The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-05-10
MALTA JAILER FOILS
ATTEMPT OF INMATES
Charles Mack, Accused Robber' Is
Victim Officers Gun. Cellmate Es-
canes Bullets But Fails to Gam
Liberty As Planned.

Malta, May 6.-Quick and accurate
shooting by Frank Partridge, Philips
county Jaiier, broke up an attempted
Jail delivery here late Friday night
leaving Charles Mack, &c, so severely
wounded that he died within "a hours.
Mack, III company with Mike Casey,
AZ, attacked Partridge in an effort to
gain their freedom. The jailer imme-
diately opened fire, wounding Mack
three times. The prisoner died Satur-
day evening in the Sacred Heart hos
pital at Havre, where he was taken
for treatment by Sheriff Ray Camp
bell.
Mack and Casey were arrested three
miles west of Malta Tuesday morning
by federal officers just after the pair
had robbed the Dodson Trading COM
pany at Dodson of silk and other
goods valued at $3.50. The robbery
had not been discovered when the pair
fled from their car, which stuck in the
mud, at the approach of officers. At
ter their capture the robbery was dis
closed by the finding of the loot and
the stalled car identified as one stol-
en- from Al Larson of Dodson.
Enter Cell
Friday night Jailer Partridge went
into the main cell corridor, where
three prisoners, Frank R. Stone, a
boy named Sauer, and Mexican, AL
conar, were allowed some liberty, to
get dishes in which the meals were
carried. After visiting with the trio
for few minutes, Partridge went to
the cell housing Casey and Mack to
get their dishes.
After opening the cell door, the jail
er asked Casey and Mack to hand
their dishes to him, which they did.
The men asked him to remove some
litter in the far corner Of the cell,
but the request was refused, Partridge
saying he would get it in the morn
ing. AS he was about to close the
cell door, Mack rushed the jailer, with
Casey coming behind.
The two men overpowered Partridge
after the latter had made futile plea
to the prisoner Stone, who is being
held for drawing a gun in the Coffee
Cup cafe here, to aid him. Stone re
fused to assist Partridge, declaring hi
had long sentence and would "gt
with the boys"
Mack and Casey searched Partridge
relieving the jailer of his chilly" HI
told them he had no gun and askeC
them not to bind him. The two mel
agreed to his request and then begal
: a search for the Jail keys, whereupol
Partridge drew an automatic from
| shoulder holster that the searcher
= had missed and began firing.
: Empties Gun
4 Mack fell with three bullets in hi
!, body and Casey lodged into anothe
cell out of range. Firing as he rar
Partridge reached his office and re
r turned with rifle that had been tax
: en- from Mack and Casey when the
i were arrested. He emptied the mags
! zine of this weapon along the corr
i dor until the prisoners were cove
e and then called in Sheriff Campbe
; and Undersheriff McCreary to hel
care for the wounded man.
. The sheriff's officers said that Mac
:, and Casey had affected to be quiz
. Hhard boiled" since their incarcer;
n ton and had been given to tauntir
:. = the jailer that this was chick" ia
! that Partridge was chick" jailer al
! that they would show him he cou
II # not hold them.
! Mack and Casey were suspected
70 having participated in the robbery
! a poolroom in Harlem just before t
- Dodson affair. Mack also was want
= for questioning regarding a Jail bre;
& in Missoula on April 18th.