The New York herald., 1877-09-03
A PRISON TRAGEDY.
Desperate Attempt at Escape by
Two Notorious Criminals.
MURDER OF The NIGHT WATCHMAN.
Long Resistance and Final Surrender
of the Pisofers.
[pY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. |


HARTFORD, Sept 2 1877
A terrible tragedy occurred at the State Prison in
wethersfsld, near this city, at midnight las, night
resulting IN the cold booded murder of the night
watchman by one OF the convcts. The primary object
Of the murderer and his associate to their
liberty but human life was ruthessly sacrificed when
interference threatened the failure of their plot Their
measures must have been long contemplated and aid
from beyond the prison walls was received In some
way incxpicable 10 the officials. The main facts OF
the fatal ARRAY wero secured from the murdered
during brief Intervals Of consciousness preceding his
DEATH corroboraed in part by the statements
OF prisoners in cells the third tier adjoining the
place where he received tho deadly shot.
THE PERPETRATORS
The murderer is Henry Hamlln hailipg from Troy,
MY, OF thirty. sullen, moody, vndictive and
with a desperate countenance. His associate was Bill
Allen, haing from New York city, a younger
of rather amiable disposition Both
sentenced in New London, in September, 1871, for
eight years each, Indictments for THEFT They had
been proving along the Long Island Sound shore, in
that vicinity, during the summer, gong ashore In
boat and burgarizing summer residents Both were
eventually captured, hamn being taken Long
Island. near Greenport after desperate and bloody
resistance. During their frst year Hamlin made
several Intellectual attempts escape from tho prison.
but subsequently quoted down. and both and Allen
had earned time by good behavior, having only ten
months moro to serve.
ArrEMPrxD ESCAPE
Last night about seven O'Clock, when the prisoners
locked In Hainlin sate In his cell Imme-
diately afterward he opened the door With skiluy
constructed key, the wards Of sheet iron and steel
nails riveted IN and the handle formed Of small
wrench taken from machine in the shoe shop. Alter
leaving straw dummy on his bed he fed to the
is open space Of Eve feet to the ceiling, conceang
himself until the keepers had made their rounds for
final count and shut the spring bars to the cell doors
He then went down to Aliens cell and released him
with the false key. Both then remained In conceal
ment until nearly midnight when they hazarded their
next step Of silencing tho night watchman, Weiles
Shpman, efficient officer, who has been in the
prison for several years
They finally encountered him In the third tier cor.
rdor. Coming upon him suddenly he Tired shot or
two from heavy revolver, thirty eight caibre, but,
missing his aim, the convicts overpowercd him in an
instant handcufed him with pair OF irons uh.
like any ever used in tho prison, and which Hanln
unquestionaby obtained outside. and then gagged him
with wooden gag secured by leather strap. rhey
started roach the top Of the coils and thence
to cut through the ceiling tho garrett but Ship
man having partially leosened his gag his outcries
alarmed them, and they ran back AlleE oxclalming,
"sop that noise or we'll cut your damned throat'
MuRDEE OF TIE wATcHMAN.
Shpman promised silence, and they again started
of but hearing his outcries renewed, they returned
and Hamlin having previously secured Shpman's re-
vovor, held 1t close the breast Of the pro
and fred. the fatal shot. The ball entered Tho left
breast just above the heart tho clothing being burned
by the powder II was desperate act, and hazarded
every chance Of escape for the report attracted aten
lion irf ln .;ia TIM thapa ahOfa had
been noticed, ana the night keepers rushed to the
scene with their rifles. 0ne Arnold Hamlin
standing Shipman, and fired to scare
him OF, and Hamlin ran another keeper
blazed away, Hamn returning the fire from
his revolver, but unsuccesstuy. The two con-
victs then mounted the top tier Of cells tore
away some laths aud plaster from tho ceiling and
raised themselves into the garret, where tho dark
they temporarily safe from pursuit.. At ono
end of this open doorway leading into the gar
OF the warden's dwelling. and vonturlng toward
1t they confronted by couple Of armed Keepers
rercated Two hours later they essayed escape
through the bcry the roof but guards, reinforced
by residents Of Wcthersned had by this time drawn
an circle tho prison, and shot cred at
thom extiugushed their last hope
| ta SURRENDER OF THE CoNvIcra
Finally just after daybreak they shouted that they
would surrender, and. retracing their steps to the
ground floor OF the PRISON, surrendered at tho
the guard room, Hamlin without a word, and Allen
| only rcmarking:-
$50 Shpman shot himself did he?n
| They were Immediately placed in the stronges,
cells, Hamn 10 what is termed the iron cell. He was
| uncommuncative throughout, but Allen related the
circumstances OF the dreadful hours substantially as
stated above. Shpman fingered until about eleven
O'Clock to-day, when no expired, medical aid being
|
family In Wcthersfed, and OF the most relia
BILE men the prison. An inquest held tns alter
noon the verdict fully duplicating Hamlin, and also
Allen as his accompce The former will inquest on
ably swing for his crime, did wilson. who murdered
Warden Willard at this prison I've or six years ago,
! and the prospects for Allen are also bad.
THE PRISON DISCIPLINE.
Tho prison officials claim that tho affair Of last night
/ something for which they cannot Justly be held
accountable. However It may be said that the dis
cplne criticised lax, and bad feature is that
nineteen instructors for tho workshops visit the prison
daily without oversight aud II is approhended tina,
they form friendships with tho prisoners. 1t is sur
missed that HaInin, who Is an ingenious fellow has
iavors from some OF these Instructors by making
trlnkets, OF bone and other materials us presents
and, through this agency WAS enabled to get material
for his false key and possession of the handcuGs
| placed upon his victim.
| PREVIOUS MURDERS
This is tho third murder OF officials al wether sGe!d
the being that OF Warden Webster by Tooe abou
years ago. and the second that OF Warden Willard
| previously referred to. Abouta yesr ago James Nc
Cape notorious New York cracksman, tried to kiiI
| hall wntchman with a shoe knife but wounded him
only slightly. This charge of lax.ty discipline IL
owing TO tho frequent escapes within Two years. In
cludng Rice. McCabe, Wesley, Hart and Lydia Sher
man, and only last week convict named Peabody In
reply TO which officials alIege that tho State doe:
! not allow a sufficient number Of guards thero being
only eleven ~ On for 40 convicts.
| HANGED HIMSELF