The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-28
PRISON HEROINE
 RESCUED IN TIME
COnvictS Held Knife at Her Throat But Warden
 Wins Gun Duel

Michigan City, Ind, June 28- | (UP)-Warden Alfred H. Dowd o1 the Indiana State prison praised as ] a heroine today slim, brunette so- cial worker whose life he unwillingly gambled yesterday rather than give guns and freedom" to three des- perate convicts.
 She is Mrs. Ruth Joiner, 25, att tractive divorcee and mother of a three-year-old daughter, who for two narrowing hours-a knife at her throat-was held prisoner in pen- itentiary office yesterday by mur- derer, kidnaper and a robber. The convicts demanded their release, guns and an automobile as the price for her life.
 Dowd, faced with one of the grav- est decisions of his term, calmly talked to the desperadoes, conferred with state troopers and decided to shoot it out. Guards and State po- lice stormed the office with guns and tear gas, thwarted the ife-or death outbreak, and rescued Mrs. Joiner.
 She and six others, including the convicts, were wounded before the outbreak was quelled. Today she lay in St. Anthony's hospital waiting for phisicians to determine whether it will be necessary to amputate her left arm.
 "The best we could figure out" Dowd said, twas that not only was one woman's life at stake, but that if those men got out they would terrorize the countryside. Mrs. Joiner's conduct and courage were marvellous. She kept her composure and helped us all she could"
 He was commended himself for the coordination with which the at tack was made. He and State Of- ficials immediately started an in- vestigation to determine how the convicts obtained knives and why two of them were not in assigned quarters.
 She Tells Story
 Mrs. Joiner, state parole agenS from Crawfordville, told through her physician how the convicts seized her.
 "One of the men took me by. the arm, and said, right this way, lady, I didn't realize anything wrong. I thought it was part of the tour. I walked into the office and was be- wildered when they started to close the door. Then I saw one convict lash out with knife at the guard.
 Intuition told me not to go to pieces because I knew they meant business. I was frightened but didn't scream. Then they called the War den and made me talk back to him. They kept threatening me. One would pull my head back by the hair and run the knife lightly across my throat.
 That's what we'll do if you don't get guns for us,' one said.
 T talked to the Warden and told him that they would kill me unless he gave them guns. car and free- dom. I pleaded with them and told them had a little girl who needed me and they told me to tell that to the Warden"
 She was making an inspection tour of the prison hospital with seven other welfare workers, four women and three men. when the outbreak came. Tn Q corridor were convicts Richard Sweet. 26, leader of the plot. serving Q life term for Kidnapping: Alphonse 6kusewich, 20, serving Q life term for murder and robbery; and Earl Niverson, 32. serving l0-25 years for robbery. When they seized Mrs. Joiner Q guard. Joseph Plotrowski, 37, and an Inmate. Leftoy Hunt. 3i, ran to her aid. Sweet slashed piotrowsIsi in the neck with Q knife and his acccm. pIiccs dreeRed Mrs. Joiner and Hunt Into tho office Of the prison physi- clan and looked the door.
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