Evening star., 1936-06-17
lone KILLED, 5 HURT
At RICHMOND JAIL
Guard With Machine Gun
Stops Truck in Desperate
Escape Attempt.
BY the Associated Press.

BY thc ASSociate0 EIeSs.
RICHMOND, Va, June 17-Virginia
State Penitentiary officials today
launched q probe into the abortive
attempt by eight long-term convicts
to break out Of the penitentiary
grounds last night, resulting in the
death of a guard and wounding Of
another guard and five convicts.
Powhatan D. Bass, 46, a guard, who
was seized by the convicts as hostage
in the attempted break, was killed by
machine gun bullets fired by G. H.
Smith, another guard, in hating the
break.
The eight convicts, apparently by
prearranged signal, seized an inclosed
prison truck in the penitentiary yard
during recreation hour, forced Bass,
Robert G. Reams, another guard, and
Oscar Fields, a trusty convict, into the
rear of the truck as hostages and at
tempted to drive the truck through
the penitentiary yard gate.
c. H. Smith, guard on duty at the
gate, fired a shotgun in an attempt to
halt the truck, but when the truck did
not stop he brought a machines gun
into play. The machine gun fire
killed Bass, wounded Reams and
Fields and wounded four of the eight
convicts attempting escape. They
we're Harry Coleman, 80, serving 20
years for highway robbery; Bill Lynn.
20, serving As years for daylight bank
robbery; Talmadge Feazell, 25, serving
IS years for robbery, and George Fer
guson, IS, colored, serving life Tor
murder.
The four who participated in the
attempted break, who escaped the hail
of lead, were Ralph Stonebreaker,
26. serving "a years for highway rob-
berry: John Price, IS, serving Al years
for robbery; Ed Veal, %, serving As
years for daylight bank robbery, and
Burly Wright, alias Burly Hubbard,
colored. 81, serving life for murder.
Mai. Rice M. Youell, superintendent
of State prisons, said he did not
know what charges, if any, would be
placed against Guard Smith in con-
neCLlOn NlII1 lilS OCdbll VI odoo oAAA
the wounding Of the others.
Smith did his duty" Maj. Youell
said. He did exactly what he was
supposed to do He had no way Of
knowing who, If any one. was in the
truck besides the prisoners. On the
other hand, 1 cannot express the
deep regret feel because of the death
of Guard Bass, one Of the finest Of
ficers we ever had. But his death could
not have been avoided"
Mai. Youell said the participants
in the attempted escape will be liable
to from one to five years for con-
spiracy and similar term for at
tempting to break prison.
He said the attempted break, car
ried out with precision until Smith
opened fire, obviously had been
planned for months by the partici-
pants.
The eight convicts made their way
to Q prison factory building, where
the truck. undergoing repairs, was
housed Guard Bass, on duty there,
was forced inside the truck Guard
Reams and the trusty, Fields, appeared
and were likewise forced into the
truck.
The condition of Reams, who is 46
and who was shot five times in the
body, was termed fair" today. but
Coleman, who also was taken to Me-
mortal Hospital here, was said to be
in serious" state. Coleman was SEN
fenced to his 2o-year term in Bote-
tourt County for stealing q cigarette
truck.