Connecticut western news., 1877-09-07
Another Prison Murder.


 last Monday, extracts from it's report of the murder and an attempted escape of prison CTS from the State prison at Wethersfield, last Saturday night:
 When THE CoURANT reporter reached the state prison at Wethersheld Sunday morn ing. Warden Hewes said to him, "We have had terrible night from la o'clock till daylight" The story of daring attempt at escape had reached the city at an early hour, but no details were communicated. It was only known that watchman had been shot.
 Mir. Wells Shipman, the murdered watch man, has been at the prison since 1872 as watchman. He came from Somers, Tol- land county, and was about thirty-eight years of age. All speak of him as faith full, courageous man, and he gave proof of it in his conduct on this occasion. He went into the hall on guard as usual at nine o'clock, and carried 6 five-chambered re- volyer, loaded, and stout cane. It was his duty to remain there tll six in tho morn ing, and he paced the floor and cell tiers to see that all was right, and If anything was wrong to give an alarm, He was the only person in the hall, and in fact the only one doing permanent night duty, as no one is kept up in the guard room. Before the night watchman goes on care is taken to see that all the prisoners are locked in and that all is secure; so that he has no responsibility beyond keeping lookout for attempts to escape during the night or watching for any unusual occurrence. MT. Shipman, while yet conscious after the affray, made the following statement, which will assist in making the whole account intelligible to the reader:
 'In the first place heard a noise and thought would go and see what it was. was then on the second tier of cells going down, and went up to the third tier. This was about half past eleven o'clock. went around to the tier above to Abbott's cell and found hlm fussing at his door, but it didn't appear to amount to much. Henry Hamlin slept on the second tier, north side, and William Allen on the fourth tier, south side. After going to Abbott's cell heard noise as if door was being unlocked and soon saw Hamlin and Allen on the third tier, both being together. They made for me, both of them. pulled my re- volYer and fired at Hamlin. They both started and said 'Halt !" They stopped. I thought had wounded one of them; for one said, 'I am killed" They both then made for me. Hsmlin first seized me and Allen grabbed mo from behind. l pushed Hamlin back; but they got me down and Allen said, keep still, or I'll cut your damned throat" said to Ham!in, "What are you doing2" He replied that if made any noise they would kill me. It was Ham, lin who knocked me down and put a gag in my mouth. tried to make nolse and finally got the gag out of my mouth, when Hamlln seized my revolver, and it was he that shot me-"
 Shipman's statement, it will be observed, does not give full details, but these have been sufficiently obtained to make con nected story of the whole transaction. In the first place the prisoners were remarka- bly, well prepared for escape. Aamlin had skeleton key which would fit any lock in the cell doors, excepting two. This key was evidently made in prison, because Its main part was a tool used about ma- chinery in tho boot shop, having wrench at one end of little bar 80 that it was shaped like gimlet handle. To the end of this was riveted scrap-iron to form the key part, with iron or steel forged in to make the shanks. Though roughly constructed it was strong and answered every purpose. Hamlin left his cell after being locked in soon after six o'clock, using his skeleton to unlock the door, and passing out secret, ed himself on top of the upper tier of cells. Before leaving he fixed pillow in his bed, so that it had the appearance of man lying down. When the slide bar was showed along at few minutes before eight. be was not ID. Thus the situation remained until all was quiet, and the watchman came on. Hamlin then slid the bar on the tier where Allen was, and by means of the same key he had used at bis own cell unlocked the door of Aliens.
 Once out the prisoners found they were discovered by the appearance of Shipman. the watehman. Allen slves the clearest account of the attack. When they were fired upon Hamlin spoke of being himGelt shot to prevent further firing. aud gslned time enough to rush upon tho wstchman and secure hIm. It was apart of their plan, of course, to capture him. but they expect ed to do it without any disturbance W bich would Glve an alarm. He appeared, how. ever, unexpectedly to them, and h1s firing the pistol put an unexpected phase upon matters. They had gag prepared, which was made of piece of broomstick, having at either end leather strap fasteninRs 80 as to buckle it around the neck when it was securely fastened in the mouth. Another implement which the follows bad was handcufts. After getting the watchman down he was gagged and then eutfed, and was gagged 50 tight that the blood settled in hls neck. When he was secured, as they supposed, so that he could give no alarm, thoy left him; but very soon he worked the gag from hls mouth and shouted for assist ance. This led his assailants to return, and theL they began in their desperation their murderous work. The gag was forced over his mouth and he wss helpless from being handcuffed. He was told to be still or hls throat would be cut, and Allen had a large knife. with @ blade of six inches 8 skiver from the shoe shop-to do the work with. Plucky man that he was. le continued to struggle and to make all the noise that he could, when Hamlin took the revolver, and placing it closely to the left breast of hls victim, fired and inflicted a mortal wound. By this time the prison officials had been aroused.
 Ovsrseer Frank Arnold was one of the first who appeared in the hall. When he got in he saw the feet of Shipman hanging