The Caddo Herald
September 5, 1913
Riot at Jail
What resembled a miniature war was pulled off at the county jail on Saturday night, when officers were forced to shoot into the county jail to drive the prisoners away from the window, and to prevent their escape, and to force them to be quiet. The shooting was heard in nearly every portion of the city, and large crowds flocked to the jail yard expecting to find someone writhing in human gore, but instead they found the prisoners soaked with water that had been turned on them in an endeavor to stop the mutiny.
For some reason the prisoners in the jail started on the war path early in the evening, when they demolished about everything that could be broken up in the jail, even tearing down the lights. Quiet was restored, but it lasted for only about thirty minutes, for they again began their loud and boisterous capers. This time they began their antics by tearing up their beds, using the iron railings in an attempt to batter down the steel bars at the west window, and it was at this time that the shots were fired into the top to the jail to scare the prisoners and force them to leave the window, and it had the desired effect, for the mutinous prisoners made their “fade away” in great shape. But it did not close their mouths, and only seemed to add strength to their lungs, for they began their yelling in renewed vigor, acting as wild maniacs, and it was at this juncture that the “water cure” was resorted to. But even this had little effect, and the prisoners kept up their wild acts until County Attorney Walter Turnbull gave them straight talk, telling them that their action was a disgrace to civilization and that it would have to be stopped. He talked and reasoned with the prisoners and they promised to keep quiet the remainder of the night, and the people within blocks of the jail were allowed to go to sleep for the balance of the night.
When the prisoners were at their worst, one of them threw a soda pop bottle through the iron bars at Deputy Terry of Caddo, who was present. The bottle broke, and one of the flying pieces hit Mr. Terry on the thumb, making a bad wound.
The county officials say that they will have no more such conduct, and the next time the prisoners cut up such capers, stern measures will be resorted to. The trouble seems to be between the jailer and the men, the men clamoring for a new jailer. – Durant Democrat
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