The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-03-17
A Remarkable Affair.
thefolle~iag from letter to
the Chicago Journal:
SPRINaFTELD, Ill, March 9,

OPRINGFIELD, ILL, MdICu y, 90.
MEssRs. ED1ToRs:-Quite an exciting
incident tr~aDspired in the Alton Peni
Tertiary yesterday aud to-day. Yester.
day morning, about six o'clock, as one
of the keepers or guards was going his
usual rounds, attending to tho prison
ers, on opening one eff the cells, be was
knocked down by the prisoner confined
within, who dragged him into the cell,
and tied him so as to render him power
less; after which the prisoner closed the
door of the cell, and barred it or fasten-
ed it on the inside by some means, SO
that it could not be opened from the
outside. 1t also seems that the prison
CIR had possession of knife or dirk, with
which he threatened to kill the guard,
whom be thus had completely at his
mercy, if an unconditional pardon and
release from prison were not granted
BIN. To prevent his being shot, he
stood the guard up before the .svictual
Ihole'' in the door of the cell, so as com
plctely to screen him from a bullet, aud
swore that if a pardon for himself was
not forthcoming, or an attempt was
made to cutter the cell, he would plunge
his knife into the heart of the guard.
Mr.. Buckmaster, the warden of the
prison, came up here to Springfield on
the noon train yesterday, and had a con-
ference with the Governor about the
matter, and obtained from him an order
for formal papers of pardon, with in
structiops from the Governor, however,
that they we're only to be used as a gslse
to bring about the release of the guard,
and that in DO event should the prisoner
be permitted to escape, or derive any
benefit therefrom.
A later letter on the same day says:
About noon, Crabb made some little
effort to open the door with his feet, his
hands being tied, but was Immediately
set up by Lindsey, aud cut very severe
in the hands. During the afternoon
The convict stated bis plan for escape, or
the terms upon which he would
open the door and release Crabb. He
a revolver, to be loaded by
a full suit of citizens dress, a
amount of money, aRd that
ne should be allowed to drive out of
in a close carriage which should be
at hic disposal, and would take
.rabb with him in the carriage, as a
hostage for his own safety, until he him
self chose to liberate him. All day the
guards were on the watch to shoot him,
but no favorable opportunity occurred,
md no active measures were taken
against him, for fear he would execute
lis threat of instantly numbering Crabb.
At about IL o'clock last night one of
he guard got a shot at him, ano averted
lis pistol just at the moment of firing,
IN ascertaiuing that he had been aiming
It Crabb instead of the convict.
The st. L. uis Republican of the 10th
iays:
A telegrapbio despatch from Alton,
last night, gives the following
of the end of this most extraor-
affair:
Mr.. Buckmaster, the warden, had
for the prisoner and his victim
,laced in the hall in front of the cell, in
larger ~utensil than usual. The pris !
uer ordered Crabb to open the door
nd get it. To do SO be had to open the
Ioor some twenty inches, when one of
he guard graspcd Crabb's hand, and at
empted to haul him quito OF the CELL
The prisoner then stabbed Crabb nine
imes in the back, two of the stabs pen
ftratipg to the lungs. Buckmaster then
ired one slot into the cell, to confuse
He then fired FIVE ether shots,
he two last taking effect-one hitting
in the leg, and the other in the
Jack of the head, entering back of the
passing round between the brain
nd skull, and then coming out He
vas left in the cell to die, but was after
taken out aud revived a little.-
jrabb is badly injured, and the possibii-
ty of his recovery is very small.