Evening star., 1943-04-13
.0neRecaptured, ,
Another Missinq
In Leap in Bay.
Gongsters Overpower
Guards, Escape
Amid Gunfire
b. the Associated Press.


SAN FRANCISCO, April 13.-
A desperate attempt of four con-
victS to escape from the island
fortress prison of Alcatraz re-
suited today in the reported
deaths of two, the recapture of a
third and the disappearance of
the fourth.
The man recaptured was Harold
Martin Brest, desperate bank robber,
serving a life term.
The four overpoWered and bound
and gagged two guards and leaped
into San Francisco Bay from the
island prison.
Warden j. A. Johnston said that
when the prison launch drew along
side Brest, he was holding James A.
Boarman, Indianapolis bank robber,
who had been shot by guards who
fired from the prison towers.
He let 60 of Boarman and the
convict sank beneath the waves
His body was not recovered.
Another Shot browns.
Indications were, Warden john
ston said, that Floyd Hamilton the
third man, was shot and drowned
The fourth man. Fred Hunter, 43,
Cleveland, was unaccounted for.
Warden Johnston said Hunter
and Boarman carried prison-mad
knives. They and the other two
first encountered a custodial officer.
overpowered him, then attacked
Henry Weinhold, captain of the
guards, and bound, tied and gagged
both men,
Then the four leaped from VIM
dow and headed for the beach
around the rocky island.
Meanwhile Weinhold slipped his
bonds and reached police whistle
to sound the alarm. Almost simul-
taneously guards In the surrounding
towers poured out rifle fire.
Boarman was shot, either as he
fed into the bay, or as he tried to
swim to freedom. When the prison
boat drew alongside of Brest, Penn
sylvania bank robber and kidnaper,
he was holding Boarman up in the
water AS he loosed his hold. Boar
man slipped under. His body was
not found.
Break Worst at Prison.
Today's sensational break, the
worst the prison had experienced
since it was made virtual fortress
for incarceration of the Nations
worst criminals, occurred about
1925 am.
Brest was one of the only two
convicts to win release from Alca-
traz by habeas corpus, but he wasn't
out long. He was originally sem
fenced in 1887 to 25 years for rob-
bing the First National Bank of
Volant. Pa. In February, 1899, he
won his release on grounds he wasn't
represented by counsel at his trial
He promptly was re-arreSted, tried
in Pittsburgh for bank robbery and
kidnapping, and received new sem
tences of life imprisonment plus
IS years.
Hamilton, 36. of Dallas, was SEN
fenced in November, 1888. at Fort
Smith, Ark, for violating the bank
robbery and motor vehicle theft laws
and for assault. He was serving 80
years.
Hunter. 43, was sentenced at Cleve-
land to 25 years for assault and con-
spiracy to harbor Alvin Karpis while
the latter was being hunted for kid
naping.
No Break Ever Successful.
There had been no record of a
successful attempt to escape from
the rockbound island prison.
The prisoners making the break
today used the same method en-
ployed by two men who disappeared
from the island fortress. The men,
Ralph Roe and Ted Cole, swan
away from the rock in 1887. during
heavy fog and may have reached
shore safely. But prison author
,ities generally believe that the
strong currents and cold water
brought them death.