On New Year's Day, 1944, a brazen escape was successfully carried out by four inmates: Ralph Cassidy, John Bryl, Frank Brown, and Steve Ratcliff. At that time the Deputy Warden's Office was located inside the institution. When Bryl motioned that he wanted a drink of water, he was allowed inside the office. On cue the other three inmates rushed in and attacked Deputy Warden Womachka and Guard Captain Danny Beam. Guard Grant Eilers rushed to their aid, and was stabbed with one of the homemade knives the inmates wielded, but not before Eilers managed to crack Cassidy's head open with his blackjack.
The inmates then forced Beam to phone the prison garage to have a car sent inside. When the car arrived, the inmate driver and accompanying guard were forced out of the car. Hundreds of inmates were at liberty in the yard at the time, watching with great interest.
Despite standing orders that the two exit gates never be opened at the same time, the gates were thrown open and the car allowed to leave the prison, with the four inmates and two hostages inside. The hostages were released in Tipton.
The four inmates were all back in custody within a day, captured in Davenport. The photo shows the defeated and bruised escapes, in chains, awaiting escort back to the Reformatory. On the left is Jones County Sheriff Eichhorn. On the far right Warden Foss Davis.
The escape was the sensation of the hour in the media. The governor ordered an investigation. Guards were fired and demoted or quit over the incident. Eilers, however, the one stabbed during the melee, received a promotion as a result of his bravery.
