The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-19
TROOPS GUARD
BLAzE-RAzED
MODEL PRISON
Statewide (III.) Penal InSti-
tuition in Ruins
After Riot.
FEAR WOMEN REVOLT
Cells Search UnearthS
Large Quantity of Con-
Wet Weapons.
By United Press

JOLIET, ILL.,, March 10. -
Women prisoners, confined across
the street from the riot-scarred ole
penitentiary here, threatened an
outbreak shortly before noon to.
day, Mrs. Bertha Finengan, matron
reported to Warden Henry G. Hill
One hundred and forty-five
women are imprisoned in the cell
house and are threatening to rise In
riot, Mrs. Finnegan told the war.
den.
The matron refused an offer of
additional guards but carried
twenty-four tear gas bombs across
the street to throw at the women
in case they rose.
Warden Hill said an outbreak In
the women's quarters, where the in
mates were out of their cells, would
be difficult to quell, as. guards
could not use clubs or guns.
Tension Is Growing
Tension at the women's cell house
has been increasing daily during the
recurring riots of the last five days
at the old prison on the edge of
Joliet and the model prison at
Statesyille, four miles away, most OF
which was destroyed Wednesday by
fire and rioters.
Meanwhile, in the twin peniten-
tiaries, state policemen under the
muzzles of machine guns, pried into
every cell and searched all of the
ATOP inmates for weapons.
BY noon they had unearthed a
quantity of knives and saws, in
dicating, Warden Hill said, that
further rioting and bioodshed was
planned by the crazed prisoners.
One makesllift dirk found was
fashioned from a 60-penny nail, but
calculated to be dangerous in hand
to-hand fighting.
Although both prisons were quiet
during the forenoon, Warden Hill
took no chances. He held the COZ
soldiers, guards and state police ir
readiness.
Minute Search Is Made
National guardsmen planted ma.
chine guns at advantageous points
as the 100 state police searched the
prison infinitely. They proddec
mattresses with long knives, tool
hunks apart and compelled the
prisoners to strip.
At the old prison threats of a riot
at breakfast failed to materialize
Hill posted 100 state police outside
the east gate with order to rush ir
at signal
Several troops of national guards
men were among the men who pa
trolled the Statewide prison, inside
and out, to prevent recurrence of
Wednesdays riot which resulted in
serious wounding of three prisoners
and destruction of almost 100000
worth of state property.
Convict Dies of Wounds
One of the wounded prisoners,
Ray Arney, died early today in the
Statewide hospital.
Only charred ruins remained of
six of the seven buildings. The
seventh, the machine shop, still
blazed and TRUSTEES aided f1remen
in preventing the flames from
spreading.
About 200 prisoners accused OF
melting and starting the riot while
in the mess hall we're in solitary
confinement.
An unnamed Mexican prisoner
who was accused of starting the
fires with gasoline drained from
prison trucks, also was in solitary
Warden Hill said he would be in
dicted for arson.
Hill and the Reverend Elijius
Weir, chaplain, we're two of the
heroes of Wednesdays outbreak
Both walked, unarmed. among the
rioting prisoners, pleading with OF
ordering them to stop.
Both we're treated with respect
they said, but their warnings were
unheeded until after guards hao
fred about thirty shots.
The rioting started by sigma
among about $50 convictS in the
mess hall. Two guards inside the
hall we're beaten and thrown out as
the mutiny spread rapidly.
Mexican Fires Buildings
The convicts rushed into The
open and the unnamed Mexican
began his rounds of the buildings
He had a handkerchief over hi,
face. He fired building after build
ing as he ran. Others of the riot.
ing convicts aided him.
Soon the whole prison seemed il
flames, which reared to height o.
200 feet and cast a dense cloud o.
smoke over the countryside.
Many prisoners who did not wish
to join in the riot raced Immediately
to their cells.
Among them were Nathan Leo.
pold and Martin Durkin.
The original rioters. joined b.
others, continued the mutiny FOL
two hours while Joliet firemen wait.
ed outside the gates, unable to entel
to fight the fires.
Upon entering the prison yard
Chaplain Weir was given a soar
box by some of the convicts. They
were quoted for a minute while III
stood upon the box and pleaded thai
they we're hurting only themselves
We've heard that before" a con-
Wet shouted. we want a new parole
board and the rioting began anew