The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-04-22
Warden Admits That No
Specific Plans for
Emergency Made.
TELLS TRAGEDY STORY
Guards Forced TO Take
Keys Away From Captain
to Save Victims.

By United Press
COLUMBUS, o., April %.
Confusion and panic that fol-
lowed terror, resulting from
inadequate preparations for
fire fighting, were among the
major causes of the heavy loss
Of life in the Ohio state
prison, state officials were adj
vised today at the start of
their investigation.
Warden P. E. Thomas, the first
witness called in the attempt to fix
blame for a death toll of 319 and
which was growing hourly admitted
two guards forced a reluctant cap
tain to give them the keys which
would allow the convicts in the
cells to have a chance for life.
All evidence adduced so far in
dicates the blaze was incendiary-
started by a group of convicts who
hoped to escape in the confusion.
Il got the alarm of fire at 5:35
p. m. from a house man." Thomas
testified. Il went to the guard room
and learned the fire was in I and
K blocks. There was considerable
smoke in the yard at that time.
Refused to Give Up Keys
Il asked II the keys had been sent
10 the cell blocks so that prisoners
could be freed. I was told that had
been done.
Il learned that Guards Little and
Baldwin had taken the keys. They
we're night guards in G and H
blocks. The prisoners were in the
cell block when the fire broke out.
Guard Watkinson was in charge of
that block He had the key opening
the corridor"
THE prisoners had been locked
in Their cells by twelve guards in
charge of companies. Those guards
either have keys on their persons
during the day or the keys hangs In
the guard room.
"They would have to have six
keys to liberate all the prisoners.
Little and Baldwin told me the
keys were in the guardroom and that
Captain NJ. c. Coddington, in
charge. refused to give them the
keys, so they took them away from
him. Then they went to the cell
block, where Guard WatkinSon told
them they could not let the men out
No Standing Orders
They took the key away from
WatkinSon TO unlock the ranges.
That was about $40 p. m"
There were no standing orders
10 guards for movements in case
OF fire, Warden Thomas admitted
under examination.
Warden Thomas stated that he
had not learned the cause of the
fire. but added when fire occurs
in prison, escape Is usually the mo-
tive and usually the fire is Of in
cendiary origin
Asked If he Was eager to save the
lives Of the men, Warden Thomas
said:
Yes. was. I learned Of the suf-
location of the prisoners about f1f-
teen minutes after it occurred.
Baldwin and Little worked until
they fell, then gave the prisoners
keys.
The prisoners used the keys to
unlock cells of the third and fourth
range. but when they reached the
fifth and sixth ranges they found
the keys did not turn the locks
Then they took sledges and shat
tered the locks. The sledges were
easily accessible"
Can't Make Rules Rigid
Q. Warden what did you con-
slider your most important duty?'
A. After ordering the release OF
the prisoners. my duty was to pre-
vent escapes. I should supplement
that. You must remember there
was no indication of tragedy
Deputy Woodward returned from
Kent, O., Just at that time. I told
him to take charge inside and that
would direct activities outside"
Thomas said he heard no shots
fired but thought" he heard the
hammering of sledges breaking cell
locks.
The warden explained the lack Of
specific instructions in case of fire
You can not make enough rules to
cover every detail of emergencies,
he explained.
Il can not for instance. write rules
telling an officer when TO shoot
Guard Watkinson did not exhibit
good judgment when he hesitated tC
give up keys to Baldwin and Little.
The investigation was adjourned
until later today.