Random Mugshots

Here are some photos of past wards at the Preston School of Industry along with the reasons for their incarceration. 

WALTER TESCH

WALTER TESCH-- Ward # 1379, accepted at the Preston School of Industry in 1910. Walter Tesch was convicted of burglarizing the home of Mrs. Ella Noble in 1909, and spent 2 years at Preston for this crime. When he was released, it didn't take long before he found himself in more hot water. He was later charged as an accomplice to several robberies with his friend, murder suspect- Henry La Frenz in 1912.

EDWARD ROWE

EDWARD ROWE-- Ward # 487, accepted at the Preston School in 1902.  On April 20, 1904 he attacked the night watchman in the upper dormitory room of the Adminstration building. He and his accomplice, Dan Gillette, then escaped from a water pipe on the side of the building.  After he was apprehended he was then transferred to San Quentin as inmate # 20626. His acceptance date at San Quentin was May,10, 1904.  He was sentenced to 10 years for "assault to commit murder," however he was able to commute his sentence on February 16, 1908, where he was then released.

DAN GILLETTE

DAN GILLETTE-- Ward # 548, admitted to Preston School of Industry in 1903, escaped from Preston on April 20,1904, after attempting to murder the night watchman, J.S. Phillips. He was caught and sent to Folsom prison where he served 3 years as inmate # 5693 only to return to Folsom again on burglary charges as inmate # 8764, in 1913.

EUGENE GRIFFIN

EUGENE GRIFFIN-- Ward # 1136, accepted at Preston in 1909. According to the Amador Ledger dated March 11, 1910, Captain William H. White, who was drillmaster and held the rank of Major, narrowly missed being fatally shot by ward Eugene Griffin, when he and his accomplice, fellow ward Albert Brown attempted their escape at Preston. Griffin had stolen a revolver from the bakery shop, where he worked, and after being chased by White, he fired behind him barely missing White. Brown and Griffin were later caught and the newspaper states that the school had no intentions on keeping them so it was more than likely Brown was sent to the State Prison for the remaining term of his sentence, and any other time added for their attempted escape. Griffin was sent to San Quentin and later discharged on January 11, 1912.

WILLIE BANNING

WILLIE BANNING---Ward # 160, William "Billy" Banning was just 10 years old when he was sent to Preston School of Industry for stealing camellias from the garden of Miss Hurd of P Street, in Sacramento. Judge Davis sentenced William to 8 years at Preston, in 1895, after he was convinced that William was incorrigible. You see, William had been arrested several times before, and due to his age he was always given a slap on the wrist. This time around he was not so fortunate. Still, an 8 year sentence did seem pretty steep for picking flowers.  After William was released trouble caught up with him once again, when he was arrested and convicted for 2nd degree burglary and sentenced to 4 years at Folsom in 1909. He was released in 1912.

Sac Daily Union 3/15/1895

 (Photos from the State Archives, San Quentin & Folsom Prison records)

(© Copyright 2012-2015, J’aime Rubio, Originally published either on blog “Dreaming Casually” by J’aime Rubio, on my Facebook Page or in the book “Behind The Walls- A Historical Exposé of The Preston School of Industry” by author, J’aime Rubio.)

All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission by the author/publisher, J’aime Rubio. 

Unbelievable Stories (Various)

This post will reflect on some of the craziest sounding stories, but I can assure you, they did happen. Some are quite disturbing while others are just downright cruel. It just goes to show you that there was a lot of injustice going on then, just as there is today. It also shows you that both violent and non-violent boys were thrown together which often led to one thing, the callousing and desensitizing of the kinder and often times, weaker boys. The newspapers of the times used to remark that if you weren't a criminal going into Preston, you certainly would be upon your release. Such a sad thought, isn't it?



BOY SENT TO PRESTON FOR STEALING FLOWERS!

According to the Sacramento Daily Union (March 18, 1895), a boy by the name of William "Billy" Banning was sentenced to 8 years confinement at the Preston School of Industry for stealing Camellias out of a lady's yard! Yes, you read that right. Because he picked some flowers out of the garden of Miss Hurd of P Street (Sacramento) he was sentenced by Judge Davis to spend 8 years at Preston.---- Unbelievable, right? Believe it!!


HATCHET WIELDING WARD ATTACKS ATTENDANT

According to the San Francisco Call dated July 27, 1909, a Native-American ward, Albert Journey attacked one of the Preston School of Industry's Supervising Attendants, J. Strawn with a hatchet while working in the kitchen. Although Strawn was banged up, he was able to ward off the blows in order to avoid serious injuries. Journey was subdued by the other wards who witnessed the attack until help arrived.




WARD STEALS GUN FROM BAKERY!! ATTEMPTS TO SHOOT DRILLMASTER DURING ESCAPE


According to the Amador Ledger dated March 11, 1910, Captain William H. White, who was drillmaster and held the rank of Major, narrowly missed being fatally shot by ward Eugene Griffin, when he and his accomplice, fellow ward Albert Brown attempted their escape at Preston. Griffin had stolen a revolver from the bakery shop and after being chased by White, he fired behind him barely missing White. Brown and Griffin were later caught and the newspaper states that the school had no intentions on keeping them so it was more than likely they were sent to the State Prison for the remaining term of their sentences, and any other time added for their attempted escape.




FIGHT AT FOOTBALL GAME LEADS TO DEATH OF WARD

In December of 1924, after a fight between wards Edgar Hough and Leland Price started during a Saturday night football game at the Preston School of Industry, the boys were thrown in the basement as a punishment, where the fight again resumed. Somewhere in the tussle, Price was knocked down or slipped, and his head cracked the concrete floor, fracturing his skull. He slipped into a coma and died the next morning.

For more history on the Preston School of Industry, please keep reading my blog! 

(© Copyright 2012-2015, J’aime Rubio, Originally published either on blog “Dreaming Casually” by J’aime Rubio, on my Facebook Page or in the book “Behind The Walls- A Historical Exposé of The Preston School of Industry” by author, J’aime Rubio.)

All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission by the author/publisher, J’aime Rubio.