Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-01-09
rron The Boston Journal
From the Boston Jonriiai
Another Bloody Tragedy IN the
State Pr;son--Murder of War
den Tenney by a Convict.


cord the almost incredible fact OF another
murder in the State Prison. which occur
red about half-past three O'Clock yester-
day afternoon. just one fortnight to day
since the murder of Deputy Warden
GaIpn G. Walker in the same institution
The victim of the last atrocious ae'
was the Warden himself. Scion Ii. 1eh-
npv. who, "a in the first instance, wa
stabbed in the neck by convict.
The following are the circumstances o
this aston ding tragedy, which has falit u
upon the ears OF the people of this COM
munity with startling and almost paralyz-
ing force.
Since the tragic death of the Deputy
Warden of the Prison, an increased re-
possibility has naturally dtv"lved upon
The Warden. Mr.. Tennev, who has been
in the habit of visiting the shops OF. the
prisoners ofienpr than before. HIS ord-
I
nary practice WAS TO pass through twice
pa"h day, once in the forenoon and once
! in the afternoon. In accordance with
this practice, he was performing his Gus
tomary circuit yesterday afternoon, and
at half past three O'Clock was passing
through the upholstery shop, where were
employed forty-ive workmrn (convicts.)
and among them. Charles l.. Decatur, 81
prisoner committed April "a ny order Of
the Municipal Court of Suffolk county.
for an aggravated and dangerous assault,
with a bar of iron, on officer Sawyer OF
the House of Correction, where he de
catur) was serving a term for the COM
mission of a larceny.
While passing through the upholstery
shop. the Warden paused "A moment to
converse with the officer in charge. Mr..
I. T. Drering) and afterwards. in pro-
crtding through the room, passed the
bench where d .ratnr was at work, WIN
was seen i'm n+diately to suspend his EN-
: ployment and follow the Warden. Th-
action Of Decaiur's was ahservrd by off
: Ger Drering. who inStinctively spra g
forward, but before he could arrest the
I progresS of Decatur. he had sprung he.
> hind AT the neck of the Warden, and
p plunged a knife under the left ear will
Il such force As to cause it to protrude on
e the other side Mr. Trnnry fell almo~t
: ,-tanily, without uttering word. bu
l.. had time and presence OF mind enough
: before gning down to draw pistol, which
, was afterward, taken from his dying
t crap.
;, Mr.. Deering seized hold of Drca'u,
= and brought him to the floor when tws
: of the other prisoners in the shop cam,
= To the assistance of the off ser, and helt
= Decatur fast until he was Ioa,lt.d will
If iroiS, after which he was conveyed to :
= dungeon in the /" arcIl.''
! A. soon as possible, Mr.. Drerin.
:, caught the wounded Warden in his arm,
at which fine the blond was flowing in
ro?ious stream frnm the fearful woun,
!, in his neck, and with the assistance of o
;. at the instructors and a prisoner name,
., Edward Crowther, bore him immed:a.el
n to the hospital. IN the upper part of tn
l. old wing, where he ceased TO breath
n within a ve-y few m nutp<, after som
or apparent but Intellectual attempts to al
!, ticuiaie. Acting Deputy Warden Charlie
- ". Walker. brother of the murders
Deputy, met the wounded man on tn
:. stairs, and received from him look {
intelligence, but it was immediately SUE
D. ceeded by closing the eyes and sink
a; ing of the head, as though Life had qrit
70 departed.
Tine conduct of the prisoners in tn
~ upholstery shop during the dreadful seen,
.r was most commendable. They di-paye
little excitement, and AT the order of tn
- officer in charge, soon quietly resume
their employment.
- Mr.. Tenney wa: a native of Lebanon
\. H.. and would have been thirfv-thr+
years of age next February. lie wa
=; appointed 10 the office of Warden of ii,
/ State Prison last April. For the ten {
., twelve years proceeding, he had been a
i officer OF different grades in the Bosto
House OF Correction and Suffolk count
Jail; being clerk Of the latter at the tim
OF ms appointment TO the Wardensllip
= the Prison. In all these capacities !
had proved himself a most tru.txe,th
=. and efficient officer, and his ewift and II,
e. timely d:lh cannot but prove a seye,
49, loss 10 the Institution, which has 50 su,
ad denly been deprived of its chief off :,
l. Try the hellish act of an inmate, who In;
h.. received nothing but kindness a, ii
u hands of his victim.