Imperial Valley press., 1931-03-14
C0NV|CTS
WOUNDED
IN RIOT
Joliet Prisoners Stage
Wild Battle With Pri-
son Guards
LATTER IN CONTROL
Recent Killing OF Com
rades Blamed For Pres
ent Trouble

JOLIET, H.. March Ia. UP
Three convicts were critically
wounded by guards in rioting which
broke out during mess today in the
old plant Of Illinois penitentiary.
Twelve hundred men took part
in the disturbance which was
touched off when three prisoners
attacked Captain d. A. Davenport,
rushed him out into the prison
yard and broke his arm before they
we're shot down by guards who
fired from their posts in the wall
towers.
Warden Henry c. Hill, who
worked side by side with his guards
during the early part of the trouble,
said that as far as he could learn,
none of the conyictS was armed
Tear gas was used to disperse the
rioters in the prison yard. AS soon
as they were driven back into the
cell house guards surrounded the
building with machine guns,
Warden Hills assistant told the
United Press at 100 p. m. that all
Of the prisoners had been driven
back into their cells by that hour.
They are still screaming and
breaking windows" he said. In
addition TO the wreck in the mess
hall and kitchen they broke up a
lot of repair shop equipment.
But we've got the building well
covered and there isn't much more
they can do"
RumblingS of trouble have occur
red frequently at the prison in re-
cent months. Several weeks age
three convicts were killed by guards
as they attempted to escape over the
prison wall Guards we're fore.
warned by the grumbling OF pris'
oners and laid a trap whicit pre-
vented a delivery
A week later two fires were dis
covered in obscure parts OF ths
prison plant but were ext!nguishec
before gaining much headwa"
The warden s men were held by
a coroner IS jury TO have been justi-
fled In killing the prisoners who at
tempted the recent break. Resent
ment among the convicts over the
shooting of their three fellows was
general. however, and Warden Hi
kept extra guards on duty during
meals and other times when the
prisoners were oil. of their cells.
Today's trouoic started IN the
dining hall with the prisoners pick
ing up steam tables with food anc
dumping them out into the yard
Other convicts entered the kitchen
and began wrectirg equipment ano
reaching for knives and other uten-
sils with which to continue thelI
attack on the guards.
Forty-thrce OF the rioters in the
dining room were overpowerec
within the first Is minutes anc
handcuffed together. Despite theii
manacles they encouraged those still
free to "go at en- and II "keer
it up boys, keep it going
Tower guards soon cleared the
prison yard by firing at the feet OF
the rioters and driving them back
into the cell houses.
Inside from protected posts at the
ends of the corridors other guards
fired down the length of tho cell
blocks, shouting y the prisoners to
"get behind the lars or take the
bullets.n
AS prisoners duckcd into their
cells to avoid being shot turnkeys
locked them in. The 43 men who
had been captured in the mess hal
were led off to solitary confinement
The three who were shot in the
yard were believed to have been I'll
leaders of the outbreak.
I'm the one they wanted tc
get, - said Captain Davenport
"Thc men have had grudge
against me for some time