Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-20
TrHTiQ Affair.

One of the most singular and exciting
tragedies ever recorded took place in the H.
linois Penitentiary, at Alton, last week, in
which convict, while attempting to secure
his liberty, tortured one Of the guards twenty
four hours, but was finally shot. The con-
vict's name is Lindsey. He was serving a
second term in the prison. On Monday
morning last, he put into execution his des-
perate plan to escape Watching his oppor-
tunity, shortly after breakfast, he knocked
down and stunned Mr.. Crabbe, the only
guard in the hall surrounding the cells !;
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 previ-
ously put in the cell by some confederate,
then drew a huge knife from his bosom. as
sisted Crabbe to rise, put him against the
door, and threatened him with death, unless
he was allowed to go at liberty. Col. Buck
master, the warden, and other guards, soon
presented themselves for the relief of Crabbe,
but the convict threatened him with instant
death, if any attempt was made upon the
door, holding his knife within couple of
inches Of Craobe's breast. An opportunity
was watched to shoot the convict, but there
being Tut one opening in the door, and that
quite small, he kept Crabbe constantly be-
tween him and the opening, so that he could
only be reached through Crabbe's body.
Grabbe had no arms whatever, the ward
guards not being allowed to carry arms, and
had nothing whatever to defend himself from
any attack of he desperate.
Thus matters continued until noon, when
Cra5be made some effort to open the door,
but was Immediately cut severely in the hand
by the convict. During the day the convict
stated his terms of submission to be re-
volver, loaded by himself, a full suit of cit
izen's dress, 500 in money, and to be driven
out of town in a close carriage, accompanied
by Crabbe, to such place as he should des-
ignate; all of which were of course mad
missable. He professed to have no i'll feeling
to Crabbe, but had deliberately ly planned this
method of gaining his liberty, and would kill
Crabbe and then kill himself, unless he was
pardoned, and taken out in the manner stated.
At about 9 O'Clock, Tuesday morning, Mr..
Rutherford, the State Superintendent and
Col. Buckmaster, warden, undertook to get
into the cell by stratagem. Breakfast was
set at the cell door in vessels Of larger size
than ordinary Previous to the food being
brought to the cell door, four men were sta
toned each side, unknown to those in the
cell When the food was brought, Lindsey
refused to open the door until those who
brought it had retired they walked down
the gallery. Lindsey then got down upon
his hands and knees and cautiously opened
the door about eight inches. At this time,
| Crabbe stood behind him, his hands free.
As soon as Lindsey reached out his hand,
the men outside pushed an iron crow bar into
the opening, and Mr.. Buckmaster shouted,
''Now, Crabbe, fight for your life!' Crabbe
made spring upon Lindsey, but the latter
sprang back, and Crabbe fell over him. The
men outside instantly seized Crabbe and
drew him out of the cell 4; but in the mo-
ment's interim, Lindsey stabbed him nine
times in the back, inaieting two very severe
| wounds. Mr.. Buckmaster then told Lindsey
he would give him i've minutes to surrender.
Lindsey refused, saying they would hang him
ANYHOW, and he had as soon die there as upon
the galIows. Lindsey stood at the side of
the door, threatening to kill any one who
should enter the CELL After the FIVE minutes
had expired, one Of the guards presented a
pistol near the door, which Lindsey struck
down with his knife, and at the same moment
Mr.. Buckmaster fired through the opening
near the bottom of the door, the ball taking
effect in Lindsey's leg. He Immediately
jumped upon the bed, when MIR. Buckmaste1
fred second time, the ball striking Lindsey
Just back of the ear, and passing round the
skull, under the scalp. and lodging close be-
hind the other ear This shot rendered him
insensible, and he was taken from the cell
apparently dead. He revived, however, II
about half an hour, and is likely to recover
Crabbe is likely to recover; also. His left
lung was found to be twice perforated by the
knife. The other wounds were not danger
! Gus.
eg Tie Washington Union daily grows
more op, My abusive of the Douglas Demo.
Gratis. 1t attacks Mr.. Payne, (wllo, only las
fall, was the Democratic opponentot OF MIR Chase
for Governor OF ohio,) in the most virnlen'
terms. aud aliuaes to Mr.. Douglas as The
fsPatriot Arnold" Unconditional sui mis-
sion is the only test Of Democracy at the