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Show WEEKLY REFLEX DAVIS NEWS JOURNAL, AUGUST 7, 1 980 NORTH DAVIS LEADER. AUGUST 7, 1 980 Life In Prison By BILL PATE FOR STARTERS, the school work was involved in became much more difficult than could have believed. My school records arrived, and Mr Jacobs explained what my situation was. "It looks like you need more credits than you thought. You need five more credits in order to graduate. There is a solution to this if you are agreeable, whereas you can keep your job and still graduate in May." I nodded my head to signal I was ready for anything. If you are willing to work hard this weekend and study all five courses, have all the required homework handed in by Mon-da, then take the final exams, "I'm sure you won't lose out on a thing. 1 1 OKAY. YOUR ten and twenty. Casino didn't speak with the same authority he held before. "I call. I can't afford to counter-bucks on the table. laid my cards face up for him to see. Casino threw his cards down and stormed away. 1 take?" though about it, the easier I felt I could really do it. At the end of the school day was loaded down with books on English, U.S. History. Science, Math and Composition. I was faced with over 3.000 pages of reading, and answering over 400 questions. Yes, even though felt I could do it, I felt a little apprehensive. Afraid of failure is more 1 1 like it. had more trouI could deal with. Radios up full blast, some of the guys just came in from playing basketball and I ble with noise than were talking and laughing loudly. This made it hard to study. If you tell them to hold it down or shut up, then you have a fight on your hands, and for as mad as I was getting, I didnt need any fights, MIAT HE said cannot be put into print. He had a two of clubs, four of diamonds, and a Not a six of hearts. Sixty-foubad hand, but not good enough to win. marked down in my little pad how much Casino owed me. (There wasn't real money on the table, we use ripped cards as dollar bills.) When I was finished, I called Casino over. "That's sixty-fiv- e you owe me now. It's getting late and I have to study, but 1 want to thank you for letting me play with a professional. I learned something tonight." I needed help. 1 WITH A SMUG look on his face. Casino said, W'hat did you learn? "1 learned how foolish a better you are and how much a liar you are. And no professional gambler takes those kinds of chances. So do me and everyone else a favor and quit lying about yourself. Good night. STOOD up from the table and went back to my house. He never said a word to me or got in another game after that night. W'hen Monday morning rolled around, my eyes looked like two wornout road maps waiting to be used one last time, preferably as garbage can liners. I was exhausted. I had completed every assignment I was given. I MR. JACOBS was the first to notice. You look terrible." Well, when you want something long enough, hard enough and strong enough, you go after it and did. Now, how soon can I take those 1 WHEN I HAD the chance to get away from doing my studies, I took it. When Steve asked me to play poker, I told him I couldnt. "Bull. When did you ever pass up the chance to get your hands on a little scratch (money) before. Cmon, just a few hands. Besides man. the way you look right now, a little entertainment wouldn't hurt you a bit right now. I LOOKED at Steve, shook my head and smiled. "If I flunk my test Monday, your its fault. Go deal the cards. I'll be there in a minute. Have to go to the bathroom. I know what you are thinking, but the only way I can make a living is to gamble and cards has always been good to me. I don't make much money in prison, and that is the only income I have. My parents and friends don't support me and to tell you the truth, I wouldn't want them to. THERE ARE five of us counting me, Steve. John. Dick and of course. Casino. Dick gave hin that name. No matter what card game you played, he knew it. He used to brag about how good a dealer he used to be in Vegas. He always talked about how good he was. and how he would "fleece the suckers." well he didnt have any sitting here as he found out that night. 11:30 that night. Dick, Casino and myself were still playing. Steve and John dropped out owing me thirty bucks apiece. Dick dealt the cards and the name of the game was three card Molly. We each received three cards and the object is to get the lowest hand according to the cards. Ace being low, face cards and tens being high. Usually a pair of something is generally a loser. THE FIRST hand, I had a deuce and a pair of fives. Casino bid a dollar, I called and Dick did likewise. Casino kept his cards. I discarded my two fives, drew a three and a ten. Dick threw away one card. Casino bet two dollars. I called and Dick folded. Casino didn't take a draw. Dick asked me if I wanted any cards. I would need an ace or a four to beat him, for he doesn't bet or stay in unless he has a good hand. I raised one finger in the air. Dick slid one card my way, and like I always do, I shuffle my cards together before I look. I raised them to eye level, spread them open. more trouble the rest of the night. AS FOR the two guys who tried to escape, they knew they didn't have a chance, so they blended into the crowd and went back to their houses again. The remainder of the night was quiet. Things werent over yet. for we all knew an investigation as to why the cop was assaulted still had to be done. Tomorrow meant many questions, with few answers. The following morning when I woke up, 1 noticed that none of the doors were open. Usually at six the doors are racked. I made a cup of coffee, rubbed the sleep from my eyes and heard another voiece. "Listen up. If everyone maintains their actions today, you w ill all be off lock down tomorrow morning and everything will return to normal. tests?" I CAN give you all your exams except English today. Friday is the soonest I can give you the English exam. This started at nine in the morning, and continued until almost five that afternoon. Three B's and a B- I had ev-. erything under control except for my nerves. I went back to my house for count, laid down and didnt wake up until Tuesday night. I slept 25 hours. THINGS WERE going pretty good for me. I finished my English test and became a high school grad. 1 began to get a few more friends and help them to write letters or help them with their spelling or anything that would help them improve. Things were going pretty good for me until the last weekend of the month. Saturday night after the midthings became night ring-in- . mellow until one in the morning. Three doors opened on the third deck where Ralph, Keith, (he finally took my advice) and Mike ran down the tier, going to the aid of an officer w ho w as attacked by two other inmates who were planning an escape. IF IT hadnt been for those three men, Jeff Tolley would have died from shock. The three of them carried him to the prison infirmary and had medics on duty alerted, and they administered medical treatment. Ralph and the other two came back to the block and noticed that every cell had been opened and all escape doorways were open. It. was three then, when loud voices over a could be heard. Listen up. I am saying this once and once only. Return to your cells immediately. Do not attempt to resist. We have tear gas in our possession and if force is needed, we will use it. You have thirty seconds." bull-hor- n A FEW vulgar statements were heard as the sound of shuffling feet on concrete floor could be heard all over the place. I looked out of my house and saw 30 cops wearing safety face plate helmuts, carrying shotguns and tear containers. gas These boys were playing for real. My deck was the one they wrote about her. I wrote to keep the feeling alive. At this moment, not even that was enough. A song was playing from the other end of the tier caught my attention w hen I turned out the light. My Way. No matter what, I'll have to do it my way in order to survive. THIS CAME down because OSHA said the curtains were a fire hazard. But now, as long as they have an excuse, now is the time to get us and somehow degrade us. Jimmy who lived across the hall from me asked Lt. Fitch why nobody picked up his mail this morning. MONDAY. TWO fried sandwiches. Gee how time flies by when one is enjoying life. Several men wanted to know when we would get out. We were told Jessup would be up later to talk to us. I asked about our jobs. The cops didnt have an answer for that either. NO MAIL goes out until this shakedown is over. cant do that! You cant stop our mail from going out. Thats illegal! .You NINE THAT morning, ten officers came upstairs and started a major shakedown, taking things they believed to be contraband. Hammers were brought to bang on the bars, checking for loose ones. Everyone of us lost our curtains. We tried to argue this as a means of privacy, using them to change our clothes or go to the bathroom. They wouldnt listen. These cops had to prove their authority. I remember six weeks ago they said, We can understand your concern for privacy. We will work with you in this area. If any inmates have suggestions on how to correct the situation, let us know! r. HOWENER, IE you fail to do the required work, we can't keep you as a tutor or as an aide. If you fail to complete the assignments, you will have to enter high school to finish your senior year. W'hat do you think?" "Mr. Jacobs. I want to keep this job, and I want my diploma. After 31 years I have the opportunity and 1 dont want to blow it. I'll do it. Itll be a long week. I want to graduate. Now, what courses do I That night you again." Sixty raise v I three of hearts and another heart. A 'ousy five. Not a bad hand, but not good enough to bet Casino. "Bet them like you own them Casino or throw them in. He didnt take long to reply. He bet five dollars, and looked at me w ith that stupid looking expression on his face, telling me he had me. "I see your five, and raise you five. "Your five, and ten more. What started as a slow, unyielding month, gradually became physically and mentally demanding. THE MORE SAW A two of hearts, 1 FROM the rear part of the tier yelled SOMEBODY "When are we going to eat! You have us locked up, so feed us!" This cause other questions to be raised. Yeh, what Let us call our about visits? wives not to worry. Proctor answered, "No one gest out of his cell today. Sgt. No phone calls, no nothing until receive word from the warden. Your breakfast is coming now. He turned and left. No one saw him the rest of the day. 1 their way down to the first deck until everyone was again locked down. Most of us figured there wouldnt be any The shakedown continued for four hours. Robert, who lived three cells down from me yelled, "I want to see the warden right now. You cant do this to us. We have certain rights ourselves you know! One officer said in a sneering manner, Pal, you can take your rights and flush them right down the toilet. IT WAS that remark that touched everything off. After the officers left. Bob decided to write a writ on the inhumane conditions that were being given to us. We were told the warden would come up here and speak to us. We were told Jessup' AFTER LUNCH, the heat on the third floor was only beginning. A few guys were getting irritated and wanted some action. They wanted someone to talk to that knew what was going on. To them, there was only one way to get attention, start a fire. The only thing available was a table we used to play cards on. After a small flame started on the top, the table was pushed with whatever was available. Some guys tied blankets together and used them to pull the table forward toward the front where I am. Smoke billowed towards the ceiling. Smoke went into every cell, causing inmates to choke and gag. BY THE time the table reached me, there was hardly anything left. Within a few minutes the table collapsed. Men were yelling to keep the fire alive. Clothes, blankets, sheets, trash and you name it, it went to keep the fire burning. Another hour passed before eight or nine officers came upstairs, brought a camera and started taking pictures. Ten minutes passed before they left. The noise quieted down, especially when we found out the fire didnt work. day. Even inmates in max. are allowed one hour a day out of that afternoon, BY THREE ten officers came upstairs and walked down the tier. One of them started sounding out cell numbers. Eight cells were called, and each man was taken off the tier for inciting a riot. The pictures they had taken to their satisfaction showed who the instigators were. their cells to exercise and shower. They even get a hot meal. I no sooner thought inside, I threw it away, laid down on my bed and slept for a few hours. Three others were taken off the tier for mouthing off. When the officers left, things became quiet again, until I yelled to Mickey. Hey Mickey, they take them all to Max? AT 8:00 1 remembered I had a chess set under my bed and 1 talked Cliff into playing a game with me. I tied a long piece of string into a coke box on one end then on the other, placing the chess board on top. Then I placed the pieces on top and we were ready to play. YEH, MORE than likely. "What do you think will happen to them? NO TELLING. about that when the sack dinner arrived. This time I didnt look Probably For the next three days we averaged three games a day. Outside of the books, it helped to pass time away. I had to do something else. I finished every book in my house, and there wasnt anything left to keep them there for God knows how long. We tried it their way and it didnt work. We tried it our way and that didnt work. W'hat was left to satisfy their demands. I mean, they already had the two inmates in max read. WHEN THE news came on who started the whole thing to begin with. So why the delay? Why give us a hard time for someone elses mistakes? that night, the same garbage TODAY WAS laundry day for population, but not for us. For those of us who still had clothes and sheets, we had dirty ones. Most of us hadnt taken a shower since Satur was on the air about the fact we may be let out tomorrow, maybe. Prison officials were undecided as how to combat this issue but were working on a feasible solution to the problem. The only solution we could see was no solution. oses Constitution Facelift FIVE MINUTES after he left, our food came. One paper sack with two fried egg sandwiches, a soggy banana and coffee. I hate their coffee. But I wasnt worried too much, I had instant coffee. Considering I wasnt getting out today, now was as good a time as any to do a little reading. Most of the guys went back to sleep or read books, watched TV, or listened to music. As for about ten of them, all they could think of were various remarks about the way they were being treated. grounds. The amendment By KENT BIRCH Utahs proposed constitamendments have raised little controversy utional according to Lt. Gov. David S. Monson in a recent report. No one has bothered to write any kind of opposing argument to be included in a pamphlet for interested voters on any of the four measures. THE FOUR amendment I KNEW we were getting a raw deal , but w hat could we do about it? Nothing. We were the ones locked down, not the cops. They were the ones who had access to the warden, and the news media, not us. At eleven that morning, seven armed guards came upstairs and opened two cells. The same two cells of the guys who tried to escape. They were taken directly to maximum security. Tolley had been able to give the names of his two assailants. Now the word being passed around was we would be released now that they had the two responsible. proposals are: First, an executive article revision; second, a tax article revision; third, a prisoner work release amendment; and fourth, a legislative compensation amendment. The executive article revision will do away with the position of secretary of state and form a new office of lieutenant governor who will run for election on the same ticket as the governor, similar to the way the president and vice president of the United States are elected. AROUND 1:30 the same cops brought our lunch to us. I was hungry. Inside two bologna sandwiches on white bread, stale white bread. Still no word limitation still placed on officials. It would not longer be necessary for the governor to relinquish power to a second in command when leaving the state on business. The revision also clarifies details of the succession of a governor. The revision of the tax article of the constitution will make it legal for the state legislature to remove certain personal property taxes, such as home taxes and also gives greater leeway for other future tax revision. The proposal would also remove tax on cattle since it is a very difficult tax to administer. would also make it legal for women to work in underground mines. The fourth amendment will raise the compensation of legislators from $25 per day as set with a $15 expense allowance to $40 per day with a $40 expense allowance. The state which now ranks 48th in the amount of compensation allowed to state legislators THE PROPOSALS are the result of recommendations by the Utah Constitutional Revision Committee which was established in 1968 ,and charged with the duty to do an ongoing study of the Utah State Constitution, and to update articles and language that is clearly outdated, to change provisions that no longer meet the needs of the citizens of the state and modernize the overall functions of state govern would then rank 46th. ment. Suggestions of study areas come to the commission from citizens and citizen groups as well as from the legislators. Once the study is completed a recommendation is made to the legislature which then approves or disapproves the recommendation for inclusion on the ballot where the voters have final say. THE commission itself is made up of 6 members. Three each are appointed by the gov 1 ernor and the president of the senate and speaker of the house. Those nine pick an additional six members and a director of the Office of Legislative Research who is the 16th member of the commission. A deadline for opposition to any of the proposed changes is Aug. 6. So far, according to Monson, no citizen or citizen groups are opposing any of the changes which will appear on the ballot in November for taxpayers vote. THE REVISION would also remove some other archaic about our being released. What made the day even worse was when dinner came around and you guessed it, two bologna sandwiches. That night on television the director for the prison was on. Those of us who didnt have sets, listened as best as we could. At this time, the block is sectioned off from main population pending an investigation of an attempted escape and an assault on one of our officers. Hopefully well have things back to normal by Monday afternoon. THE THIRD revision is a prisoner work release CLOSE TO eleven that night. Cliff and I talked about things in general. Cliff has less than three months to do. We mostly spoke about what his plans are after he gets released. An hour later he went to sleep. I thought about what Jessup said on television and I knew he was lying. I had a strong suspicion we werent going to be released Monday like he said. I sat down and wrote a letter to a friend of mine, explaining what was going on inside myself and the prison. When I finished. I tore it up. Whats the sense of telling someone something when they cant do anything about it. amend- ment which would permit the voluntary contracting of prisoner labor outside the prison Helicopter Pilot Dies In Crash In Montana KAYSVILL- E- A helicopter pilot from Kaysville was killed last week near Red Rock, Mont., about 30 miles south of Dillon, when the craft he was flying lost power while taking off and slammed into the ground. IM IN HERE, my friends are free, they have other things to worry about. I cant ask them to do anything for me. They have enough troubles of their own. If nothing else, it felt good to write a letter. A great deal of emotions flowed onto paper. I wrote out a lot of frustrations which I felt good about. Now I felt as if I wouldn't do or say anything foolish which would get me into trouble. HE WAS identified as William W. Dodd, 47, 966 Thorn-fiel- d Rd., Kaysville. The county coroner at the scene said the helicopter, owned by Rocky Mountain Helicopters, was being used in the area to do seismographic work and collect core samples. Witnesses said the helicopter had landed and refueled. It took off and seconds later lost ITS TIMES like these GROUND CREWS extinguished the flames and pulled power and plunged to the ground, catching fire. billy-club- s, started with first, working RIGHT NOW we can do anything we want. Relax. The sooner we get this bver with, the sooner everyone can be released. would talk to us. Before the day was over, no one would talk to us about anything. I wish weren't alone. For the longest time I kept a feeling of a woman alive in my heart I although she was dead for quite some time. Even after death I loved her. I only had her pictures and the poetry I . ND MAaiiamviAKl 1 Four Davis County Republicans were among the 21 delegates and alternate delegates attending the Republican National Convention in Detroit. Davis County GOP Chairman Gene Peresich of Bountiful, Vice Chairman Ruby Price of Layton, and Dennis Webb of Farmington, former aide to Rep. Dan Marriott, were dele- gates. the pilot from the craft. Another helicopter rushed the injured pilot to the hospital in Dillon but he was dead on arrival, according to hospital authorities, grb DORIS WILSON of Bountiful, former State Party vice chairman and current Hansen for Congress coordinator, was an alternate delegate. The Utah delegation was in Detroit for one week. The con 1 Ruby Price wears her famous red, nhite and blue campaign suit that she wore for Ronald Reagan in Kansas in 1976 and Detroit n le Rrst ore l 'n 1974, and h ill continue through this Garn. She and Gene Peresich, right. Here for Jake year among the delegates to the Republican national convention. Others from Davis County included Dennis Webb and Doris Wilson. vention adopted the National Party Platform and elected president and vice president nominees. All Utah delegates and alternates were members of the Reagon slate elected by the State Convention in June. sought out the Utah delegation to get acquainted and ex- change views. The harmony of Robbery In Layton LAYTON Three INDIVIDUAL impressions of the convention varied but all agreed on several points. The Civic Host Committee, which pects, all believed to be in their early 20 s, are suspects in the included several former Anthonys Restaurant, Utahns, spared no effort to make the convention a good experience. Detroit city workers were extremely courteous throughout the convention. Many national leaders views between Utah delegates and delegates from other states was impressive. sus- robbery last week of 505 North Main, Layton. THREE MEN, all brandishing handguns, confronted five employees as they were cleaning up the establishment after closing. One employee was met in the parking lot by the trio who ordered him back inside. Once inside, the gunmen re- portedly ordered the em- ployees into a backroom and then forced the assistant manager to open the till and safe. The intruders then fled on foot with an undetermined amount of the days cash receipts, grb |