Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-12
Trio Flee to Chicago and
Shoot Police as 8 Others
Battle Joliet Guards.
TEAR BOMBS END SIEGE;
ALL BUT ONE CAUGHT
Cost $l,500 to Pull job" Says Re-
captured Convict-Trusty and
Taxi Driver Wounded.
BY the Associated Press.


CHICAGO. March 12.-Six desperate
convicts. under death sentences for
murder in State prison break a
year ago, made new drive for liberty
from the county Jail at Joliet. ILL.,.
early today, with the aid OF smuggled
saws and guns. Hours later five men
lay wounded. two seriously, and only
one convict was at large.
AT cost of "Sl. 500 to pull the
JOB. three of the convicts, who were
Mexicans. fled to Chicago where two
OF them we're recaptured after a gun
nght with policemen. Meanwhile. their
three American companions were
besieged in the Joliet Jail.
The confession OF Charles Duchow
SKI. one If the six. that 81 500 was pro-
vided for the dash for liberty, led TO
an immediate investigation to deter.
mine by what connivance the prison
ers obtained the guns and saws.
Doomed for Killing Warden.
Duchowski. Charles Schader, Wal
ter Staleski and the Mexicans, Greg
orio Rizo, Robert Torrez and Ber.
nardo Roa. were sentenced to be
hanged for the murder of Peter Klein.
deputy warden at the new StateviIle
Penitentiary, last May, when seven
prisoners stabbed and beat Klein to
death in an escape.
The six had received two stays of
sentence by court order and a third
early In the week by appeal allowed
by State Supreme Court Justice.
Early today the Mexicans, who
sawed their way from their cell.
escaped into the bull pen, where they
overpowered and bound two night
guards. Tossing arms and saws to
the three Americans in another cell.
the Mexicans then bound the night
jailer and at the jail door held up two
deputy sheriffs. kidnapped one and
raced away in the sheriff's automobile
With three desperate men armed In
their cell and three fleeing. an alarm
quickly brought police and additional
deputies for a siege Of the jail.
Believing the convfcts were at large
inside the jail. the police threw tear
bombs into the bun pen and opened
fire on a trusty. wounding him as
he descended the stairs.
Three Americans Give Up.
An hour later the police advanced
TO find Staleski, Duchowski and
Schader still in their cell and ready
their pistols and there was peace in
the jail once more.
In the meantime, the Mexicans
headed toward Indian Harbor in a
wild dash for apparent refuge in the
Mexican colonies of the steel dis
trict. but the automobile broke down.
They seized a taxi and still holding
the deputy sheriff. John Krinich.
started for South Chicago.
But their new path was covered
with thorns. They had not gone far
before they met Chicago police auto
mobile squad. Bullets began to fly
and Gregorio RHO, a convict: William
Frost and George Grant. policemen.
and John Maroiniak, chauffeur. were
shot down. Rizo was able to regain
his feet and Join his compa Mon, Roa,
In lodging away. Shortly afterward,
however. RiZo was caught when he
tried to break into a garage. Torrez
was captured unscathed.
In the meantime, Will County
began an investigation at
Joliet, with James Burke. assistant
States attorney. and Edwin Powers
a State investigator. closeted with
Duchowski and his two fellows.
Before they took charge, Duchowsh
had admitted that $500 had been
spent TO pull the job"
1t was believed that the revolvers
md saws were smuggled TO the
prisoners last Saturday on visitors
lay.
Sawed as Music Played.
Since then under cover of prayers
It an improvised altar in their cell
md the playing of guitar. the Mexi-
ans are believed to have been saw
A. Aax ~
Three bars in one corner of the cell
eading to the bull pen were sawed
II top and bottom.
Early this morning two Of the Mex
cans emerged with revolvers and
,alled to the night guards. Edward
Gibbons and Alex Walker.
Gibbons appeared first and was told:
'sYou move and Wen kill you"
Later Duchowski cursed Gibbons
n the Jail. but offered no further
Gibbons and Walker were bound
~ the Mexicans, as was James Hen.
Erickson. the night jailer. Then tho
Aexicans gave revOlvers to Duchowski
md the others and made their way
O the entrance Of the Jail. There
hey met Krinich and another deputy.
Trasco. and an outer guard. Frank
srein, two of whom were bound, and
hree Mexicans fled, taking Krinich
With them in the automobile.
Police Squads Arrive.
Some of the guards loosed theil
onds and police squads hurried up
nth weapons and tear bombs.
AS the police arrived. Broch Con-
fors. a trusty, started down the stair.
yay and was fired upon by the police.
Ie was wounded in one leg before
is identity was discovered.
Hurting tear bombs ahead OF
hem and calling to the three pris'
ners. who then were believed to be
rec in the bullpen, the police started
drive upstairs.
'Hey, Schader," one of them called
ut to the prisoners, what do you
ant, to get killed?"
Come on up, we won't kill any
ody," Schader replied.
The advancing policemen went slow
: forward to find the three prisoners
ill in their cells. Staleslxi, although
rmed, was hiding under a cot, ap-
arently seeking refuge from the tear
as. The others were in a corner of
le cell and made no effort to shoot
The break of the Mexicans and the
Ian to free the others came less than
{ hours after all six were to have
cen hanged. The execution was set
DR. yesterday, but petition for q
rrit of error allowing an appeal was
ra nted earlier in the week bv JIS-