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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1936)
Big News Breaks Friday's prison ' riot Is Just . one more "big story s of many which The States-' sun has brought to Salem district readers first. E1GUTY-SIXTH YEAR Salem, Oregon, Saturday Morning, August 1, 1936 Price 3c; Newsstands 5c No. 1C3 Ml r F1(D)B J.-'- cai iKinr:n - ORf 1 - et wind, clear. ! !. i " - - - -- - ' ' ' - ' . - - - - . - . - . j : I 1 - - ' i . 4 ? t 1 1 f :,;.. i ; . Que Tin No Food Until Men '(Quiet ;Bpwny Order; Leaders Oilier Punitive Measures Will Await Complete Investigation of All Features, Prison Mutiny - Situation Well in Finally Quieted;' Guard Asserts Shot Fired Toward Ground NOT even a bread-and-.water diet will the inmates of Ore gon's state penitentiary who rioted yesterday afternoon get until they quiet down and give assurance they will resume. good conduct, Warden-James Lewis indicated last -nights . . r . - ; , ' ' : The convicts were denied 'dinner last night and were told there would be no breakfast for them this morning. Four prisoners were promptly placed in the "bull pen" early last night after cell doors had clanged shut behind the 700 rioters. Two of the four were Dupree Poe, Marion county murderer who was missing for an hour yesterday afternoon, and Theodore Jordan, Klamath, Falls slayer of a dining car steward. As f ar-as could be. learned no other inmates had been placed in the "pen" for their part In the disturbance. Rhnnta nf . nrisnncri raminlaf - . i . through the cell j block corridors last night but; prison officials ex pressed a feeling the situation could be kept well In hand. With every convict accounted for, there was considered to be little chance of difficulty as long as the men were kept behind locked cell doors. "No meals until you quiet down." was the ultimatum hand ed them via guards as guards and state police dodged flying knives, bottles and dishes which had been sneaked into the cells when the prisoners were returned from the recreation yard where the riot occurred. Each cell was being searched. One trooper was re ported spattered by flying tomato Juice. . . " Positive Measures ' Not All Determined Aside from giving the no-meals order. Warden Lewis said he would wait' until today to decide what punitive measures should be taken against the leaders In the yard strife, . Other officials . likewise . were not ready -to say "what investiga tions would be made. Deputy Cor oner Virgil :T Golden, who re moved the body of Thomas J. Baughn, murderer who was fa tally wounded as guards fired to X r I g h t -e n the rioters, to the Clough-Barrlck mortuary, said an "Investigation might be made to day It was undecided whether or ' not. an Inquest would be called. (Turn to Page 3,' CoL. I) -v OREGON STATE PRISON FROM Ihe yard hm the milUnft crowd of convicts snarled and yelled defiance at the guards is tl white spot this side of the furnace room, thown by the tall smokestack. Shots were fired from no., six tower at the lower left angle of the wall. Provisions from the commissary were strewn about the yard, . against the north wall of the enclosure and around the buildings. The new cell block Is the structure In the center with the tall windows. The commissary is in the basement of the center wlZ3 to the left of the sew cell block. . ' : e: in Bullpen Hand With Tumult rstem : Needs to Face 1937 Session Overcrowding, Possible Reformatory, Addition Will Be Considered Readjustment of Parole and "Good Time" Law Sure to Be Issue Certainly that a variety of prob lems directly connected with Ore gon's penal system will face the 1937 session of the state legisla ture, was made emphatic by Fri day's riot, the outcome of which was generally regarded In official circles as "much less disastrous than it might have been.- - First of alt, necessity for solv ing the problem 'of overcrowding, a condition which magnifies the' dangerous i possibilities - of out breaks 'such as occurred 'Friday t (Turn to Page l,oL l) ' .i V V- rnsonM M T iD)icipMiniairy SLAIN CONVICT AND LEADERS IN RIOT 38jL J J L r ' - ' " ' f - 7 ' - s tS. " - - . : r . - 1 , - ( ' tl ' - . . -j , V r t . ; V' r- ' -' i -; 1 H r These six convicts played leading parts in the penitentiary riot and ensuing search, for missing pris oners yesterday afternoon. Above, right, Thomas J, Baughn, fatally Injured by guards' bullets; cen ter, James Hamilton, gravely wounded, and, left, Joseph Duprey, shot in the hand. Below, right, Lloyd Sorahan, Salem convict credited with assisting Frank Tilson, Eugene, in Inciting the riot; left, Dnnree Poe. Iarion count? murderer, object of an hour's search sifter other prisoners had been re- tBrnnl tn their t-fllu. Decision Upon LaWair, tause Judge Decides Law Is Not Ambiguous, Parole Is Up to Governor The legal decision which led directly to the riot In the state prison yesterday was given by Judge Arlie G. Walker, McMinn ville, in the application ' of Roy LaNair for a writ of habeas cor pus. Judge Walker ruled that the law relating to indeterminate sen tences was "not ambigious and that penitentiary prisoners were not entitled to the automatic de duction of good time from their sentences. LaNair brought his action for release from the prison after a 13-year practice of automatically releasing prisoners .when - two- thirds of their sentence had -been served, had been declared illegal by a ruling of Judge L H. ' Me Mahan in the application of Earl H. Fehl for release. Fehl was con ditionally " pardoned but Is seek ing complete release by another, action now pending before Judge L. O. Lewelling; - ' - -: - (Turn to Page t. Col, 4) BACK SIDE j 1 :V -;..-. . - s, - . Martin Seeks Investigation Into Outbreak MARSHFIELO, Ore.. July 31. -P) Governor Charles Martin, informed tonight of the prison riot at Salem which cost the life of one convict and " brought In juries to two others, said be had ordered an investigation to start tomorrow, "after which we -will decide the punishment." -; "I told Warden Lewis to lock them up and make them go with out their supper," the governor said after talking to Salem by telephone. He said officials had expected such a disturbance and were prepared. The governor also said he ap proved of the court decision mak ing mandatory 'the ' serving of a maximum sentence unless a pa role or pardon is granted. "Who's running this state any way, the - Jail b I r d s or the courts? the governor asked. "I have the greatest respect for the courts." Governor Martin, who came to Marshfleld to participate in lay ing the cornerstone for the new federal building tomorrow, 'said ho did not believe Unnecessary for him to return to Salem ahead of schedule! : Spanish Rightists Moving on Madrid (By the Associated Press) -'- Spain's fascist rebels, moving on Madrid,' declared Friday three of the four .advancing columns were only 15 miles from the cap ital within artillery range. Bulletin . Screaming and his clothing In flames, Ross II. Wood. Tice president of the Salem Brewery association, ran from his homo at 2094 Center street shortly . after 1 o'clock this morning. -He apparently had fallen asleep in an easy chair in the living room and a cigarette or cigar had set the chair on fire, police said. ' - - At Salem general boepltal at 2:40 this morning Wood's con dition was. reported at fair. He suffered severe burns about " the hands- and shoulders. Brewery Manager Frank Schmidt believed Wood's condi tion was grave, "A neighbor, believed to be dint on Cook, beard Wood's agonized screams and rushed him to the nearby hospital. . Firemen said the Wood living room was badly damaged "by flames, one chair,' the drapes and woodwork partially des troyed by the fire, .which they put out before it reached other parts of the house. ,' Mrs. Wood was in. Polk county visiting relatives living near IlickreaU. . . .. .. . . .. Mea I - ; 12 9 711 . ' - ; , -.. Riot Story Is Told, Witness Scenes in Prison as Men Go on Rampage Viewed by News Reporter By CLAYTON V. BERNHARD (Associated Press Staff Writer) I stood In the yard of the Ore gon penitentiary today and watched 700 angry convicts hurl their defiance at six prison guards on the walls and Warden James Lewis.: They milled about," some of them taking it as a lark, others looking hopefully" at the walls, wondering whether they could make a dash for it. The din was deafening but - the guards j u s t stood there, rifles in hand, watch ing every move. . Suddenly there was a shrill cry. "Come on guys- let's make a run for it!" Hundred Desperate Men Rush Walls A few conylcts started and In an instant there were a hundred of them running like madmen for the walls. I was on the ground, in the yard, and I stood there dased by the thought of those men run ning toward those guards with their rifles gripped tightly. : : - Suddenly I saw a rifle raise. I knew there was going to be a shot. In a flash came the report of a bullet fired then another cracked acrosi the big yard. I turned and ran into a small reception room, out of range. 1 saw three convicts slump to the ground. That broke up the charge. Quickly ' the , on-rushlng mass of men stopped, turned in their tracks and fled for cover. There was quiet for. a tew-minutes and then shouts began to break out. For another hour and a half the prisoners milled, about the yard.-.- ' -- "We'll eat anyway" they had raided the commissary before riot ing and stacked supplies of food In the yard some yelled laugh ingly. Others 7 said more grimly: "We aren't going back to the cells.- . : - . I stepped out of the reception room to the yard again. The guards were carrying off the wounded convicts. There was a murmuring and I looked up. On the walls stood 20 booted state polctemen. They said nothing but In their hands they carried : tear ' gas guns and the convicts knew It they knew, too. what the police intended to do. , Without a word the state troop ers stuck the guns skyward and held them there,-The rumble of shouting suddenly died down. In a moment guards, without firearms, were walking among the prisoners. They gave Lhe : usual , signal to line up. , Sullenly but without resistance thy convicts fell into ranks and marched slowly Into their cell blocks., Some of them carried as much food as they 'could get In their arms. The guards let them take it in. I noticed with a start that the - (Turn to page 3, Col. 7). , mires Are Beg Slayer Bali By Giiai 700Inv Bloody Break Eleven Years Ago Recalled Three Killed in Famous Kelley - Willos - Jones and Murray. Affair Tracy - Merrill Escape is Most Famous of All at Salem Prison The riot at the state peniten-f tlary yesterday afternoon recalled; previous violent prison breaks! that had occurred here. The lasC major break resulting in fataUj ties took place August 12, 1935J when Ellsworth Kelley, James; Willos ahd Tom Murray gained! their freedom from the state prison and two guards and one convict were killed and two other guards wounded, j -r"-J. M. 'llolman, guard; Joh Sweeney, guard;- and Orego Jones, convict, were killed in the break. Lute Savage, guard, was) shot beneath the heart. James Nesmith turnkey, -was badly beat en about the head. - The, convicts made their brea at about I o'clock that Wednesj day night. The three who gained their liberty were all armed and desperate men. Kelley, Willosl Murray and Jones had been work lng in the prison yard with othei inmates and were aent to theirf cells abont S o'clock. When the other men went to supper, thef quartet remained in the cell house; and congregated in one cell. Cutting their way through the; top of the cell, they gained the. roof and made their way to the yard, in front, then two of them; gained entrance to the prison ar-j senal, gained rifles after beating James Nesmith, turnkey, evaded: Warden A. M. Dalrymple. who' finding his way to the arsenal blocked, rushed to his home fori a ' weapon. -Convict Arm and' Fire Upon Guards . ' Obtaining rifles and ' revolvers, the four convict oDened fire tinom Sweeney and Holman, guards on! post 1, the first tower north of, the entrance to the prison. Al promlsclous shot struck Lute Say-? age, wno was wounaea oeiow tne, heart but : later recovered. Hol-; man and Sweeney were killed.! Oregon. Jones was shot, by John Davidson, guard, as he left the foot of the tower. , .Heading toward the state hos pital, the three men com-: mandeered a taxi driven by z. J. Zinn, and made their escape from the city. Murray was caught at Centralla (Turn to Page t, CoL 7) . , yard wh$r)& Bullets ended riot X marks approximate spot where bodies jof dead and wounded lay in Corey fired from position on wall to left of fto. six tower in center on concrete Job In progress Jo the left, had! been used by rioters . sary. Prison incinerator Is shownt is Shot Fatally MobMushe IvtedmWndDisoirder j . Hamilton and Duprey Wounded; State Police With Tear Gas Guns Put Halt to Rioting in Yard Sorahan, Salem Man, and Tilson Are Recognized Ringleaders; Warden and Guards DISAPPOINTMENT -MADDENED, several hundred con victs struck in the. state penitentiary recreation yard here! early yesterday afternoon against a court order dentins j them "good time" privileges and engaged in a riot whih left one inmate dead, one gravely wounded and n othefr injured. ... . Bullets fired by tower guards at about 3 :30 p. m. when the cursing, shouting mass of men started a rush for the higty prison walls felled Thomas J. Baughn, 50, Deschutea courjty murderer; James G. Hamilton, 36, Douglas county slayfer, and Joseph' Duprey, 22, Multnomah county .burglar. J Baughn, three times convicted of murder, died 15 min utes, later in the prison hospital. Hamilton lay there last niglt, critically wounded in the chest, and Duprey remained j", 1, i-s , w """ Oin the hospital for treatment of" Hh n l o aH Hnia -I a Qiiicldy by Radio Value of System Shown in Emergency as Police Gather Promptly ' Radio, ;long distance 'telephone and messengers were command eered yesterday afternoon as of ficer at state police headquar ters ere Called for troopers from Portland, Oregon City, McMinn ville and Salem district patrol beats to come to the peniten tlary; scene of a riot which re sulted In i the death- of one con vict knd the injury by gunfire of twobthers. ; " ., "qome to your station. Emer gency I" was the cryptic order dispatched over the Salem poUce radid station to patroling troop ers'l " 0 - Salem 'state policemen,'- first within reach, were rushed inside the prison enclosure and station ed at- strategic points. Those out of . ach jwere armed with tear permitted to carry only riot sticks stdnt a handles and "saps. 28 Officers There . : . - Befofe Klot Knds s . .. ' Beffore the prison situation was considered; as well under control. Z8 state onicers including cmet Charles Pi Pray, and his assist ant, iGeorge Alexander, had ar rived! at the penitentiary. The Multnomah county sher iff's off ic sent word that, de partment would be glad to send deputies as reenforcements If needed. None was requested to Turnj to Page S, Col. 8) ) i ' t 4 '7 '-T i - t it , i f with- chimney Photo by Statesman staff photographer. 11 si Cool in Crisis I bullet hole in the hand , Prison guards- estimated 709 convicts had quit their Industrial or recreational occupations and swarmed into the yard or "island" at about 1:30 p. m. "Beat it!" Frank Tilson, 41-year-old Lane county burglar, was reported to have shouted to the cooks as he and Lloyd Sorahan. 25, of Salem, invaded the com missary, off the prison yard, at about 1:30 p. m. Identified by guards as the riot ringleaders. Tilson and Sorahan soon were busy directing a band of between 75 r and 100 prisoners in piling provisions in the ysrd. Locks In Some of Cells are Smashed ' Prisoners armed with hammers and other Implements smashed away the locks on several cUs within reach from the yard area and released other, inmates, who had been kept locked up for "cor rection." Egged on by the leaders, wbo had grabbed regular or impro vised megsphones, the sabotage gang, joined by several hundred others, began trampling the foed, dumping canned and packaged goods into the - creek which bounds the "island. Whila guards gripped rifles and watch ed every move In the yard below, the, 700 men increased . their shouting to a continuous roar. . The melee grew- more ominous as TUson suddenly yelled st .the prisoners near him I to dash for the walls. .? ' Guard H. II. Corey in tower six fired from a rifle, one shot. h said later, -and Baughn fell wounded and writhing. A volley of shots from tower, seven where Roy Bremer stood guard, follow ed. Both men said they hadn't aimed at nor Intended to wound (Turn to Page I. CoL 5) i yard at Oregon state prison. Gu.ml of. picture. The vtheelbarrow. i-J to wheel provisions from commit - . a - 1