The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, January 23, 1914, Page 7, Image 7
I THREE CONVICTS IN MUTINY
IN OKLAHOMA PENITENTIARY
Make Desperate Dash for Liberty?
Seven Lives Lost and Three Injured?Trio
of Mad Prisoners
Riddled With Bullets
After Killing
Four People.
MfeALISTER, Ok la., Jan. 19?Seveu
men were shot to death and three
persons were wounded today when
three convicts attempted to escape
from the State penitentiary and were
slain by guards. One of the mer
k.. tLl ? -a_ _ A*- _
wuwm ujr wit: cunvicvs in meir
mad dash for liberty was John R.
Thomas of Muskogee, formerly
United States district judge and once
congressman from Illinois.
Despite the commotion caused by
the three men in trying to shoot
down every one who came in their
way, no general attempt was made
by other convicts to join in the delivery.
The three mutineers were encour- <
aged by their less desperate fellows,
who cheered the onslaught of the
armed prisoners.
A Rapid Break. 1
So rapidly did the three convicts
shoot down those in their path that
they reached the prison gate before
the guards could return their fire.
These desperadoes had taken the
keys from the turnkey, John Martin, j
whom they had wounded, and had
sheltered themselves through the '
prison yard by holding Mary Foster,
a telephone operator, in front of
ttiem until the only shot fired by
guards in the yard hit the girl in the
lefcOutside
the gate the men seized
the horse and buggy of Warden Dick
and dashed away, only to be shot to
death by pursuing guards. Even after
the escaped convicts were lying
dead in the bottom of the careening
huggy the frightened horse dashed
onward until felled by a bullet from
the pursuers.
How the men obtained the weapons
a?d planned the escape has not been
discovered but a rigid inquiry will
begia soon.
The dead: John R. Thomas, Muskogee,
former United States district
judge; H. H. Drover, superintendent
Qertillor. system; Patrick Oates, as
sistent deputy warden; F. C. Godfrey
guard; China Reed,'under sentence of
two yearfe fo"r larcency; Tom Lane,
Paul's Valley^ under five-year sentence
for forgery; Charles Koontz,
Comanche county, serving 40-year
| .sentence for manslaughter.
> "Wounded: John - Martin, turnkey,
shot through cheek; C. L. Wood,'
guard, shot through arm; Mary Foster,
telephone operator, shot through
leg.
Make Desperate Break.
The men, armed with two revolvers,
which had been smuggled into
the penitentiary, broke from the
ranks, while the prisoners were being
marched through a courtyard. As
vhey ran through the office, they fired
several shot9 at random, one of the
. bullets striking Miss Foster.
Next they encountered Judge
Thomas, a visitor to the penitentiary,
:n the corridor, and both of the men
carrying pistols, opened fire, several
of the bullets striking the attorney
and inflicting mortal wounds. Oates
and Drover intercepted the men, as
they left the corridor and were shot
to death, the prisoners, unwounded,
:? 11..;- " ? *
wnuiiuiiig vncir mgni. uy tnts time |
half a dozen guards were in pursuit!
and in a running battle Godfrey and
the three men were killed. None of
the other prisoners attempted to escape.
Secure the Keys.
The attempted mutiny occurred at
the end of the day's work. Reed,
Law and Koontz worked in the tailors'
shop, and when their work was
ended they approached the back door
of the office in the administration
building. They met John Martin, the
turnkey. They told Martin they
wanted to see the parole officer. As
Martin opened tne door, Keed struck
him repeatedly with a large revolver,
shot him through the cheek and robbed
him of his keys.
The three prisoners, all armed with
revolvers, shouted to others to follow
them and ran toward the warden's
office. There they met Oakes,
and before he could defend himself,
Heed shot him through the heart.
The greatest confusion ensued.
Convicts ran about shouting words of
encouragement to the mutineers. By
this time the guards were alert and
began firing. A random shot passed
through a door in the office of Dover,
the Bertillon officer, and killed him.
Another Victim.
Godfrey, the guard, sprang direct
' ly into the path of the mutineers, discharging
his revolver at them. He,
too, fell a victim to Reed's deadly
aim.
John R. Thomas, formerly United
"tates district judge, and widely
known throughout Oklahoma, was
sitting in the warden's office awaiting
the return of Warden R. W. Dick,
with whom he had a business engagement
, I
t
The Fact
No amount of mis
peddlers of alum baki
gling with chemicals, <
or cooked-up certifica
any kind, can change
Royal Baldi
uas ueen ioud
dal examinatio
highest leaven]
free from alum,
purity and wl
Royal Baking- Po
for making finest and r
Apparently mistaking Judge ii
Thomas for the warden the muti- e
neers fired a volley of shots at him.
He sank to the floor, mortally wound- ei
ed. g
Fearing an alarm might be given
by the telephone operator, Mary Foster,
the three men next gave their $
attention to the telephone switch, d
They turned it over and tried to dis- A
connect it. $
"You come with us," they shouted a
as they dragged the girl into the c<
prison yard, holding her before them i^
to keep the guards from shooting. H
Use Girl as Shield. e
Shielded by the girl's presence and ti
cheered on by 1,500 convicts, the fi
three men made their way across the I
prison yard. Only one shot was fired c<
at them and it struck the girl. As she
sank to the ground wounded the con- s<
icts sprang to the prison gate. With h
the keys they had taken from Turn- n
key Martin they unlocked it and were p
free. Outside the gate the horse and 5
buggy of the warden was hitched. t<
The three men sprang into it. b
On the wails the big guns began to n
belch forth at the fleeing convicts. $
^ Guards and Drison officials nuicklv n
-a?w-v r
mounted horses and the pursuit of A
the convicts began. It was short lived. $:
The heavy load that Warden Dick's
horse was pulling soon ended the h
fight. The guards were overtaking h
the prisoners. n
"You'll never take us alive," shout- tl
ed Reed, as he stood us in the buggy c<
and fired at the approaching officers.
The other convicts bent low to avoid h
the scattering bullets. Reed fbught nr
thft fi crVlt alnnn 4-- ?
?--V*?* OVllCIVCll| l/IIC ?j
others crouched behind the stagger- si
ing horse. The guards poured a mer- h
ci'ess fire into the buggy. tx
The horse fell and the convicts tl
ceased firing. The' three mutineers It
lay in a heap in the bullet-r;dd!ed vt
buggy, dead. T
Although there was great confusion
among the 1,500 prisoners, the b
guards soon subdued them and none b;
escaped. b
Warden Dick tonight was unable b.
to account for how the convicts ob- 01
tained the revolvers. It is believed y
they were secreted near the prison by b
friends. -w
h
LOCKHART JUNCTION b
ir
sl
The weather the past week has ^
been cold but fair and some farmers
have begun to break up their land for ^
another crop. The past year, it seems c]
to me, has been a year of plenty, and ^
most everyone has something ahead w
for a rainy day. The farmers are C(
taking more interest in the ways of
piepuruiK iano, trying to maKe more |j
to the acre. Mr. R. G. Haney gives .
his estimte of how much cotton he g
made off a few acres which he gives j
to me to put in my write-up, and I
am always glad to get such news to
publish: ^
Experiment on Three Acres.
"Broke the land in the fall of 1912,
vith a reversible disc plow; breaking ?
the land to the depth of 7 to 9 inches.
Harrowed in Spring, just before ai
piHiimiK witn a aisc narrow. Laid
off rows 4 to 5 feet wide with a Cole V1
distributor with a 10 inch shovel at- n<
tached. Put 3 hundred pounds of
guano per acre in furrow, followed
furrow with doublefoot with 2 tongue 8'
plows on it, ridging same. Followed
same with cotton planter, putting 3 ^
hundred pounds guano per acre with ^
seed. Planting Hasting's Union
Big Boll seed. Owing to the dry ^
weather didn't get a stand until about
the first of June.
"The first cultivation was running ^
at L ? *?
inruugu miauies wun cultivator. w
Next ran over row with cultivator;
then shopped the plants out to a la
stand, followed with a tongue plow 01
and 12-inch bow. Ran through middles
a .few days later with cultivator ?
to keep down grass. Plowed next with J,
a 6-inch shoyel and 16-inch bow.
About the first of July put 200
pounds per acre of guano in furrow,
followed with a 10-inch shovel and 24 E
inch bow. About the second week of
July ran through middles with a 10- II
Remains I
representation by the
ng powders, no jugor
pretended analysis,
tcs, or falsehoods of
the fact that
ig Powder
id by the offlns
to be of the
ing efficiency,
and of absolute
tiolesomeness*
wder is indispensable
nost economical food.
ich shovel and 24-inch bow. This
ompleted the cultivation.
"Kept the weight of seed made on
ach acre separate; but had it all
inned together.
Cost.
"12 sacks 9-2-2 Royster guano at
2.15 per sack, $25.80; 1 sack top
ressing, $3.30. Total $29.10.
imount received for cotton and seed,
276.3f 1ms *9.Qin Ioovoq ?9A7 oc
verage profit per acre $82.42. The
sst of cultivating and gathering not
lcludcd, as I did the work myself,
lave enough of the seed to plant my
ntire farm this year. I wouldn't
ike $150 for them. Every boll has
ve locks. Have an 18-acre field that
mean to try for 20 bales on; so of
ourse will plant this kind of seed.
First acre made 2,169 pounds of
eed cotton. (This acre when laid by
ad 1 sack of top dressing applied to
fiddles.) Second acre made 1707
ounds seed cotton. Total on 3 acres
,051 pounds seed cotton. Lint cotjn
1 bale weighing 448; 452;469 toil
1,369 pounds at 14c, $191.66; 1
emnant weighing 360 pounds at 12c,
43.20; 3,458 pounds seed at $1.20
er hundred (market value) $41.50.
imount received for cotton and seed,
276.36.
Mr. J. L. Hodge says he made four
undred bushels of torn on his twoorse
farm, that I failed to put in
ly article last week with the other
lings he made. So I thought I would
jrrect it.
Why should we go to Texas or
unt any other country when we can1
ifcke so much in this httf MUntfj, j
e call it. Mr. Ashmore Vanderfordl
lowed me a piece of land near Lock-1
art that he wants to make two bales'
? the acre this year. There is about |;
iree of four acres in this piece of1
ind. This is fresh new ground and
'ill be second year. This is rich,
cams cuuiu not Deal it.
I will tell you what old Uncle Alert
Brandon has done. He made 81
askets from August 1913 to Decemer
1913, and averaged 75 cents per
asket and realized $63.75. Albert is
ne of the old time darkies and is 87
ears of age. He says he never has
een in any trouble in his life, alays
made his living by the sweat of
is brow; he belonged to Mr. Kit
randon, who lived on Brown's creek
i Union county. When he was a
lave his master never had to use
im rough for he aiways obeyed his
laster. I give this old darkey and
is wife a home and wood free of
large and will hire him when I need
im and pay him for his ' work. I
'ish we had more like him in this
>untry.
Mr. W. H. Page and sister, who
iro nno r Vio Ti1 o *? ? -?*
.v IIVU1 vnv niliUICBI> SCCUUn, Vised
at the home of Mr. M. C. Gault
unday, and we took a ride with him
i his auto, which we all enjoyed
sry much. We were not by oursel3s
of course, you need not expect
lat.
Dr. H. T. Hames and Mrs. Hames,
T Jonesville, visited Mr. and Mrs.
. L. Gault last week and Mr. Hames
id Mr. Gault went bird hunting.
Mr. Walter McEachem, of Union,
sited Mr. W. C. Edmonls last Wedjsday
and went bird hunting.
Miss Sallie Cunningham, of Pacot,
was down to see her mother and
ster last Saturday and Sunday.
M i<3GPQ ow/1 A*U? U" ?i '
....uwwv ? * auu vyviia xiai l>9 UJ
acolet, spent the week-end with
lias Maybelle Vinson.
Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Kelly visited
[rs. J. G. Gault and daughter, Miss
ela, of Union last week.
Miss Annie Mae Plexico and Miss
ily Bright of Lancaster are sick
ith measles.
Mr. T. B. Kellv lrilforl linn fino
. ? ? ??? ?"? "Wg"
ist week that netted him 700 pounds
f meat. Moxy*.
m Old SotM, Otter Bewdtos Won't Con.
lie worst cases, no matter of how lone standing,
e cured by the wonderful, otd reliable Dr.
irter's Antiseptic Healing OH. It relieves
tin and Heals at the same tune. 25c, 90c, >1X0
Ohio is one of the foremost of the
iastern States in wool growing.
There are 488 iron mines in the
fnited States.
BUGGT COLLISION
KILLS W. A. GRIFFIN
Prominent Greenville Man Meets
Death and His Negro Driver is
Seriously Hurt in Accident.
GREENVILLE, Jan. 17.?A headpn
collision of two buggies late this
afternoon just beyond the city limits
resulted in the death of W. A. Griffin,
a prominent Greenville man, and the
serious injury of an unidentified ne ?rO
who was drivincr fnr
^ n ?va ???& vii mm.
The other buggy contained three negroes,
said to be drunk, and driving
at a rapid rate. An automobile containing
Chief of Police Holcombe and
a private, left here tonight in search
of the negroes.
Mr. Griffin was well known in this
city and had many prominent connections
in this part of the state. He
is survived by his widow and four
children. Mr. Griffin was past middle
age. He was a brother of H. H.
Griffin, who is in Florida for the winter.
A Difference in Working Hours.
A man's working day is 8 hours.
His body organs must work perfectly
24 hours to keep him fit for 8 hours
work. Weak, sore, inactive kidneys
cannot do it. Thev mimt ho
and healthy active all the time. Foyey
Kidney Pills will make them so.
You cannot take them into your system
without Rood results following.
For sale by all dealers everywhere.
High temperature and the rapid
passage of a current of air through
it features a California inventor's
evaporation device with which he
claims to preserve food perfectly for
long periods.
There is more Catarrh in this section
of the country than all other diseases
put together, and until the last
few years was supposed to be incurable.
For a great many years doctors
pronounced it a local disease and
prescribed local remedies, and by constantly
failing to cure with local
treatment, pronounced it incurable.
Science has proven Catarrh to be a
constitutional disease, and therefore
requires constitutional treatment.
Hall's Catarrh Cure, manufactured
by F. J. Cheney & Co., Toledo, Ohio,
itf the only Constitutional cure on the
market. It is taken internally in
doses from 10 drops to a teaspoonful.
It acts directly on the blood and mucous
surfaces of the svatem. Th?v
offer one hundred dollars for any case
it fails to cure. Send for circulars
and testimonials.
Adttdess: F. J. Cheney & Co., Toledo,
Ohio.
^Sold by Druggists, 75c.
{Take Hall's Family Pills for con]A
portrait of President Wilson,
fryi and life size, will soon
naB^in fCplace of honor upon the
walls of one of the main buildings
of his alma mater, the University of
Virginia, from which he was graduated
in the school of law in 1881.
Colds to be Taken Seriously.
Intelligent people realize that common
colds should be treated promptly
If there is sneezing and chillness with
hoarseness, tickling throat and
coughing, begin promptly the use of
Foley's Honey and Tar Compound. It
is effective, pleasant to take, checks
a cold, and stops the cough which
causes loss of sleep and lowers the
vital resistance.
For sale by all. dealers everywhere.
Latest reports show that more than
50,000 men are employed as coal
miners in the Pacific Northwest.
It takes fifteen days for the average
human body to recover from the loss
of two consecutive night's sleep.
0
To Prevent Blood Poisoning
apply at once the wonderful old reliable DR.
lORTKR'S ANTISEPTIC HKAI.ING Oil., a surgical
dressing thnt relievos pnin nnd heals at
tbeaame time. Not a liniment. 25c. 50c. $1.00.
i Card of Thanks.
We wish to thank the people of Ottaray
and Monarch for their kindness
during the illness and death of our
dear father, Mr. J. A. Blalock. May
God's greatest blessings rest upon
them forever. His Children
It pd.
_ DCDI ITATi
Count
|m| i anything?
Regular $5, $6, $7 Pants
Tailor Made For $3.50
S.M. McKissick
Mercbaat Taitor Uatea, S. C.
4* 4* 4? 4* 4* 4'4* 4*4* 4* 4? 4H
! WHEN Tl
=======
4*
4* Received its charter a:
^ watchful care of the Go
4 the conduct of its affair;
4* THE CITIZENS NA'
4 ing under its well esta
4 the friendly supervision
GOVERNMENT, will a
4* ty for its depositors.
4j We respectfully invit*
2 large and small.
J A good rate of inter<
+ counts.
| Citizens Na
+ union, soui
* state, county an
+ + + + +
| Columbus
! Was
t None Bel
*
J Farm In
I of all
*
vv\vwvvwvvvvvww\vv>
! Peoples S
Servic
THE most reli
farm use is t
made of the best i
it is strong and
being heavy and a
It gives a clear, str<
to light and rewicl
out, won't leak, a
It is an expert-ma<
in various styles ar
RAYO for every re
At Dealers Eve.
STANDARD OIL <
Washington. D. C. (New Jersey)
Richmond. Vs. BALTIMORE
Norfolk. Vs.
Seriously
Consider It
When about to call or recommend an
Undertaker?you can not be too sure
as to his fitness. This means more
than one can imagine. We have but
one standard of service and appointments?"the
best." The expense is a
matter of your own desire.
Bailey Undertaking Co.
Phone 106, day or night, for
prompt service when in the county.
Brainerd Institute, one of the largest
negro co-educational schools in
the Carolinas, lost their dormitory by
fire and the loss is estimated at about
(15,000.
* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* XJ
HIS BANK!
< *
*
$ a National Bank, the
vernment was extended to
3.
HONAL BANK, continu- J
blished ideals, and under |
of the UNITED STATES *
lways be a source of saf<?- ^
*
i the accounts of all, both
ist paid on SAVING AC- ?
ittonal Bank |
rH CAROLINA. *
tD CITY DEPOSITORY J
?4?*4,+4?4'4i4?4,4,++*
and Webber %
ions I
V ' +
Iter Made *
iplements f
Kinds I
+
\\V\V%V\X%WV%X*VW\\V\ +|?
*
iupply Co. |
E^|^p
^^^Strong
eable, Safe.
iable lantern for
he RAYO. It is
materials, so that
durable without
wkwarH
Dng light. Is easy
k.. It won't blow
nd won't smoke,
ie lantern. Made
id sizes. There is a
;quirement. ^
ry where ) (
30MPANY |H}
Charlotte. N. C. ' jtl
Charleston. W. Va. ^
Charleston. S. C.
Monuments and
Tombstones
In Fine Marble and
Granite from quarry
to customer for less
than you pay for inferior
goods sold
through agents.
Bailey Undertaking Co.
The population of the United
States contains 3,300,000 more males
than females. *
Of every 200 persons who live to
be 40 years of age, 125 are married. '
i
i