Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-07-11
Arrest Of Guard And Trusty Un-
earths Plot-Both Bribed To
Deliver Saws.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES
LED TO INVESTIGATION

The Bevans brothers are again in
the lime light. Baltimore papers are
telling of plot which surrounds them
as a center, to pull off a big "Pen"
delivery.
1t has been some weeks ago that
suspicious circumstances had arisen
which led the Pen officials to start
an investigation. A trap was set to
catch party who was suspected of
smuggling in saw blades. A guard,
John Ritter, and trusty, William
Gemph, were apprehended, the guard
delivering the saws to the trusty, the
: implements to go the Bevans boys in
their efforts to shake the dust of the
prison from their feet.
Money to purchase these saws was
furnished by the prison authorities
in the shape of ten-dollar bill and
it was marked. The saws, too, by the
help of the dealer were marked, and
thus the evidence was complete.
The fact that prisoners were being
supplied with means of escape from
the outside was learned two weeks
ago. A prisoner informed prison of
ficials that he had transferred notes
from one of the Bevans brothers to
Gemph and had delivered replies. He
had read some of these notes, he said,
and knew that an escape was being
planned in which he did not care to
take part.
With this information, Gemph was
summoned before the Warden. At
first he denied any contemplated es-
cape, but later is alleged to have
admitted transferring notes received
from one of the Bevans brothers by
means of the third prisoner. These
notes, he said, he gave to Ritter.
Because of the high esteem he held
for Ritter, Brady said, he did not be-
lieve the admission of Gemph. Gemph
then told him that one saw had been
brought to the prison by Ritter and
had been delivered to him on June Is.
The saw, he said, had been given to
one of the Bevans brothers who had
paid Ritter SIS and had also given him
a gold watch with the initials "E. C..
G." on the case. Ritter, when arrest
ed admitted, police say, that he re-
ceived the watch and later pawned it
for 81. The pawn ticket was found
in his clothing and the watch was re-
covered.
Detectives then were called into
the case, and plan was arranged to
trap Ritter in the act of bringing OBJ
jects into the prison. Mr.. Brady still
believed that Ritter was not impli-
Gated.
On Thursday two saws, after being
marked were given to the proprietor
Of an East Baltimore saloon. He was
told to hold them until Mr.. Gemph
called and asked for them. Gemph
then is alleged to have bargained
with Ritter to deliver the package.
The following day Ritter approach
Gemph and told him he had the pack
age, but wanted to know "what was
in it for him. police say.
Gemph is reported to have told him
that he had no money but he would
see what he could do. Mr.. Brady
and the detectives were notified, and
"a 10 bill was given him after the
bank note number, z 705 275 H." had
been copied from it.
Shortly afterwards, Ritter is said
to have met Gemph in the tunnel
leading from the main building to
the kitchen of the institution. He
gave Gemph the saws and received
in turn the bank note, it is alleged. He
was summoned Immediately to the
warden's office.
The bill was found in his hat, po-
lice say. Ritter at first denied having
brought in the saws. He broke down,
it was said, and confessed the trans
actions with Gemp. He then was TAX
en- into custody.
The Bevans Brothers, Andrew, 80
years old, and Luther 18, entered the
institution May z, according to rec
ords. They were found guilty of ar
son and assault before Judge John
R. Pattison in the Circuit Court for
Dorchester county at Cambridge.
They are alleged to have fired a
farm house in November, 1924. They
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