Litchfield enquirer., 1858-03-18
SINGULAR TR.4GEDY.

A most singular tragedy, and which probably will result in the death Of two persons, a Keeper and rsoncr ill the Alton State Prison, Ill., took place las. week.
 A prisoner from Chicago, named Hall, seized one of the guards and dragged him into his cell, and then tied his hands behind him. and set him against the door, as to keep his body betwven him and the guard outside He then drew large knitc and holding it within two inches of the keepers breast demanded his release from the prison follows There should be given him revolver, to be loaded by himself, full suit of clothes, SlOO in money, aid close carriage in which he was to be driven, accompanied by the keeper to place he should de- silnate. All day long he was pricking and tormcn- ting his victim, keeping him before him, and there by preventing the guard from shooting into the cell Thus matters stood until the next morning, when we have the following report:
 At o'clock this morning, Rutherford, the State Superintendent and Col. Buckmaster, Warden, un- dertook to get into the cell of the prisoner, by srt agem. 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 brief consultation, was done. The warden, superintendent and guards were each side of the cell but out of sight and notionless. The convict slowly opened the door nearly enough to admit the food when a cro~bar was instantly inserted. The warden cried out to Crbb, the imprisoned guard, to fight for his life. He accordingly sprang to the opening of the door, and at length dragged himself through, but not before he stabbed by the con- vct nine times in the back, and twice on the When the poor victim was dragged out, the convict barred the door again and refused to yield. He was then given few minutes for reflection, and the reb el was after much lodging and effort to get out of the reach of the fire, shot by the waden The ball struck his skull just below the left Cur, and glan- cing around, lodged under the skull. He fell in stantly and was dragged out of the cell, and was thought to be dead, but soon recovered ands talked as sensibly as any man could under the crcumstan- ces After the convict was taken out of the cell his knife about eight inches long, with double edge, was found in his cell, and on his person found anoth sr larger knife four inches long. Crabb. the wounded guard, was immediately taken to the hos pital, and his wounds were examined and dressed by Dr. Williams, the prison surgeon, and Allen The lett lung was found to be twice perforated by the knife. Tho other wounds were not dangerous Af- ble and conversed very freely. He expressed of his dangerous condition, but was calm and hope full His wife visited him about II o'clock to-day, and he bore himself with much fortitude through out the interview His physicians consider his very critical and that the chances arc much against his recovery.
 The convict was laid on mattrass in the prison hail. He said he hoped Crabb would live and in the next breath he said he had put five men in the same fix he was in himself.
 Dr. McMasters was present: and endeavored faith fully to draw his attention to the near approach to death. He exhibited penitence or remorse, but said he "hoped that God. if there was any, would forgive him. He sent for one of his confederates and advised him to behave himself when he got out ani not bring himself to what he saw before him.
 Hall died in about two hours.