been about, the
two women had disappeared: nor
could the revolver be located.
Jack, the chauffeur, and I were
dispatched to the Ossining station
to intercept the disturbers, but
we failed to find them. A small
boy gave Us the Information that
he had seen them stop and con-
ceal something under the long
flight OF terrace steps leading
down to the railway station. and
investigation disclosed the re-
volver concealed there.
Woman's Nerve FAN
As near as were were able to
learn, the woman who had been
brandishing the revolver had
come to the prison I'd kill her
lover. a prisoner. intending to
shoot at him through the double
screen. Here nerve had failed,
however. after she had drawn the
weapon from her bosom, and IN
stead OF shooting, she had begun
screaming and waving the re-
volver wildly. All who had been
In the room had promptly va
Gated. save the guard, who had
dropped down behind his desk,
his line of retreat being cut off.
After the excitement was over,
the question arose as 70 how the
woman had secured possession Of
the revolver after Osborne had
taken it from her and handed it
to one Of the prison attaches;
also, how had the two disturbers-
managed to get out of the visit
ing room and away from the
prison without being intercepted
and held for investigation?
The more We studied the facts,
the more we became convinced
that there was treachery or col
fusion involved; that some en-
ploye Of the prison had deliber-
ately stood IN" with the offend
ers. Investigation. however, failed
to bring out any explanation, and
we were obliged to drop the mat
ter.
We, OF course, expected to see
scare.head account Of the occur
renee in the newspapers, but,
strange to say, not a line appeared
until several days later, when a
garbled account Of the incident
was included in a rambling story
of "mismanagement" of the pris-
on's affairs.
Shortly after this a rather des-
perate assault by one prisoner
upon another took place within