CANADIAN PRISON RIOT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 88, 7 November 1932, Page 6

CANADIAN PRISON RIOT

NEGRO STABS NINE GUARDS, THEN ATTEMPTS SUICIDE SHARP FRACAS IN WORKSHOP Tress Association—Copyright St. Vincent cie Paulque, Nov 5. —A sweeping inquiry will be made immediately into the riot which at the St. Vincent de Paul penitentiary on Friday, led by a gia-it negro named Crossley, left n'ne guards stabbed or burned, four convicts injured, and a large workshop, valued at £IOO,OOO, totally destroyed by fire. No lives were lost, but the condition of Crossley, who stabbed himself when tire outbreak failed, is critical. The indications are that the affair was a carefully premeditated "prison break" which would have let loose Hundreds of convicts to pour into the city of Montreal, 15 miles away. Failure of 80 men outside to see Crossley's signal, and the quick action of the' guards are believed to have saved the situation. Trouble flared in the tailoring shop when, it is understood, Crossley threw gasoline on a pile of waste and fired it. Guards dashed over and were set upon by 30 men who had armed themselves with knives and hammers.

Major Emil Jacques, head of the tailoring department was crowded into a corner and tossed into the flames, but he was rescued when guards poured into the building. Guard Aube was stabbed in the neck and Guard Forest was knocked down. The flames spread rapidly, the convicts slashing a hose brought in by the guards. The combatants milled about, but the guards, aided by the smoke, assumed command, ushering hundreds of convicts out of the building to their cells in the main penitentiary.

Thirty convicts trapped on the fourth floor, were now 'thoroughly frightened and were rescued by firemen, who used a hacksaw to cut through the bars. Crossley had fled to a cupboard, where he stabbed himself, and was saved by firemen training a hose on him until they cut through to his rescue. The riot, was then definitely over.