OCR Text |
Show PARRY US j A WITNESS Convict Says That the S e a r c h 1 ights Were Dark the Night He Scaled the Wall Fell on the Alarm Wire. No Gong Rang Salt Lake. Aug 22 As a witness for the state, George V Parry told in open court at the preliminary hearing of F F Merrill, former prison pris-on guard, before Judge N II Tanner yesterday morning, the story of his escape from the prison on August 1 O essential details, the story was : Identical with the account given In Parry to the state board of corrections correc-tions prelimlnar to the Investigation I which resulted in the arrest of for-I for-I infr Guard Merrill on a charge of having assisted in the escape of the corn let Only two witnesses were examined at yesterday morning's session, the first being John M. Mackey of the county sureyor's office, who furnished furnish-ed a map of the prison ard including includ-ing the positions that figured In the escape Ills testimony, explaining the map and concerning the manner In which he had gained the information for the making of it, was immediately followed by the story of Parrs, who was 8 till on the stand when a continuance con-tinuance was taken until 1 o'clock HiIb morning. In a low voice. Parry answered the I questions put by Assistant Count Attorney N G Morgan, counsel for the state. He said that he had known former Guard Merrill for "about four or five years. ' I "Did you see him during the month of last June?" asked Attorney Mor-; Mor-; gan. "Yes, sir. almost every day from j the 20th to the 3lst." "Did Merrill say anything to you during June about you escaping" ' "Yes." "When"" "About June 28." here were you when you and Merrill had this conversation?" ' I was in the back prison jnrd and Merrill was on the wall "What time of the day was it?" "Between 6 and 8 o'clock in the f enlng?" "What did Merrill say?" Talked of the Warden. 1 "He said he had just had a spat j with the warden. He said the war-I war-I dfn and the others with a lot of stinkrrs lie said that he had expecl- 1 ed to see me leave the penitentiary on any stormy night. I told him that T had never thought the matter ovr I !(. i-jtld it was life or death for me ! and that I had botror think it over I and make a break when 1 had a I chance. I told him that I was treated ill right and was satisfied He said that I didn i h ar v hal hi had heard and that I had better go over when I had a chance. 1 told him I would think it over." "Were you on good terms with Merrill?" asked Morgan. "Yes." "Did vou see him during the month of July?" "Yes 1 saw him in the northeast I tower and had several talks w ith him about escaping " About how many of these talks did you have with Merrill about escaping'' es-caping'' ' "Between twelve and fifteen tunrs He was on the wall and I stood la the prison yard. These talks occurred occur-red during 7 and 8 oclock in the morning He told me once that he expected to take th afternoon shift He said if he did that would let me out on a Saturday night He told me on the night to be arranged for me to bnhg what I had to the front wall He said that If anyone was in the front yard that he would light a match and that It would be a signal for me to go back. He said for me to go along the south wall and tha he would flip' the lights out. He said I could climb the wall and lay on It until after 1 o'clock in the morning when another guard would rome on I told him I was afraid. He said that If I followed out the plan that it would appear that my escape occurred when another guard was on duty ' Says He Was in Tower. "Did you ever talk with Merrill in his tower?" "Yes " "How did you get up into the tower?' tow-er?' "I attached the ladder to a post which held the alarm wire The lights were off when I started for and climbed the wall When I got up Into the tower Merrill put the lights on again. We talked from about 12 30 until 2 o'clock What reasons did Merrill give for wanting ou to escape''" The question was objected to by Mr King Judge Tnnnr sustained the objection However, the court ruled tbat Parry could state what was Mid while he was In the tower with Merrill. He said that he had it In for 'him (Warden Pratt . He said that after' I got away I could wait six montha until 1 was located somewhere and then send him some money. He said for me to send him $20 at a time This was on the morning of August I that this conversation took place He advised mo to be careful and not to send the money too quick. He said my name is Frank F. Merrill. 1500 Eleventh East Tells of Conversation. "That same night Merrill was standing on the wall. He aaked me II I had any letters to send I told I him I had one for my mother He said he would send it for me He lowered a string and I fastened the I letter on the string and he drew It up. This was about 9 30 oclock. He said it was dark and a good time to get away I told him If he thought so to give me back the letter. At 11 o'clock I came out of the boiler boil-er house with the ladder. The lights were out I walked to the northeast j box and put the ladder up against the wall Merrill was In the tower. The I ladder would not hook Merrill put his foot on it and held n wane im climbed up I escaped about 11 05 o'clock. He told me how long to wait on the south wall and to wait about a half hour after the guards changed shifts before I should leave. I put I the ladder together the first time on the morning of July .il and took lt apart again the following da 1 put It together again the night of August 1, about an hour before I went over the wall." |