With feeling running constantly higher among the Ohio State Penitentiary inmates an outbreak ]was apparently imminent to-da Throughout the day, the convicts defied their guards. They jeered and shouted threats of violence unless [Warden Thomas, whom they blamed for the death and injury of their fellow-prisoners, were removed. Investigators have stated that if alli isoners had been released from heir cells when the frst alarm of fire was sounded, no deaths would have occurred.
Attorney-General Beman to-day Jdemanded that the Governor, Mr. Myers ¥. Cooper, should remove Br. Thomas from his position.
To this the Governor returned a leryptically-worded refusal to act "until the investigation has been intimating that action fat the tinie was probable.
Meanwhile the warden has issued ment in the course of which the prisoners don't become quiet pretty quick, I'll use forcible methods, if it takes a soldier to every man in the prison."
Public sentiment has been aroused lby the fresh revelations of horror in connection with the fire, and the position of officials is most delicate. At the same time it is admitted that nothing but forther disaster could result from any form of outbreak among the prisoners, though it is hoped that strong ropressi sures will not be required, in lof the tarr ated ors, Was feared today when unconfined convicts battered away the locks on cell doors and permitted other prisoners to come forth and roam the corridors.
Members of the National Guard trained machine guns on the exits of the building, and the reserves were called out to deal with the trouble if it grew more serious.
Since the fire, there has been insufficient space for confining the surviving prisoners and it has been necessary to allow some to remain out of the cells.
The prisoners blame the prison warden for the deaths and injuries of their fellows, since his refusal to order a general release on the outbreak of the fire is considered responsible for the many casualties. Minor disorders have been the rule since the disaster. At the same ime, due allowance is being made for the harrowed feelings of the men who went through a terrible exper-inde and prison authorities reluctant to use undue force in restraining the convicts, despite the dangerous condition of their tempers—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.