Capital journal., December 07, 1925, Image 6

PAGE SIX
Long Delayed Report
On Prison Conditions
Released bv Pierce
(Contmued from Pago One)
the escape of four danprerous con
vtcts on August 12, 1025, have this
date completed such Inquiry. We
herewith respectfully render our
rer-ort thereon, the report being
divided into live parte as follows:
(a) Circumstances of escape of
the prisoners:
(b) Physical aspect of prison In
Its relation to the secure confine
ment of all prisoners:
(c) Prliion personnel, methods
and regulations:
(d) Discipline, regulation and
care of prisoners;
(e) Conclusions.
Circumstances of-Escane
Under aub paragraph (a) above
we find that four prisoners Mur
ray, Jones, Kollcy and Wlllos all
of them regarded aa dangerous
convicts but not identified or es
peclally guarded as nuch at the
prison, cut their way through the
roof of the prison and gained the
west prison yard In front of the
warden a office. Two of them
made their wny from this point
to the turnkey's office (Murray
and shortly alter ward Jones)
which plnco there were thrco
guards Davidson, White and Nes
mith. After a brief struggle, in
which two of the guards apparent
ly offered to take no part, the
keys to tha arsenal were taken
from Turnkey Netmilth, the two
convicts armed themselves frith
loaded stnto weapons and literally
shot their way and that of the
other two convicts out of tho pris
on, killing two guards, wounding
third and losing one of their
own mem bore Jones, who was
ehot nnd killed as ho left tho prison
grounds.
Of tho tnrce guards In the
turnkey's office, Davidson alone
showed resistance. Guard White
left the room immediately upon
the entrance of Murray, and Nes
mith made no show of rusistnnco.
lor a brief time at least one mill
lite the three officers were in the
mom with one convict Murray
who was nr niea with u small par
lug knife only.
Warden Dalrympto Flees
Tt appears that when the con
victs entered the main entrance
lending to the turnkey's office,
"Warden Dalrymplo who had seen
Murray ns he dropped down from
the roof, emerged from his private
erriee to the hallway and saw them
about to enter tho turnkey's office
at which timo they also discovered
mm, xiic wartien promptly
tired from the building through
tlH north door and inn from the
prison grounds calling upon (he
guard in guard tower No. 1. who
controls the gate, to open iho gate.
When the gate was opened the
warden proceeded to his residence
ncrofs the street immediately west
of the penitentiary, and secured a
shotgun and later made his way to
the rear of tho prison garage out
side of tho grounds and north of
his residence where he took up
a position behind an oil barrel ap
parently with the idea of prevent
ing escaping convicts from taking
a prison automomie.
Upon equipping themselves with
state rifles. Murray nnd Jones
opened fire through a north win
dow of the turnkey's office upon
gunrd tower No. 1, overlooking the
main entrance nnd In which gunrd
tower during this and subsequent
exchanges of shots two guards
woro hit. u u.i I'd Gardiner entered
guard tower No. 1 from tho out
side of the penitentiary by means
of nn Interior protected entrance
during tho firing and assisted
Ciuard Holmnn, who was first
wounded in tho nrm, out of the
tower. Wo find that this guard,
howevor, did not nrm himself in
the tower, although a weapon was
available there and that he left
tho wounded guard Holmnn, at
the base of tho wall outside and ran
north toward tho Oregon State
Hospital. It appears that tho
wounded guard Holmnn w a s
murdered by tho convicts a few
minutes Inter ns they passed by
this spot where ho hnd been left
reclining against tho wall.
Reverting to tho struggle In the
turnkey's office, wo find that
Guard Davidson elthor fell or was
Knocked down by one of the con
victs in that offlco and thereupon
escaped from tho building and ran
to tower No. 1 whero he secured
a tlfle. Ciuard Davidson appears
to have loft the tower after two
other guards had been killed and
nmdo his way outside tho grounds
whero he took up n position of
vantage and fired upon tho con
victs ns they mounted tho stops
oi guard tower No. l in leaving
tho prison yard. lie nnnnrcntlv
wounded convict Jones at this time
and from a point of vantage emp
tied his riflo at them as they fled
northward outsido of tho prison
walls. Convict Jones was found
dead following this exchange of
shots.
It appears that at the time of
the firing there wore some eight
or more guards nt the guards'
quarters outs I do nnd across the
etrcot to the west of tho grounds
or In tho Immediate vicinity thero
of; that these guards were unarmed
and apparently had no weapons at
the guardH' quarters, It being re
quired that they not keop arms at
that placo whero a number of
trusted convicts nro employed.
Testimony Vague
Testimony Is vaguo as to what
happened among theso guards as
wen as otnor gunrus, hut It is ap
parent that a condition of panic
existed at the time. In fact, due
to general confusion and excite
ment, minor discrepancies are to
be found in all versions of the af
fair. (unrtl Kami I for npiinrcntly en
ttred lower No. i nnd then left,
running north lo the Oregon State
HoNpltnl, approximately oue-ihlrd
of a mile distant, whero lie arrived
in a stnto of cnHnnMK rrqulrlng
ntedlefll nltention. Ho says be was
after a doctor to attend Holman
when ho was wounded.
Gunrd Gardiner, who ran from
gunrd tower No. 1, as previously
Indicated herein, says that he was
after weapons but found no avail
able weapons nt the state hospital
except shot guns loaded with bird
shot and a revolver which he was
reluctant to u?e against convicts
armed with rifles. After the con
vlots had vn niched, these two
guards returned to the prison and
later Joined In the pursuit.
Your committee was unable to
interview Guard Savage who was
reported as severely wounded.
We ascertained that there were
no guard reserves available for
this emergency and that the guard
manning tower No. 2, past which
the convicts fled, was killed In
tower No. 1, having left tower No.
2 to ga to the assistance of tho
guard In Tower No. 1 which was
tho point of greatest danger at the
time.
f There apparently was no guard
at tower No. 8 at tho northwest
corner. So far as we could ascer
tain the only shots fired at the
convicts as they fled after leaving
the prison guards wero those fired
by Guard Davidson and shots fired
from a shotgun by Warden Dal
rymplo who, however, was not
within tho" range of effective fire
for such, a weapon.
rursult Is Slow
The convicts left the prison at
about 6 o'clock p. m. and ran north
approximately one-third of a mile
where they appeur to have secured
nn auto vehicle and Immediately
disappeared. There Is no evidence
of pursuit during tho time that they
wero running and in sight. Details
of all witnesses conflict aa to the
tlmo pursuit was taken up, testi
mony varying from 10 minutes,
which was the estimate of War
don Dalrymplo.to one hour, which
Is the estimate of two or more
guards. Tho majority of the wit
nesses Interviewed by us estimated
the time ns 30 minutes.
We find that there wns no prear
ranged plan of meeting this or any
similar omorgency. Tho.. guards
say they received no instructions
covering their conduct In an emer
gency and It was tho opinion of
tho guards that they were simply
to use their best Judgment In any
situation that might arise.
Wo find the sumo condition ex
isted iu reference to tho pursuit,
thoro being no prenmingcd sys
tem or plan for use in this or mo
ot her emergency. The area about
tho penitentiary had not been dis
tricted. The methods of pursuit
in this particular caso was that
the guards on' hand wero Instruct
ed by the warden to get guns and
give chase. No system of alarm
for breaks, fires or other emerg
encies npiHnrs to have existed.
Physical Aspects
We find that tho prison as a
whole Is adequato for the housing
or convicts now confined therein
and will take care of any ordinary
Increase. The walls are securely
built nnd the guard posts are ar
ranged so as to give a clear view
of vantage points within the prison
yard. The roof over the main cell
building is flimsy and easily sawed
enrougn, but such egress
admits or escapo only into the In
terior prison grounds which are
protected by walls. The prison Is
not of a modern type but Is not
sufficiently vulnerable as to rentier
escape an easy matter. While the
flimsy roof over the main cell
building was a contributing factor
it was not wuoiiy responsible for
the eseapo of tho four prisoners.
We believe that there are several
points of weakness In the struc
ture of the penitentiary which
ought to he remedied at once and
that pending such improvements,
spoctal vigil should bo exercised.
Moat Important of these Im
provements, in our opinion, is the
establishment of a guurd tower
over the main entrance. Control
of the main gate from tower No. 1
is now exercised over a distance of
approximately 76 yards and this
is not practicable In any way, A
main entrance tower would nave
circumvented the possibility of an
escapo of (he type under consid
eration heroin. It would also per-
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V A DO RUB
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Give Her a
Hamilton-Beach
Vacuum Sweeper
For Christinas
She will appreciate it more tlian any
thing else, and will have it many years
to lighten her housework and save her
'strength and time for other duties.
All kinds of housework is now done
by, electricity cooking, heating and
sweeping. If you have several rugs or
carpets you really are "behind the
times" if you do not own an Electric
Sweeper.
See the Hamilton Beach demonstrat
ed at our store today, They are sold on
easy terms of payments.
Hamilton
Furniture Co.
340 Court
m It close aurvvfltaace ot persons
entering and leaving the prison
grounds and would afford effective
protection against escape from the
west side of the prison, unarmed
guards who are In the guards
quarters outside the grounds would
be available for duty if there wore
a main tower at the entrance
where weapons could be hud In
the event of a disturbance or
break within the grounds.
We believe that a steel covering
over the flimsy portion of tho
roof should be added or eUe the
space over the cells Immediately
under the roof should be shut off
with heavy wire screening so as to
deny prisoners access to the flimsy
roof. Steel-lined half doors should
be placed at the entrance and ex
its of all guard towers so as to
render It unnecessary for guards
to expose themselves needlessly In
an emergency. The guards who
were shot in tower No. 1, In our
opinion, aid not have aa ffood nro
tection as the convicts who were
tiring at them.
In this connection we believe
that the thrco oak trees In the
west prison yard and from behind
one of which Murray found ade
quate protection in his attack on
guard tower No. 1 should be Im
mediately cut down.
The east wall, along that portion
parallel to the concrete work build
Ings Inside tho east prison yards,
should be equipped with barbed
wire net rising to ohelght of five
feet above the wall, particularly
at the point where the creek enters
under the wall. Guard tower No.
4 at the southeast cornor might
be equipped with a small machine
gun to prevent tho possibility of
an organized break from the main
prison yard on the east side where
large numbers of prisoners assem-
)ie uany.
The aoandoned gunrd tower at
tho southeast corner is believed to
bo a point of danger In that It is
easy of access from the outside.
It Is our belief that the entire wnll
with all guard posts could bo read
ily taken from this vantage point
uuiiiro resiucnce could be organ
izou. tower oy all means
snouia do made eccuro against on
tranco by unauthorized persons.
J no wooden fdmck In tho east
ynrd, commonly known as tho "dog
lien," should be destroyed or else
placed under strict regulation as It
now appears to serve no decent
purpose nt the prison and is a fes
tering place for Idleness and worse.
aiairs leading to guard towers
snouiu ho removed.
Wc believe that belter protec
tion should bo given to Iho flax
plant cast nnd outside tile prison
walls. Lights should bo nlnreri
in sufficient number In this area
to prevent tho nosslb I Iv nt rt
tructlon of this Plant and lis tnrn
by Incendiary fire and the plant
nuirounueu Dy a strong "wire net
ting or bulwark.
We recommend that tho emer
gency board be asked to provide
immcuiaioiy ror these mnrove-
meats, following a detailed survey
iuj iu me ense,
Prison Personnel
We believe a svstem that nrn.
vldes proper physical standards Is
mandatory and such a system Is
not now in effect. Men who are
to oe used as wall guards, In ad
ditlon to a strict physical examl
nntlon should bo given n test In
mnrkmnnahip. No man should be
employed as a wall gunrd who Is
not between the nges of 25 and fiO
and of vigorous pliyslcnl makeup,
K"Mi vycMiTiic nnd nn expert ririo
man. Older men should not nn.
der any circumstances be used aa
wnll gunrds or in the turnkey's
uiiiue. mention in tnia connec
tion Is Invited to the fact that the
ages of tho three guards who were
In the turnkey's office when Mur
ray first entered alone were aged
58, 65 and 6fi, respectively. It Is os
sentlal that all prison personnel bo
given practicable instruction In
their duties nnd that meetings or
conferences bo held with a reason
able frequency for the purpose of
considering tho details of their dut
ies, planning concerted action In
event of posslblo emergency and
formulating a clear conception of
me part to oe taiten by each man
while prison breaks will differ In
details, the underlying principals
nt coping with them when they
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THE CAPITAL; ! JOURNAL, SALEM, OREGON
occur are the same. We find that
no such action has been taken.
Theso guards should have distinc
tive uniforms and be Imbued with
a high sense of their; responsibil
ities and properly trained under
a system which affords more hope
for advancement and reward for
those who show capaolty and abil
ity In the performance of their
work. There Is not now any such
system or any provision for the
care of fumllies of guards who
might be killed In the perform
ance of duty, nor any system of
pension, advancement or reward
of any character, all of which are
deemed necessary to a proper mor
ale in an institution of this char
acter. Pursuit Plans Itccojunicnik-d
Instructions should include meth
ods of pursuit In event of a suc
cessful brcuk, a knowledge of the
terrain for the prison. Installa
tion of ularm bells would also be
helpful, this to include a telephone
compilation enabling designated
employes to telephone an alarm,
in event of escape, to all residents
within a given area. Such a sys
tem, or any system of pursuit, in
not now In effect.
W e believo that the turnkey's
office shpuld be rendered less vul
nerable than at present and that
an ablebodled man should be
placed on duty in the turnkey's
office, and that practices In con
nection with this office be so re
adjusted by the building of a stoel
cage If necessary and that the
turul: bo armed or protected by
an a d guard. We believe that
a guu.d reserve to consist of two
or more guards following their re
lief from other duties should be
established In the turnkey' of
fice. This du' liuuld be rotated
among all g- on duty at tho
prison. We u that it Is de
sirable tliat i. ipeetlon or wull
guards as-to itieir condition and
the condition of their anus be
made a part of the prison routine,
to occur upon tho posting of each
relief. No inspection system or
this character is iu effect. No ad
ditional personnel need bo required
for this purpose, In our opinion.
Prison Dlscipllno
It seems to us that certain essen
tial oi prison discipline nro not
maintained. During our visits we
noticed considerable bodies of
prisoners apparently unasslgned to
lusks, some oi tnem in mid-after
noon diverting themselves with
cam games end checkers in the so
culled "dog pen." This "doc nen"
seems out of place, being a board
shack erected noar the center of
the prison yard, admittedly for the
purpose of providing a shelter,
pmca or ciud ror prison
ers. Prisoners and truaril Admit.
ted that gambling for tobacco was
a common practice. There were
evidences of fruternlzlug between
employes and prisoners. There
wero evidences of conspicuous
vuih.iruy, proiumty and some ob
scenity among prisoners. There
was aumittcdiy little or no differ
entiation by uniform distinction
octween men known as despera
does and the better class of prison
ers. Desperate men should be
segregated, never assigned to dut
uiienug opportunity ior escupe
or the securing of material usable
aa weapons. The Immature pris
oners should bo celled separately
and kept out of contact with hard
ened criminal typos.
It seems to us that no prisoner
should ho given tho privilege of
designation of 'Trusty" until lie
has served minimum sentence. A
trustyshlp and all other privileges
wiuuia oe earned by rigidly stipu
lated probation.
There appoars to be too much
tendency for gunrds to discuss
otner employes with prisoners.
Conversation between guards and
prisoners should be strictly con
fined to the business In hand.
There aiieured in lm n wnnnii
nnd rather flngrant lack of respect
.m iMmuuiTs iur guarus. prison
ers addressed did not como to at
tentive attitudes, otcn remaining
m-un-a uiio employes stood. A
definite stiffening in the entire at
titude of prisoners for guards seems
imperative.
Conclusions
It Is our opinion Hint tho escape
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AT AIX DaVMItTI
JknUonY 111 g
of the four desperate criminals on
August la was preventable had
proper precautions been taken to
prevent It and bad m higher state
of discipline and organized vigil
nncfi exbled at the state prison.
It Is our opinion that tho effec
tiveness of tho force of prison
gunrds Is further reduced by lack
of harmony and by friction among
prison officials. We find that the
warden employed or retained all
such employes of his own volition.
Warden Dalrymple testified that
he had never at any time received
a suggestion or recommendation
from higher authority In the mat
ter of employment or retention of
prison personnel, or their assign
ment to duties.
It Is our opinion that there was
not a proper appreciation on the
part of all guards of the full re
quirements of duty.
It Is our conclusion that while
the present prison is of a more or
less obsolete type and Is a model
In few respects, at the same time
its replacement by a new building
does not -impress us as being an
urgent necessity at the present
time and that It will serve for a
number of years with the small ad
ditions and Improvements previ
ously referred to herein.
It Is our opinion that Guards
Holman and Sweeney died cour
ageously In the performance of
their duty and that It is an obli
gation of the state of Oregon to
make proper provision for the care
of their dependent families.
We recommend, finally a de
tailed study or all aspects of 'the
present stnto prison, and tho re
quirements of proper manage
ment, with the end in view of pro
viding profitable employment for
nil able-bodied prisoners, and
other needed reforms looking to
the best interests of prisoners who
are not confirmed criminals or
mentally defective, as well as the
best Interests of the state. Such
detailed study should bo made by
a person or persons thoroughly
familiar with the approved prac
tices of criminology and modern
prison management.
Respectfully submitted,
JEWRRSON MYERS,
GEORGE A. WHITE.
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'i Oregon Bids. Phone 1638
One More Week of Rug Selling
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REAL VALUES AT THESE RIDICULOUS
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A Big Showing; of Wilton Rugs 9x12
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WORDS OF
CONDOLANCE
We, the following subscribed optometrists, wish in thia
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sympathy on account of the untimely loss of their loved
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We wish to attest our high regard for the many praise
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Salem.
Dr. L. R. Burdette
Bow. Optical Company
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Auto Painting
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BRIGHT COLORINGS
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Staples Optical Company
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Morris Optical Company
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1925 '
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