The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-20

SEE CONvICTS
STAGE RIOTS
Disorders Are Renewed at
Statewide, Ill.,, as Probe
Is Begun.
INQUIRY BROKEN UP.
Quiz Board Speeds From
Old Joliet Prison to
Help Quiet Men.
BIZ United Press

By United Press
JOLIET, Ill, March 20.-TWo riots
occurred in quick succession today
among 729 convicts in cell block Il
of the Statewide penitentiary.
National guardsmen, who had
wheeled machine gun into the
yard and quickly quoted the first
disturbance, we're ordered into the
section.
They had gone to the prison on
reports of rioting to find the pris-
oners brandishing clubs, cursing and
shouting.
One shot from the machine gun
caused the prisoners to run back
to their cells and they we're locked
in. There they started the second
demonstration.
National guardsmen armed with
machine guns we're ordered into
the riot sector to restore order.
Members of the state legislature,
sent to the penitentiary to inves-
tigate three mutunies earlier in the
week, watched from the prison
walls.
Order Is Restored
Warden Henry G. Hill, who broke
off his testimony before the in
vestigating committees meeting in
Joliet, took command.
After comparative order had been
restored, Negro convict was placed
in solitary confinement as the lead
er of the rioters.
Representative Michael Igoe of
Chicago and other legislators, went
into the cell black and tried to calm
the men.
Warden Hill said he had been
warned of impending trouble in cell
block F, but did not expect the up
rising until tonight.
The word that hell has broke
loose at Statewide" came after the
five state legislators had completed
a tour of the old Joliet penitentiary
and were questioning Warden Hill
prison unrest.
Highway police and national
guardsn1en were driven hastily
across the four miles of highway
between the old and new institu-
tions. They were accompanied by
the warden and the legislators.
Convicts Into Solitary
The first rio occurred shortly after
noon, while the legislative COM
mittee still was in session at the
Joliet penitentiary.
The men, locked in their cells
since the third revolt earlier in the
week, started yelling and throwing
everything they could lay their
hands on.
A tower guard fired on shot from
his rifle as other guards dropped
their steel clubs and ran for wea-
pons.
The shot checked the convicts for
a moment, but the din was renewed.
A squad of national guardsmen
then marched into the cell block
with g. machine gun.
The appearance of the uniformed
troops ended the bedlam. ALI was
quiet when Warden Hill arrived by
automobile.
Three convicts we're removed to
solitary confinement as the instiga-
tors fthe first trouble.
Then Yelling Is Renewed
Hill said they were the men whose
sudden defiance was the signal for
their fellows to join.
Before further steps could be
taken, the yelling started anew
when Negro convict kicked out the
glass Of his cell.
Mattresses, tin cans, clothing and
newspapers were hurled in all direc-
tons.
Additional national guardsrnen,
also armed with machine guns, fol-
lowed a squad of state highway po-
lice into the block.
The men could not be checked,
however, and Representative Igoe
ventured inside with Hill.
LET Them YELL" Is Edict
Other parts of the StatesvilIe
prison we're quiet although the
convicts could hear the yells in cell
block "F."
The Negro prisoner who had
smashed the eel window was placed
in solitary confinement with the
other three trouble leaders.
Inside the cell block, most of the
disorder came from the fourth tier,
high above the heads of the troops
and guards.
Frank Kness, deputy warden in
charge Of the Statesville prison,
conferred on the floor below with
Hill and Igoe.
LET them yell themselves out of
breath, some one suggested, This
apparently was what the prison
officials intended to do.