The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-17
BLACKwELL'S ISLAND TRAGEDY.

A BLAcKwELLs ISLAND KEEPER SHOOTS AND
KILLS PRIsoSER--HE PLEADS sELF-DE-
FENCE.
Another OF those periodical homicides which s,artle
tie community committed yesterday afternoon on
BIackwells Island The victim was prisoner named
Charles Brooks, and the man who discharged tho fatal
shot keeper, named Michael Adams.
IL appears that The 10th OF last month the de-
ceased prisoner consigned 10 tho Island for pc
rod OF six months, alter having been convicted OF
petit larceny. The people around the Prison say
that no was rather 'hard cascn and that he be-
lonecd to what Is known tho Eighth Ward Gang ("
HIS late keepers also state that Brooks, since CON-
ing under their charge, had manifested strong
spirit OF ms ubordinaton and dsrcspect for those who
were placed over him. On the report book Of the
keepers complaints against Brooks Tor having on
the llth inst, used vulgar and disrespcclIul Ian
guagc toward the keeper, and the day following he
charged with the more serious offence OF attempting
TO strike with stone the oicer IN charge OF his gang.
Tho fatal shot which sent HIM 10 eternity was Tired
yesterday afternoon about three O'Clock, ana less
than an hour thereafter the prisoner, Brooks, was
dead.
WARDEN yox's STATEMENT.
The Chief Warden, Mr. John Al. Fox, gave, SUBJ
stanaliy, the following statement OF this melun-
choy case to HERALD reporter At the usual morn
Ing hour gang Of prisoners were detailed under tho
charge al Keeper Adams TO load ashes burgcs
that were lying on the east side OF the Island In front
OF the unatic asylum. During the day aud up until tho
" Wv SooosiHb 'heic "pP'aIs W ha'o Uccn no
difficulty between the deceased and his Keeper Adams,
u Is understood says that no hat not spoken tho
prisoner Brooks all the day. AT the tmo when tho
shooting took placc--the gang being still engaged
IN the work OF lling the bnrges--thc de-
ceased made IL rush for Adams aud struck HIM
with shovel tour times IN rapid succession:
two or three OF the blows falling The OF the
head and ono or two on the shoulder The blows
the head cut the Keepers and severely bruised
the sdc OF his head; those on the shoulder cut
through his coat and reached tho ilesh While this
WAS gong on the keeper drew his revolver and nred
single shot which took effect tho prisoners side and
passed through his BODY. Tho wounlcd man sank TO
the ground, and soon aitcrward breath his last
THE KEEPkR Is ARRESTED
The sound OF the snot which fired from Colts
revolver OF calibrc 80 alarmed the wardcns aud
keepers, and III short Il Chicf Warden Fox
tho spot. When no saw the condition OF affairs no
lett II his duty to have Adams arrested and
conveyed IN safety 10 the Nineteenth Police
livered him prisoner The unhappy man
reached the station house about ve O'clock aud there
being no coir IN session at that time be commit
ted 10 the coils To await the legal which
will commence to-day with the Coroncr's inquest.
The body Of tho Inflated pr,soner-who was young
man OF nineteen years old--was taken the
Blackwcll's Island Charity Hospital where IL
now remains. The keeper, Adams, is
Of about thirty years. lie has occupied his
That Adams admits having nred tho shot winch Killed
Brooks but alleges that he did In strictly sclfde
fence. Ho ielt persuaded that tho act un-
avoidabc necessity tho only means OF SAVING his
own lite lie cvrnced no unwillingneas to 70 to tho
station house. aud informed the Warden that he
would have drawn pistol but that he believed II
necessary 10 save himself from being murdered.