Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-09-21
TFrom the Boston Journal
A SIurderOus Assault.

The routine of discipline at the State Prison
in Charlestown, always strictly enforced and
rarely defied, was broken in upon few even
ings since by savage and extremely despe-
rate assault upon one of the Deputies of the
Prison, Mr.. Amos P. Woods, who received a
deep, but fortunately not vital, wound in the
breast from knife in the hands Of turbulent
prisoner named Daniel Burke.
The motive which led the prisoner to make
an attempt upon the life of the Deputywas not
the hope of escape, but simply desire for re.
venge and the qualification of brutal longing
to commit some horrid act by which he might
avenge himself upon the power that restrained
and held him. For prisoner who had any
hopes of gaining his earthly freedom it would
have been an insane act, and none but the
blndest and most abandoned villain would
thus throw away all chances for escape from
culprits doom.
Burke entered the prison in 1866, and has
consequently done four years. service for the
State. He was sentenced for twenty years by
| Judge Russell for breaking and entering
house in Boston at that time he was only
nineteen years old. He has always sustained
a bad character, and has been ugly and insub-
ordinate from the beginning of his term, hav'
ing been punished by solitary confinement no
| less than fourteen times. He has been em
| ployed in the bronze shop, and on Wednesday
night was reported by the officer in charge as
having been guilty of insolent and violent con-
duct during the day and as is the custom
with such offenders, he was left at the foot Of
the stairs inside the prison to await the dispo-
siton of the officers while the remainder of the
prisoners were locked in their cells.
Woods, whose duty it is to take charge of
the solitary cells and conduct the unruly priso'
ners to them, went down upon the lower floors
while the prisoners were marching to their
NJ IN ia t0 no
to the other side of the prison. He was stand
ing at his back and some distance from him,
and simply motioned to Burke to change his
position To this Burke made violent and
offensive reply, refusing to obey, and applying
, defiant and opprobious epithet to Deputy
Wood. Mr.. Wood took no notice Of this, but
reported it at the Office before the other officer
had made his report, and the prisoner was at
once ordered to the " solitary"
Mr.. Woods then undertook TO conduct the
prisoner to his cell, and walked with him along
the corridor, and little in front Of him. unit
lust as they arrived at the cell, Burke sud
denly gave Mr.. Woods powerful back hand
ed blow with his jack knife, which he has
opened and concealed in his hand. He RAISED
his arm nearly to Mr.. Woods shoulder, anf
evidently intended TO strike his heart but th'
knife blade entered on the right side Of MI
Woods breast, cutting cash four inches 4
length and two inches deep.
Mr.. Woods is a very feshy man, and th
wound was luckily only in the flesh, although
the blade penetrated to the handle. AT frs
!, his thought was that he had simply been struc
by the prisoner, and he turned to secure him
when he received another blow in the cent?
of his right hand. A struggle then commenced
and Mr.. Woods soon found the blood iowin
from his breast, and realized that he was s'
verely wounded. Warden Haynes, who WI
standing at some distance, observed the ell
counter, and saw that blood was flowing froi
the hand of the officer. He at once motiont
to the other officers, who were standing nea
to go to his assistance. As they did not III
derstand his signs, Mr.. Haynes rushed to the
himself, and ended the struggle by giving Il
he brute heavy blow upon the head with loa
ed cane, telling him to the floor, and eausil
an immediate surrender.
he The knife was common, small pccket-kni
such as all the prisoners are allowed to hav
. Mr. Woods wounds were at once dressed
's' the physician. The villain Burke will u
ma doubtedly end his days in prison.