Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-03-18

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Chicago Journal:: .s =
SPR1ser1EID, Ii, March 9th 1858.
MEssRs. EDrroRs :-Quits an exciting
incident transpired in the Alton Peniten-
tiary yesterday and to-day. Yesterday
morning, about Q O'Clock, as one ofthe keep
ers or guards was going his usual rounds,
attending 10 the prisoners, on opening one
Of the cells, he was knocked down by the
prisoner confined within, who dragged him
into the cell, and tied him 80 as to render
him powerless, after which the prisoner
closed the door of the cell, and barred it or
fastened it on the inside by some means,
so that it could not be opened from the
outside. 1t also seems that the prisoner
had possession of knife or dirk, with
which be threatened to kill the guard,
whom he thus had completely at his mer-
cy, if an unconditional pardon and release
from prison were not granted him. To
prevent his being shot, be stood the guard
up before the little ''victual hole" in the
door of the cell, so as to completely screen
himself from a bullet, and swore that if a
pardon for himself was not forthcoming, or
an attempt was made to enter the cell, he
would plunge his knife into the heart of the
guard. ftiI
Mr.. Buckmaster, the warden of the pris-
on, came up here to Springfield on the
noon train yesterday, and had q conference
with the Governor about the matter, and
obtained from him an order for formal pa
pers of pardon, with instruction from the
Governor, however, that they were only to
be used as ruse to bring about the release
of the guard, and that in no event. the
prisoner should be permitted to escape, or
derive any benefit therefrom.
s A later letter on the same day says:
About noon, Crabb made some little eff
fort to open the door with his feet, his
hands being tied, but was Immediately set
up by Lindsey and cut very severely in the
hands. During the afternoon the convict
stated his plan for escape, or rather the
terms upon which he would open the door
and release Crabb. He demanded re-
volver, to be loaded by himself, full suit
of citizens dress, considerable amount Of
money, and that he should be allowed to
drive out of town in a close carriage which
should be placed at his disposal, and would
take Crabb with him in the carriage, as a
hostage for his own safety, until he chose
himself to iberate him. All day the
guards were on watch to shoot him, but
no favorable opportunity occurred, and no
active measures were taken against him, for
fear he would execute his threat of instant
Iy numbering Crabb. At about IL o'clock
last night one of the guard got shot at
him, but averted his pistol just at the mo-
men of firing, on ascertaining that he had
been aiming at Crabb instead Of the con-
vict.
The St. Louis Republican Of the 10th
says:
A telegraphie dispatch from Alton, re-
ceived last night night, gives the following
account of the end of this most extraordna-
ry affair:
Mr.. Buckminister, the Warden had din
ner for the prisoner and his victim placed
in the front of the cell, in larger utensil
than usual. The prisoner ordered Crabbe
10 open the door and get it. To do so he
had to open the door some twenty inches,
when one of the guard grasped Crabbe's
hand, attempted to.haul him out of the
cell. The prisoner then stabbed Crabbe
nine times in the back, two of the stabs
penetrating the lungs. Buckmaster then
fired one shot into the cell, to confuse
Lindsey. He then fired five other shots,
the Two last ones taking efect-one hit
ting him in the leg, and the other in the
back of the entering back Of the ear,
passing round between the brain and skull,
and then coming out. He was left in the
cell to die, but was afterwards taken out
ard revived little. Crabbe is badly in
jured, and the possibility Of his recovery is
very small.