CONVICT SHOT

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 September 1924, Page 2

CONVICT SHOT

ATTACK ON WARDER.

x SAN FRANCISCO, July 21. ; , Raining murderous blows with an iron pipe on the head of a prison guard, V. B. Radula, termed San Quentin’s most dangerous criminal by prison attaches, was shot down by a watchman on the prison’s walls yesterday afternoon and died from his wounds last night. The attack and the shooting of the would-be killer threw the penitentiary into a turmoil, and special precautions were immediately put in effect to prevent a general outbreak among the prisoners, scores of whom witnessed Radula’s attempt to “get” the guard he hated. The trouble began at noon, when Radula loitered as he and other prisoners were on their way fr ( om the jute mill to the mess hall. Ignoring ' the orders of Guard Homer G. Breakfield to move on, the criminal was called before the yard captain and given a severe reprimand. The incident was forgotten until mid-afternoon. Then, when he believed the eyes of no guard were upon him, Padula crept U P on Breakfield ; from the rear in tire prison yard. As he raised a three-foot-long iron bar to strike there came a cry of -“Stop!” from Watchman A. H. Leman, patrolling the. yard wall.. Breakfield raised his arm deflecting the, blow that might have killed him. He added his cries to Leman’s warnings to Padula to stop, but the criminal continued to beat with his weapon at the .guard, who could only raise his arms in helpless effort to shield his head. ? As Padula raised the bar aloft with two hands to deal .a crushing blow Leman raised his rifle and fired.

The convict died in San Quentin Ipospital seven hours after the shooting, . fighting the attempt of prison physicians to aid him, and refusing to say . a word. His body will be buried in . the prison cemetery unless claimed by friends. The man had no relatives.

.Radula fell, with a bullet through his chest and abdomen. The ball had * pierced his body cleanly. While he was taken to the prison hospital Breakfield’s bruised and cut arms •were treated, and the other prisoners, excited, were put under extra guard. Padnla had a prison record of insubordination . including '•several fierce attacks on fellow prisoners during the fnur'and a half years he had been at San Quentin. He was sentenced from Mercer County in January 1920. after ' a sensational ■ attempt on the life of Ceorge W.-. Nichols, millionaire ranch owner. ,