The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-03-25
NO. &LNI
The Outrage at tho Illinois Pcn-
itcntiary nt Alton.

On Monday, tho S.h instant convict i'm the
Illinois Peittcntiary. uJmud Hall, Attempted by
a bold outrage, to gain his liberty While the
turnkey mau named Crabbc, was conducting
thls convict 10 his cell the latter Knocked Crabbc
down, dragged him into the cell with him. ,ock-
ed the door altar them aud then standing over
him with dirk, told Buckmaster, the Warden.
ami other ollicsrs who como to see what the
matter was, that unless they immediately pro-
cured pardon for him f,om the Governor. h.
would kill the poor turnkey. The officers shot
ut hun through crack IN lhe door, bat he dodged
the balls
About niue o'clJck on Tuesday morning Mr.
Rutherford the State Superintendent endCoI.
Bdckmastenthc Warden. determined TO effect su
entrance into the cell where Hall the prisoner.
aud Crabbe the Turnkey, were confined For
this purpose they placed before the door ON the
outsii ie breakfast for both in vessels larger than
lhe Ordinary SlZ', So that the door would have
10 DC opcued To "a considerable dis kucc to ges
Them through. They then called for the convict
to come aud get them, H. refused, however. to
come out till the hall oulsilr was cleared.
ihe Warden, Superintendent and Guards pre-
| 'c;i.iad 10 retire, but only ranged them Gives
against tia wall, SO as Co nunk The door ont of
! sight of the prisoner. The latter thinking they
had gone, cautiously opened The door tcSdras in
| me dishes, when one of tbs officers instantly
! thrust a crowbar into the opening, at tho Same
TO light for his life. The Turnkey accordingly
sprnnS to the opening und struggled to get ,bfo,
tue convict III the meantime plungng his dirk
lLto the BODY of the unhappy man with terrible
| Jury aud rapidity.
When he was finally got out it was found
Inat he had recSived nine stnbs seven times in
tho back aud twIcs in the arm. The lsf, Inn,
wHptrlordtel twic,, forming dangerous wounds.
As soon as tho Turnkey got out, the convic.
Hili barred INC door aud sullenly refused to
! come out. Tie was given few M lments to re-
net nt the end ofwhich timr still refusing. the
| warden fred at him through the grating. Tha
oa'i struck his head, just below the left ear. and
SIancinS round, lodged under the skull II lell,.
ana was then brought ont. Ii. spoke very cool
" about the affair hoped tat Cmbbe wour
i've but said that he had put five other men III
the same liS. lie evlnced but little conrritiun
though he prayed that God "iC there was God ="
would forgive him. lie admitted that he hat
conleGcrates, but the extent OF the plot hud not
been ascertuinsd,
At last accounts both The wounded mon vera
lying IN critical condition. Crahbe, it was
thought might recover lor the convict there is
but little hope.
Tins is Halls third imprisonment in the Pcni.
ton''ary, His iirs. experience in this respect
was IN The State Prison of another STATE, whe,o
ne was sentenced to serve for life for numbering
ms wlie. lie escaped howe, er, and was sent
from Chicago second time for some other Of
lence. Ills present offence is for robbery In
Champaigne county. llu is a small man weigh
ing lO pounds, and is cOnsumptivo; uotwilh
standing this, he is an indomitable drsperado.-.
lie has studied mcdioine. While himself and
the turnkey were conlined in the cell together,
the latter made junpnt the door for the pur-
pose of opening it, WHEN th, convict was thought
to b3 of his guard but the latter made n blow
at the heart OF tho turnkey with his dirk, which
did not reach its aim. but nearly severed tha
thumb from his hand. Hall afterwards dressed
the wound quite sk llulIy.
p. S.-linIl's wound proved fatal. Crabbe is
fast recOvering.