Daring Prison Escapes | Escape from Leavenworth | 3

Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary has a storied past as the first federal penitentiary in America, noted for its strict discipline and intense security measures.

Leavenworth: Premier Federal Penitentiary With Innovative Architecture and Rehabilitation Features

Leavenworth's foundational design mirrored the U.S. Capitol, featuring two cellhouses linked by a central rotunda. The prison incorporated a school, marking a pioneering step towards prisoner rehabilitation. The grounds included factories for prisoners to work in, all surrounded by a formidable brick wall. Despite the emphasis on rehabilitation, security challenges plagued the institution, necessitating drastic actions from its administration.

Leavenworth's Security Struggles Led To Harsh Warden Measures

Leavenworth's construction demanded a continuous supply chain, introducing a critical security gap that facilitated escape attempts. In response to a 1901 mass escape, Warden McLaurie intensified security, including installation of a far-reaching siren, recruitment of additional staff, and the planning of a fortified central tower.

Warden Mclaurie's Rigid Control Cemented Leavenworth's Harsh Reputation

Warden Robert W. McLaurie enforced a system focusing on control and punishment, sidelining the prison’s rehabilitative aims. McLaurie's regime was characterized by authoritarian measures: guards were authorized to use deadly force for boundary violations, inmates were forced to maintain silence during meals and work, and stringent punishments were meted out for possessing unauthorized items. Severe infractions led to solitary confinement in "the hole," a pitch-black cell that epitomized the ...

Frank Grigwehr and his friends faced a severe miscarriage of justice when they were wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the Mudcut Robbery outside Omaha, Nebraska—a crime they insisted they did not commit.

Grigwehr and Friends Sentenced To Life for Mudcut Robbery Despite Weak Evidence

Prosecution's Case Relied On Dubious Testimony and Circumstantial Evidence, With Eager Judge and Jury Wanting to Make an Example of Defendants

Frank Grigware was serving a life sentence at Leavenworth for robbing a U.S. mail train, alongside his friend Jack Golden and three others. They were linked to the Mudcut Robbery, which occurred when bandits ambushed a Union Pacific train and stole mail sacks valued at an estimated $700. The prosecution's case depended heavily on over 80 witnesses motivated by a $30,000 reward, despite the fact that the robbery night was too dark for the attackers, who wore handkerchief masks, to be properly seen.

The evidence against the defendants was flimsy: an envelope with Grigwehr’s address was found at the crime scene, which he asserted was stolen from him, and a hardware store clerk’s false testimony about selling guns to the men, despite Grigwehr denying ever being to Utah. Questionable identifications based on stature and voice from the witnesses contributed to the case. Grigwehr, maintaining his innocence, firmly denied any involvement in the crime and rejected a plea deal that would have reduced his sentence in exchange for a guilty plea and testimony against his friends.

Despite the circumstantial nature of the evidence and questionable witness testimonies, the jury found all five men guilty in less than 90 minutes. They were sentenced to life in prison and were sent to Leavenworth, the trial marked by shaky evidence and tainted testimony. One of the lead investigators even considered the trial botched due to perjured testimony.

Lawyer Urged Grigwehr to Plea and Testify Against Friends; He Refused to Admit Guilt To a Crime He Didn't Commit, Risking Life Sentence

Mudcut Robbery Trial Criticized For Perjury; Grigwehr and Friends Receive Life Sentences In Leavenworth

The defendants’ court-appointed attorney informed Frank Grigwehr of the plea deal with a reduce ...

Arthur Hewitt and his collaborators at the Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary meticulously planned a dramatic escape in 1910 by exploiting weak points in the prison's security.

Inmate Arthur Hewitt Studied the Supply Train Routine To Leavenworth, Spotting a Security Weak Point

Arthur Hewitt, serving a life sentence, identified a security weakness in the prison's operations involving a Thursday supply train. This train entered through a double-gated system, which uniquely connected to a regular train line outside the prison. Despite security concerns raised by the guards and their recommendation to install a remote switch to derail the train, this vulnerability was not addressed by Warden Robert McClory, who cited cost concerns.

Hewitt Enlisted Inmates to Create Wooden Revolver Replicas For the Escape Attempt

Hewitt understood that weapons were crucial for their escape plan to hijack the supply train. He enlisted the help of his friend Thomas Kating, who was newly resolved to work in the tailor shop after being released from solitary confinement. Hewitt also recruited Theodore Murdoch, a skilled craftsman and cellmate serving time for counterfeiting. Murdoch was tasked with crafting fake wooden guns in the carpentry shop, eventually producing three highly detailed replicas of Colt revolvers using wood and shoe polish from the tailor shop.

Inmates Escape: Grigwehr and Five Others Hijack Train Through Prison Gate

On April 21, 1910, armed with the fake revolvers, the inmates initiated their escape as a Union Pacific locomotive backed through the prison's west gate. John Gideon brandished one of the fake guns causing a guard to fall to his knees. Frank Grigwehr grabbed a hatchet and, along with Gideon and two other inmates, sprinted to the train, overpowering another guard and commandeering the cab at gunpoint. Concurrently in the tailor shop, Hewitt and Kading encountered a resistant guard but ultimately overwhelmed him. Hewit ...

Frank Grigwehr, a fugitive from the United States, lived undiscovered for 18 years in Canada, embodying a new persona as James Fahey before being arrested for a minor offense.

Fugitive Grigwehr Lived 18 Years As James Fahey in Canada

After escaping from the US, Frank Grigware took on the name Jim Fahey and settled into a new life in Canada. He evaded capture with the support of sympathetic Canadians and hesitance on the part of the U.S. to extradite him. Over time, Grigwehr became a respected member of his Canadian community. He spent a few months in Minneapolis before moving to northern Alberta, where he became an active community figure, serving as mayor and running a store.

Grigwehr Evades Capture With Canadian Support and U.S. Extradition Hesitance

While Frank Grigwehr, now known as James Fahey, assimilated into Canadian society, the Bureau of Investigation, the precursor to the FBI, pursued various leads to locate him without success. Grigwehr's family in the U.S. was under constant government surveillance during the search.

Despite Success in Canada, Grigwehr Was Arrested For a Minor Offense; Fingerprint Records Revealed His Identity

Grigwehr’s cover as Fahey was eventually blown when he was caught poaching. His fingerprints were sent to the Royal Moun ...