Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-20
PRISON OUTBREAK
TAKES TWO LIVES;
THREE WOUNDED
Rhode Island Inmates Refuse
to Hold Warden's Daugh-
ter as Hostage.
ONE COMMITS SUICIDE
AS CAPTURE NEARS
Sixth Major Revolt in Nine Months
Has Toll of 90 Deaths and
Million Damage.

Sy the ASSoClAt6u STeS1s
PROVIDENCE, r. l., April ia
desperate bid for freedom, not without
q touch of chivalry and full measure
of self sacrifice, was brought to an
abrupt and sanguine end at the Gran
ston State Prison today with the deaths
Of two prisoners, the wounding OF two
others and the probable fatal wounding
of guard.
One of the two who died, a trllsty,
with hope of pardon in the near future,
gave his life to sound the alarm. He
was shot down in cold blood by the in
furiated prisoners whose plot he frus-
trated. The other took his own life
when hope of freedom faded.
Although beset on all sides, the riot
ing prisoners declined to hold as hostage
the daughter Of their warden, who un-
suspectingly appeared in their midst.
Aided From Outside.
The Jail delivery was attempted with
aid from the outside. Two men, trav-
cling in an automobile bearing number
plates stolen from a Massachusetts,
car. entered the prison in the guise OF
visitors and distributed arms. They
made their escape as the riot faltered
and their deserted blood-stained car
indicated that they had not got on
unscathed.
Peleg Champlin, lifer, and the first
to fall, had sounded the alarm when
he was shot to death by the desperadoes
responsible for the attempted break.
Champlin, who went to jail for killing
the man who had violated his home.
had become a trusty and was under
consideration for a pardon. He was
In charge of cigarette stand near the
visitors cage, where the outbreak
started.
Refuse to Hold Girl.
John pretty" Mcneil, the other pris-
oner who died, pressed q revolver to his
Wilson Of the Cranston police came
down a spiral stairway covering him
with his automatic.
AS the outbreak was at its height,
Thelma, the pretty 19-year-old daughter
of Warden Charles e. Linscott, stepped
into the inferno of gunfire and tear
fumes. She had been to the prison
barber shop to have her bobbed hair
trimmed Guards called pleas to the
beleaguered prisoners that she be re-
leased.
we Q1Q TlOG KNOW tLtcfS Was d A10y
here" they replied, and surrendered
potential hostage that might have
brought dear ransom.
Although the State prison houses
approximately 500 inmates, only small
portion of them were believed by ofn-
cials to have taken any part In the
attempted delivery.
Break at Visiting Hour.
The attempted break occurred shortly
after pm. during the visiting hours.
The two outside confederateS drove up
to the prison gate, entered the prison
building and mingled with the group
of visitors outside the prisoners cage.
Apparently at prearranged signal they
passed weapons to their friends inside.
Firing started Immediately. Champlin
was slugged and then shot. James
McVay a prison guard, fell and his
pockets were rifled of keys. Some OF
the rioting prisoners brandished and
fred two pistols.
wailing of the prison siren sounded
above the din inside the prison and
spread an alarm to which the full
prison force, local police, Providence
police and State troopers responded.
Vans of reserves left this city for the
scene.
Although many shots were fired, tear
gas probably had more effect than
bullets in stemming the riot. Firing
In the visitors waiting room and the
pen in which prisoners are confined
when they receive visitors continued
after all doors were locked. The rioters
were making last desperate attempt
for freedom by firing into the locks Of
the doors in the hopes Of opening them.
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