The sun., 1870-08-18
WETHERSFIELDS TERROR.
A DEsPERADO OF WHOM THE PRISON
KEEPERS STAND IN DREAD.
The shocking Murder OF Warden willard
NewRstc Calendar Put to the Blush The
Astonishing Career ofa Prison Breaker
Born for the Gallows.


Newgatc Calendar Put to the Blush The
Astonishing Career ofa Prison Breaker
Born for the Gali0ws.
James Wilson, alias Dave Keatng alias John
Marshall the convict who on Sunday last murdered
Cdpt VIM. Willard. the Warden Of the Connecticut
state Prison Is az remarkable and desperate a bur.
glar as the whole country can show. Three fourths
Of the fftv years that he has lived he has
spent in State Prisons Having escaped from
the prisons of Ohio New Jersey and Michigan,
he was at last safely bagged in Connecticut, and
sentenced to serve term OF sixteen years In the
state Prison in Wehersdcld, where he had already
previously spent six years The Connecticut prison
proved too strong for his best plans, ana knowing
that as he should be released from that, the
prisons Of three other States would he waiting TO
HOLD nIM Foa THE REST on MS LIFE,
he came to the determination that he would either
escape or shorten his term of earthly punishment
by a dance beneath the gallows. His first anl sec.
ond attempts were like those Of an! ordinary con.
vict. lie made
SKELETON KEY
by cuttinr up his tin water cup and fastening the
pieces together with waxed thread. Tie key was
made 10 ut several locks, and would have opened all
the doors h, tween lin and freedom but before he
could use It he was searched, and the darling object
upon which he hgd expended 80 much labor was
taken IRON him. This WAS in the beginning Of last
June. At another time, by means OF small file, lie
stioncd knife which he had stolen from tho
workshop into a saw, and with it bad already sew.
cred two Of the hinges Of his cell door before he
was discovered These attempts naturally made his
prison life so much the harder for him, and his
prospect Of escape 80 much the darker.
he WIS placed in the prisons most secure cell-a
cell with double bars and very carefully guarded
LOCK, lie was also threatened by the authorities
with confinement in a new cell OF immense strength
which all his ingenuity would not be able to open,
and which was to be built expressly for him. Es-
cape by ordinary means became apparently there
ore out OF the question; 80 he laid another plan,
which was so daring aud yet cold bloodcd that the
calendars OF Ncwgae will show hardly parallel
for H. Under It the chances were ten to one that he
would
END MS CAREER on the GALLows,
but supposng he did iail, why at any rate le would
THIS enemy was Warden willard who had been
deputy warden OF the prison while Wilson was serv
ing his former term. aud hal then foied several Of
the conVicts bcst-laid plans for escape. At that
time already he had made
an ATTEMPT TO KILL CAPT. WILLARD.
lie sharpened chisel to the nnest edge and sent
a message TO Deputy willard asking TO sec him.
Fortunately the deputy was cautious and persisted
In standing one side OF the cell door instead OF
directly before II. so tnat Wilson could not stab
him through the bars. Last sunday the convict
formed the same plan OF murder and succeeded
better. Having manned feet, he was allowed TO
carry heavy walking stick wiih crook at the up
per end (; removing tue tcrue, he fastened at
the lower end shoe knife ubout four inches
long which he had sarpened to the finest edge. Holt
ing this IN readiness, lie sent for the Warden, and on
the latters arrival handed him slate on which he
was accustomed to write whatever he wished 10 sn';
sone reason he maintained utter silence except
when It suited HE purpose to do othcrwise. Captain
willard stool directly ociore the door and looked
AZ the slate On it he saw the words, please read
tie o;n0r side" THE Warden turned tfo slate over.
and as be diu so " i,son MADE thrust at Lin With
bis oxicmpoilL-i lance.
ruE BLADE ENTERED THE wARnrN's ABDOMEN,
wourdinr the Warden ia'aly. A short stru~,ie en-.
suci tie knife SIN resting in capt NilMrd'- budy
Wilson t.cn drtw his cane back. and thu Warden
staggered ont into the sul room Ills entrsils were
Hf UrN q II % fw fIN
side Lis body TO re'url tncm to their place tho
uhy sicians, who were instantly ummouri, found It
Notwithstanding all efforts, capt Willard died IN
three hours aud na.f Il may seem strange that ia
this murder Wilson saw some
nJrE or ESCAPE;
but that y is so is nevertheless asserted on good au.
Juor,y. Toe Hartford CITY u To which toe muir
larsr i. 20 b' removed during hi- trtl In Scutem.
bcr, 81. much lcss ,ecgre uan he si1tc Prison anu
from that TIE Wre'ch hoped to make lis escape.
All necessary precautions, hOwcvcr, are TO be
aiken; the murderer is TO oe heavily chained about
son tas been ycry cool and quiet. Or Woodin.. The
prison carain, ~ the only person who has ven'urei
ter him. and {" lin the convict merely -ali That !c
'aI grcmclItatcl the murder. that hc was llId he
lad done uiJ taiug. and tdlt he iclt
SATISFIED THAT uE HAD poSE MS DUTY.
To give history Of Wilson's exploits thc records
Of many States would have to be searched. II BE-
enough 10 say that he received the sentence he T.
now serving out for breaking iuto = Hartford store
with anything but Ifcposses-lng lace. lis fees
were frozen years ago, during attempt 20 cscarc
nom the State Prison OF Michigan, ami
since that time lie sAuGlcs curionsly willie
waking, and carries cane. His frozen
feet he displayed two years ago while on
trial In liar ford and pleaded n cStcru.toa Of his
offence that they slot or IN tuc battle Of Get.
tysburg. Wilson has become piCus and sentimental
In turn, and las imposed upon some By lis hypoc.
risy. lie Is wen read and Intelligent man, and
mlnnally very dexterous. sun reporter took
trip to Wc,LcrsGcd 10
INTERVIEW
the convict Hc applied for admission TO Dcputb
Warden Martin. WHO has control OF the whole
prison, but hc received this rep!y:
1--WE haven't admitted our own reporters-the
Hartford reporeis, sir. The fact is II wilson leaves
me alone, III keep away nom him.
Reportcr-Why, you don't mean 10 say that you're
afraid Oi the fellow
Martin-los, | do.
Reporter-! never before heard anything like this
You are at the head oi the prison, are you not,
Martin-Gca, sir.
Reportcr-And you are afraid of one OF your con.
victsf What tbs were TO become known to al.
the prisoners under your chargei
Marun-Well, don't care to irri,ate the man.
He's 4 desperate fellow.
being dcsssd admission to criminals, but never for
such reason. Now YOU need t4ke no risk in the
matter; | am willing to do ail thar, Simply admit
me, and then leave me.
But Deputy Martin turned away, and concealed
himself in his ofce.
The reporter turned to the guard In the guard.
room, and said:
Is this wilson such very powerful man that
you dare not 90 near himf"
Guard UimidB)-Ol, 1t isn't that; II he only
wouldn't use anything else.
II is rather doubtful whether with such man as
Martin managing the State Prison, Wilson aud his
two hundred fellow conyrts via consent to remain
IN Wethorsleld until September,