Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-16
WHOLESALE PRISON
DELIVERY Fooled
Tunnel Found at Canon City,
Colo, Where 13 Died
in Mutiny.


CANON CITY, Colo, November 16.-
Discovery of an elaborate plot to effect
a wholesale delivery Of prisoners from
the State prison here and evidence that
guard probably aided prisoners in the
October mutiny, which cost IS lives, to-
day had led to solitary confinement Of
five convicts and institution of rigid
precautionary measures.
The new escape plan fell just short
of completion, penitentiary ofticials said.
1t was frustrated by discovery yester-
day of nearly completed tunnel lead
ing from a cistern near the prison
boiler shop to the base of wall not far
from the west gate, where two days of
sanguinary fighting occurred during
riot last month.
After two days of thorough search
OF the penitentiary, during which guards
and prison officials unearthed a large
number of makeshift weapons-dag-
gers, clubs and blackjacksEthe latest
attempt to escape was brought to the
attention Of the warden by q convict
stool pigeon" who talked to news
paper man.
Five in Solitary Confinement.
Five convicts, whose names Warden
F. E. Crawford refused to reveal, were
placed in solitary confinement in con-
nection with the discovery. He said
others likely were implicated.
1t was pointed out that the convicts
had unlimited opportunity for snug
cling tools and working on an escape
project, as TOO convictS have been en-
gagged ia reconstruction work on build
ings damaged in the October riot and
noise of the work could have screened
the movements OF few convicts work.
ing in the tunnel
The tunnel, discovered late yesterday,
started at point only 100 feet from
the administration building, where Gov.
w. H. Adams special investigating
committee IS holding its investiga ton
Of the October mutiny.
The work gave evidence Of q master
mind" in the prison, officials said. The
clstern in which it started is IS feet
long, 20 feet wide and IA feet deep.
It is covered, with entrance through
manhole.
AT times the 19 prisoners working in
the penitenttary boiler shop were with
out supervision, officials said. This was
due to the large number Of convicts
engaged In reconstruction work and the
shortage OF guards. One guard was on
duty until 6 o'clock and the boiler shop
NA-SA0AA OA NAAOAA t4AC IGAL 1llOI1l1IlBR
when new guard went on.
Dirt Piled Around Ledge.
Dirt from the tunnel had been piled
around the ledge and some of 1t dumped
into the water. A small can WedRed
between the stones In the cistern wall
held small quantity of powder care
tuIly wrapped in oil paper. It was evil
dent, guards said. this powder had been
taken from cartridges SmuRgled into
the prison. 1t could have been used to
blast out its wall In the final break for
liberty.
Discovery Of evidence that a guard
was the inside man" in the October
mutiny was announced by Warden F. E.
Crawford.
Criminal charges probably viii be filed
against the man, the warden said, and
at the same time charges will be filed
with the State Civil Service Commits.
sion against several other guards to
force their dismissal.
William Green, deputy warden, who
testified at the final session Of the
governors hearing late yesterday, said
freedom Is the single aim Of the pris.
onerS. Under the present gubernatoriaI
policy, every man is serving his fun
sentence, without hope Of communication
OF sentence or parole, and q great I'm.
eaSlnesS has been manifest, he said.
Green also charged some guards were
dlsloyal and said others were not strict
enough.