The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-03 00:00:00

STRANGE SCENE IN A PRISON.

An extraordinary instance of criminal despera-
tion had occurred at Alton Penitentiary, U.S. A
convict, named Hall, who was serving out his se-
cond term, watched his opportunity shortly after
breakfast, and when • no other guard was in
the hall surrounding the cells except Crabb,
a turnkey, knocked him down stunned him
by a severe blow on the head, then
dragged him into one of the lower cells, tied his
hands behind his back; fastened the cell door by
means of a stick of timber, previously put in the cell
by some confederate, then drew a huge knife from
his bosom, assisted.Crabb to rise, put him against the
door, and threatened him with death unless he was
allowed to go at liberty. This most daring attempt
was soon known, and promptly brought
Colonel Buckmaster, the governor, and his
guards to the spot. The convict threatened
Crabb with instant death if any attempt
was made upon the door, holding his kuifo
within a couple of inches of his breast. For upwards
of an hour Col. Buckmaster and his guards watched
an opportunity to shoot Hall, but, there being but
one opening in the door, and that quite small, he
kept Crabb constantly between him and the open-
ing, so that he could only be reached through his
body. Thus matters continued till about noon,
when Crab') made some effort to open the door, but
was immediately severely cut in the hand by the
convict. During the day the convict stated his
terms of submission to be a revolver, loaded by
himself, a full suit of citizen's dress, 100 dollars in
money, and to be driven out of town in a close car-
riage, accompanied by Crabb to such a place as he
should designate ; all of which were of course inad-
missible. In th 9 meantime, however, Col. Buck-
master procured a pardon from the Government,
to be used at his discretion. All day the guards
were on the watch to shoot the scoundrel, but as he
had positively declared he would kill Crabb if he
was not instantly killed himself, great care had to
be taken for fear he might put his threat into exe-
cution. About 11 o'clock at night one of the guards
got a shot at him, but averted his fire upon achange
of position, for fear of shooting Crabb. The en-
trance to the cell was very narrow, the door of plate
iron, with a small grating at the top for ventilation.
The door opened inward, and was very strongly
fastened. During the day great fears were enter-
tained that he would kill the guard, and for fear of
that active operations were not pushed forward.
In the evening everything was done which could
be done consistently with Crabb's safety. No chance
would the convict give for any injury to himself,
as he either studiously kept the guard between him
and the grating, or lay down against the door, out
of the reach of a shot. He professed to have no
ill feeling to Crabb. Everything was done during
the night to surprise the convict into a capture,
but he was vigilant, and amused himself from time
to time by pricking his victim with the point of
his knife. At nine o'clock on the following morn-
ing Mr. Rutherford, the state superintendent,
and Colonel Buckmaster, undertook to get into
the cell of the prisoner by stratagem. Breakfast
was set at the cell door in vessels of larger size than
ordinary, but the convict refused to open the door
until the hall was cleared, which after a brief con-
sultation was done. The governor, superintendent„
and guards were on each side of the cell, but out of
sight and motionless. The convict slowly opened
the door nearly enough to admit the food, when a
crowbar was instantly inserted. The governor cried
out to Crabb to fight for his life. He accordingly
' sprang to the opening of the door, and at length
dragged himself through, but not before he was
stabbed by the convict nine times, seven times in
the back and twice on the arms. When the poor
victim was dragged out the convict barred the door
again, and refused to yield. He was then given a
few minutes for reflection, and was, after much
dodging and effort to get out of the reach of the
fire, shot by the governor. The ball struck his
skull just below the left ear, and, glancing around,
lodged under the skull. He fell instantly, and
was dragged out of the cell, and was thought to be
dead, but soon recovered and talked as sensibly as
any man could under the circumstances. After
the convict was taken out of the cell, his knife,
about eight inches long, with a double edge, was
found in the cell, and on his person was also found
another knife with a blade four inches long.
Crabb, the wounded guard, was immediately taken
to the hospital, and his wounds were examined and
dressed. The convict was laid on a mattress in
the prison hall. He said he hoped Crabb would
live, and in the next breath said he had put five
men in the same fix he was in himself. He did
not live long.

Country Markets

BIRMINGHAM, APRIL 1.

At this day's market there was again a limited supply
of wheat from the farmers, which was cleared off at a
reduction of is per qr. Barley rather cheaper. Oat. a
slow sale, at previous rates. Beans is dearer, and peas
neglected.