The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-04-22
REVOLT FIRES
SHOULDER IN
STATE PRISON
Spark May Start Flame of
Rebellion at Any Time,
Leslie Fears.
PEN is OVERCROWOED
WaTden'S Life Ever in Peril:
Escape Plot ThWaTted
as Board Meets.

Governor Harry G. Leslie declared
today that overcrowded conditions
at the Indiana state prison make
that institution a place where any
thing might happen
He disclosed for the first time
that a Well-planned prison break
was thWarted by machine guns, ex-
ira guards, corralling of some sixty
fve prisoners, and beating up" the
ring leaders on the night the In
diana crime commission met there,
NOV 1890, 1929.
Fire hazard is small in the cell
blocks, but is a constant menace to
some 500 prisoners in overcroWded
dormitories, he said, in comparing
the Indiana prison with the one
where the Ohio disaster occurred.
Warden Walter H. DAILY is sit
ting on dynamite and his life is in
constant danger" the Governor de-
clared.
Tells of Escape Plot
"On the night the crime commits
sion met there a Well-planned dem
onstration and prison delivery was
halted only by one of the hard
boiled ringleaders getting cold feet
and turning informer," Governor
Leslie continued.
SiXty-fve prisoner were corralled
IN the yard and five of the leaders
were given a spanking. That is the
only remedy such men can under
stand.
Guards took six guns, several
knives, saws and other weapons and
tools away from the rioters. OH
Gals still are investigating how the
guns were smuggled in.
"Ihirty-five extra guards were
used to thwart the break and five
machine guns were brought from
Chicago. one of these guns was
mounted on each corner of the four
walls.
Fear Machine Guns
1T was the fear of machine gun
fire. which one of the prisoners had
read about, in connection with the
Oklahoma penitentiary riots, which
caused the plot to be disclosed.
Several months before a break
also was prevented by disclosure. An
elaborate plot had been laid then
70 murder Warden DAILY. / wouldn't
have his job for the world"
Governor Leslie feels that prohi-
bition laws have caused part of the
overcrowding. but also attributes
prohibition convictions In Indiana
to the statute allowing lawyers
making such convictions a SIS fee.
Such statute is a bride to cause
attorneys to get convictions on
liquor charges, when the crime may
have been something else, to collect
the fee" he declared.
Good Revenue for Drys
This SIS padlocking fee has been
a great source of revenue for At
torney Ethan A. Miles of the Indiana
Anti-SaloOn League and others.
Secretary John A. Brown of the
state charities board agreed heartily
with the Governors conclusion in
regard to the menace of overcrowded
prisons.
He pointed out that the Ohio
prison, built in 1882, has a 1900
prisoner capacity and was housing
some 1000. In Indiana a 1900
prison penitentiary houses 1850
Brown said.
THE legislature has added to the
problem by increasing penalties, -
Brown declared.
Men sentenced to from ten TO
twenty-five years and up to life are
sent to these crowded prisons. They
become desperate and hopeless and
8 blow-up en- be expected at any
time"
Chairman John w. Norman of
the prison trustees and Michael E.
Foley, member of the board, con-
ferred with Leslie today regarding
conditions there.
Norman pointed out that the cell
blocks are fireproof. but hopeleSsly
inadequate to take care Of the pris-
onerS.