PRISON REBELLION

Northern Advocate, 7 November 1932, Page 6

PRISON REBELLION

•SENSATIONAL EPISODES ESCAPE SCHEME THWARTED. WORKSHOP CONELAGRATION. PRIME MOYER’S SUICIDE. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received 9 a.m.) MONTREAL, November 5. A searching inquiry is to be made ‘immediately into the revolt at the St. Vincent de Paul penitentiary on the Isle -of Jesus, in St, Lawrence River. The workshop destroyed by fire was valued at £IOO,OOO.

The condition of the negro Crossley, who stabbed himself when the outbreak failed, -is critical. The affair seems to have been carefully planned. An escape was intended, which would have-let loose hundreds of prisoners to pour into Montreal.

The failure of SO men outside the gaol to see Crossley’s signal and the quick action of the wai-ders arc believed to have saved the- situation.

The trouble flared up in the tailors’ shop, when, it is understood, Crosslev threw some gasoline on to a pile of Avaste and set tire to it. Warders dashed over and AA'ere set upon by 30 men Avho had armed themselves with knives and hammers.

Major Emil Jacques, head of tho tailoring department, 'was crowded into a corner and tossed into the flames, but ho was rescued when,; tho warders poured into tho building. ’ One Avarder, Aube, Avas stabbed in tho neck. Another, Forest, Avas knocked down.

The flames spread rapidly as the prisoners cut the hose brought in by the warders. The combatants "milled about,” but the warders, aided by the smoke, assumed command and ushered 100 prisoners out of the building to the cells in the main gaol.

Thirty prisoners were trapped on the fourth floor. They were thoroughly , frightened, but were rescued by firemen, who used hack saws to cut through the bars. Crossley had fled to a cupboard, where ho stabbed himself. ■He was rescued by the firemen, who trained a hose on him until they had j cut a way through to him. The revolt then -was definitely over.