The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-20


Revolt In the Penitenfiary-A1mO
! an Emeute-A Mutinous Convict
| shot-A Thrilling Dinner Scene, DC.
| While the convicts, over 600 in number,
| in the MARYLAND penltentary were seated at
dinner on Sunday, Justice Shipey rose from
| his place and walked out to the kitchen,
which adioins the large dining-room. All
| the conyicts are fed in this dining-room to-
| gether, at long rows of narrow benches like
| the forms in a scbo0l-room, the whites and
! blacks separate, with 4 guard over them, Sta
! toned on elevated places in the main aisle,
| and at the top and bottom Of the room, with
watch at the doors also. The convictS come
in in squads, marching By lock-step during
the working.days from their shops, and on
SUNDAYS from the corridors in which their
cells are located Not word is spoken at
meal-times, or indeed at any other time in
the prison. silence being the rule enforced
by discipline. No one is allowed to rise
from meals until all are through, then the
signal is given and the convictS retire III
squads as they entered.
The colored man Shpley went out into the
kitchen without saying anything and without
permission. -Four officers We're on duty in
the room. Shipey, on reaching the kitchen,
drew from under bis clothing bar Of iron,
which he had taken from his bedStead and
secreed. With this weapon in hand be
rushed upon the officer of the prison III
charge of the kitchen, Mr.. John I. Bar
Der, and attempted to brain him. MIR. Bar
Der, with great GOODNESS, retreated towards
the dresser or cupboard, where bis revolver
was lying, and after obtaining the weapon
ordered the desperate convict to his place
again.
In the mean time the officers in charge Of
the dining-room remained at their posts over
the regiment of convicts engaged with their
meal. The negro Sbipley still continuing
his desperate assault upon MIR. Barber, and
the officer finding bis life in peril fired the
ball from the revolver, striking the prisoner
on the forehead over the eye and glancing
from the skull.bone. This did not intimi-
date the convict, and the officer fired again.
The second shot struck full in the convicfs
mouth, carrying away o front tooth, the ball
passing through the tongue. Wounded as
badly as he was, the convict continued his
desperate assault, and received third shot
over the hip Joint. After receiving this
wound lie rushed back into the dining-room
where, with his mouth bleeding and all the
| prisoners excited by the reports Of firearms
which could be heard in the breathess ST.
! lence that prevailed, he called upon the
! other conyicts to rise.
| Almost simultaneously with this call the
! six hundred prisoners, whites and blacks,
sprang to their feet, and matters assumed q
! terribly threatening aspect; but the cool.
ness and bravery Of the officers, who, draw.
ing their revolvers, threatened to kill the
first man who left his place, had the effect of
restoring order. 1t was moment of intense
excitement, which nothing but the icy COOL
ness and bravery Of the guard could have
conquered. One white convict, under the
tempting excitement Of the moment, came
out into the aisle, and with voice and man
ner, essayed to play part IN leadership, out
he was met with loaded revolver at his
head, the officer holding 1t telling him, in a
quiet, conversational tone, "lf you don't
take your seat instantly will blow out your
! brains" He sat down at once, and Kept the
contents of his skull out of his dinner. plate.
| The rest of the convicts found it prudent to
initiate the example Of obedience.
| The instigator Of the mutiny, wounded as
| he was with three balls, was only taken AFTER
a most desperate resistance, in which he was
knocked down. Until recently he was re-
garded as a quiet though always morose
man. A short time ago he secreted ham
mer in his clothing, and rushing into the
worship, where large number OF conylctS
were at labor, called upon them TO rise and
mutiny. He was also detected having a
knife. both being implements of the shoe
making trade, at which he has been working
since his Incarceration. For these offences
he was subjected to the lash. The convict is
bad man, possessing sullen. implacaole
disposition. Professor Alan z. Smith was
called TO see the convict, In consultation
with DR.. Boyle, attending physician OF the
prison. .s-.- =.
though painful, being not dangerous, ana ID
no vital parts. His escape from the bullet
in his head, which was only scalp wound,
the shot having glanced on curve OF the
skull, and also his escape from the shot ID
the mouth, where he was saved by his
tooth. were remarkable. After he had been
snbdued it was no difficult matter to enforce
the ordinary prison discipline, all the con-
VETS falling into their regular places as
though nothing had occurred. The whole
affair was comprised within few
minutes, but was met so promptly
that the INSTRUMENTATION was crushed out
before it had time to develop into
mu;iny, or to assume anything much more
than an individual breach of discipline. The
logged force and courage of the refractory
convict was within hairs breadth, how
ever. of kindling the fire Of an enleute, the
bare contemplation of which is appalling
From all that can be learned there was no
plot or concerted action in the matter, the
excitement among the other prisoners in the
diniDg-room, and their momentary rising IN
their places, being the electric effect OF snip
ley's desperation.
The board of visitors to the penitentiary
met informally, pursuant to call from War.
den Wilkinson, yesterday morning, and after
hearing The particulars Of the affair, agreed
unanimously that Mr.. Barber was Justlheo
in his action, and they exonerated hin
from blame in the Baltimore San
| 18th.
The Supreme Court of the United State
has lust decided that franc is worth nine
teen cents and three mills in our coin.