The New York herald., 1873-08-06
A PRISON FRACAs.

Murder Warden-An Exciting Affair
In CharlestoWn-Genera Chambe rlain
Assaulted with a Shovel in the State
Prison-The WOuld-8e Murderer Shot.
CnARLEsTowN, Mass, August 8, 1873.
A tragic affair, which threatened dangerous con-
sequences, occurred In the Massachusetts, State
Prison IN this city, this afternoon. General Cham
.berlain the Warden, while making his customary
rounds OF the institution, stepped into the clothing
repair shop. Among other convicts engaged
there was one named Daniel wheton, who
at the time walking up and down
the room. The Warden paid no particular atten-
ton to the man, but passed on up pair OF stairs
to room above. Whelton Immediately followed,
but went up two flights to the bronze shop, and,
not seeing the Warden there, he made an errand to
the overseer, Officer owen, the successor OF Sar-
gent, recently discharged. His question was about
woman who came to see him last Fan, ana which
the officer knew nothing about; and as he turned
away Whelton muttered something about having
Chamberains "damned lfc.n The prisoner then
went to the head OF the stairs just cas- the
Warden came up from the lower story,
and the latter, seeing the convict away
from his legitimate place. went to Onlcer
owen and asked him what his errand had been,
when he informed General Chamberlain OF what
had taken place. The Warden then proceeded
down stairs to the repair shop whittier whelton
had returned, and asked him by whose authority
he had left the shop lie replied that it was with
out the permission OF any one. He then began to
talk upon the same subject which he'made the eX-
cuse for his visit to Oficer OWENS shop The War
den them asked HIM If his head felt bad and he re-
pied that it did not. General chamberlain then
told him he had better put on his jacket and go
along with HIM, This seemed to inname Whelton
and he asked III an excited manner ir he was to be
III hn
upon he ran and seized a large shovel standing in
one corner OF the shop, used IN handling coal,'and
ran toward General Chamberlain. with the weapon
raised abdve his head, as II he INTENDED to strike
him. 1t was but
THE WORK OF A MINUTE
for the Warden to draw the small sized revolver
which he had in his pocket and covering the man,
waited TOR him to come nearer, he intending to
wait until the motion to strike was actually made,
and then shoot the man. Wheton, however, sud
denly stopped and with lightning-like rapidity
| hurled the shovel blade first, nll at the face
of the Warden. For this the Warden was I'M
| prepared, and he could not escape the blow
The blade OF the shovel, alter cutting through
which had the effect to lessen the force
OF the blow somewhat, II struck him perpcndicu-
larry on the pght side OF the ace cutting open his
| eyebrow anf opening his lace near the nose, quite
to the bone, making what at first appeared to be
| MORTAL WOUND.
/ Half stunned and half blinded as he was, he
, aimed his pistol at the convict and discharged 1t.
tenth rib, cracked it and then glanced INTO the
heshy part OF the body, where 1t stillEemans.\ NO
| sooner had WhetOn received the shot than he
sprang for second shovel, when General Cham
berlain fired again, the ball hitting the
shovel and glanclng of, inIurng no one
| Before he could advance upon the War
| den with his second weapon the convctS
| in the shop grabbed the wOuld-be murderer, and,
although he struggled Violently to Tree himself
and renew his attack, he was held until the ar
rival OF an officer from outside the shop, when he
| was secured and takeu to the hospital wnere his
wound was ana prObcd by dressed DIR. Latlmer,
the assistant physician OF the institution VAR
den Chamberlain went to his office, where his
| wounds were dressed. Although his injuries are
| in no wise dangerous, he VIII, in all probability
bear the marks Of the assault Or the remainder Of
| his days. II the bow ha been received upon the
other cheek, the bone OF which was broke IN an
engagement while in the service OF his country, 1t
would have been attended with 1atal results
| WheltOn,
| a THE wOULD-BE MURDERER,
Ba powerful man, some thirty nee years OF age,
and was sentenced here September ., 1871, for q
term of three years for making u murderous as
sault upon Officer Foster, of Boston, with a bricG.
He has been punished several times by the Warden
ior disObeying the rles OF the Institution. The at
tack 1t ia surmised, is premeditated AFFAIR, as Oh
the 23d OF July the Warden received a piece oI pa
per upon which was drawn picture OF u man en-
closed in coffin, and which bore the following
inscription printed with PEN
in ten days.
This was signed tx. X. X"
Several cOnvicts are supposed to be knowing tC
the lact that an attempt was to be made to take
the Wardens life and that Whelton was merely
| q tool 1t IS believed that the affair ls also
one Of the results OF the recent false
| charges made against the management OF
| the institution by an officer who some time since
| received his discharge, and these charges. coming
| to the ears OF the cOnvicts, stimulated them to
| upon the life OF the Warden, who, by the way Is
very unpopular with the prisoners.