The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-26
DEATH OF A DESPERATE.
Two Hundred Threatening COnvicts
in Sing Sing Prison.
AN HOUR OF PERIL.
John Barrett, the Leader, Shot
Down by an Officer

During whole hour there intense excitemen
in the Sing Sing Prison yesterday. 1t was nothing
less than ATTEMPT at instruction on the part o
100 convicts whose defiant attitude put to test tn
utmost nerve of six keepers, one of whom wa
finally compelled to shoot John Barrett. New
York burglar whose rebelious conduct had enlisted
the synpaihies of his fellow convcts. Ever since
Tuesday morning Barrett, who sent up tor thre,
years by Recorder Hackett in 1877 and who hail,
from No. 80 East Thirty-hrst street. where his
mother is residing. had been unwilling tc
work and was anxious to obtain "sick ticket.
DR.. Joseph II. Smith. the physician of the prison
examined him and declared that he was in excellent
condition and tit to work ut his place in the foundry
Barrett was compelled to go TO the shop
The next morning "wednesday when the doctor
approached one of the lookup cells where unrnly
convicts kept, Barretts cell door being partly
open. the fellow threw the foul contents of his
bucket in the doctors face saying. I'm see if you
wouldn't give me ticket" For this no was
punished Thursday by order Of the Warden.
The punishment consists in padding and is done
with leather strap by the chief keeper who in this
instance was Officer Biglin. Barrett would not SUBJ
NIT to this degrading punishment but main force
Kept him down and he had to submit. He was at
once sent back to the lookup and placed in irons
Yesterday morning the doctor, of course, did not
have any very great desire to visit this particular
convicts cell again. having rather disagree
able recollection Of the previous days reception.
So Oficers Mccormick and Mackin were detailed
to bring him down stairs. He was led out OF his
dark cell the main hall in front OF the chapain's
Office but while standing there he continually kept
his hands in his p ckets. He was told to take his
hands out and fold his arms. but as he raising
his arms to fold them he stepped back somewhat,
and one of the officers that he had
a sharp knife in his hands, Officer McCor-
mick at once struck at him with his cane, drove
him back and just rs Officer Mackin was warned
Mackin's lett thigh. inhicting an ugly wound. sew
CHASE OVER ROOFS AND cupoLAs.
The wounded man having been cared for by Others
Officer Mccormick pursued Barrett. who, by this
time had fed to the north end of the yard. Rein
forcements soon came up, but the convict, who was
young man OF about twenty-one, was too
feet Tor his pursuers. He had disappeared
Good, who had i'll the meantime been ordered to
join i'll the chase. happened to pass through the
the workme that Barrett had just been in there and
armed imsef W tn several pieces of iron known
'sprues." and that he had climbed up the roof.
windows that cover the roof, and he had just
foot outside when of the heavy "sprues"
hurled ut him, but fortunately it only grazed his
head. Barrett hallooed to him. ''If you come near
me I'll kill you.'' The convict then about
fifteen feet from the officer, while another keeper
stationed at the other end of the roof. Good
called upon him to surrender. when. in reply,
another sharp piece of iron was hurled at him. The
Officer then drew his revolver and fired without
taking AIM advancing ut the same time steadily,
but cautiously, along the roof. The shot, however,
did not brighten Barrett u single moment. From
the roof he went through window into the cupola
room, this time followed by both officers.
apSreach and while one of them cea fr
more help. the fellow escaped from the roof
down into the moulding rooms to the very spot
where mis- ordinary working place was. That was
about half past eleven o'clock. He was once
in the midst of his comrades with only few
keepers around him. There he stood, as the pursu
ing officers found him, leaning against huge water
tank. and having armed himself in the meantime
used in the foundry-he dehed the officers
to come near him. Right in this and the adjoining
shop some two hundred convicts are employed When
they heard the noise they all came rushing as il
ready for tight. One fellow went up to Barrett and
whispered words OF cheer to him. telling him to hold
his ground. they would all stand by him. Thus en-
couraged. still holding tie "rammer' in one hand.
lie took with the other rveting hammer from the
shelf testing it first aud then swinging it with def
AN EXTRAORDINARY CRISIS.
1t was now supreme moment. The whistle had
Just blown for dinner, and some Of the convicts
were forming in line. Extreme caution had to be
taken by the officers. The least mistake on
yicts would have hurled all the of iron
aud tools that lay around in the shop at their heads
and made short work or them. Taking in the stu
alton at glance Bglin, the chief Keeper began to
parley with Barrett telling him not to make fool
OF himself and to surrender. Barrett said, III
you promise not to paddle me for this will CO."
Bgin, however, made no promise. "Then. said Bar
rct. I'll be Goo damned If surrender, swinging his
formidable weapons defantly at the officers Over q
hundred convicts were cheering him on. Once more
Biglin urged him to surrender. but Barrett raised
his hammer and was about TO hurl it at Big
Inns head when Officer Good again drew his re-
volver and said. Barrett. If you fire that
hammer III shoot YOU" Derisive laughter
groans and catcals arose from all parts OF the
foundry. The line OF convicts which had been
formed preparatory to dinner. was broken. the men
circling right around the officers, crowding
them on, hooting and yelling. Somebody in the
back part of the foundry here called out. "He dare
the officers, ..You are towards! You dare not
shoot" aud IL became high time to show them at
least that the shooting irons were ready. Up went
the revolvcrs from half dozen pockets. and, while
Officer Good kept his revolver pointed ut Barrett
the other officers having stationed themselves iii
sem-circle pointed theirs ut the threatening con-
yicts. some OF whom now had begun to re-
form their line. IL am going in that
Good. ait will not be vol for you" Barrett's
object evidently was to go with the convicts INTO
the Inessroom. and with the aid of the twelve hun
bred fellows there assembled, create general revolt.
With al the appearance of leader among desperate
men, he swung his weapon dehantly to and fro. II
he exclaimed next, and made a motion IL to leap
70 the gangway whittier the other convicts had been
driven by the ugly appearance OF the officers re-
volvcrs
THE LEADER SHOT DEAD.
Seeing however. that no could not get there he
lifted his heavy hammer and was aiming ut Officer
Good whcn just ak ho raised il his head ready
to strike. Good hrod. Barrett stumbled into the
gangway. Ho was with his comrades now. but a dead
man. The moment this shot fred the convicts
scattered, they had that tho officers bust
ness and while several of tie latter had now come
forward with drawn revovcrs TO protect their fellow
keepers Officers BiGn and Good carried the dead
body of the convict TO the Hospital. He had lived
Just four minutes after he had been shot.
The noise and growing on the part OF the numer
pus convicts continued Tor some time but disci-
plinc was restored In the mcssrooin when the other
crowds who had not heard Of the fracas were mixed
with those who had witnessed the scene in the
foundry. In the afternoon DR.. Smith made an au-
topsy of the young burglars body and found that
Goods bullet had penetrated Barretts heart in
such way as to make two holes in that organ.
CoRoSER's INQUEST.
About seven O'Clock last evening, when all quiet
and discipline had been restored throughout the
prison. Coroner Alderman. of Dobb's Ferry. ein-
panelled IN the visitors room jury, of which Peter
j. Keenan, OF Sing sing was foreman. Oiiiccr James
Mccormick tho first witness examined. He de-
scrbed In detail the stabbing of Of.ccr Mackin by
barrett and how he joined in the chase after
HIM until Good camo up. Once, when he was near
Barrett aud called upon him to surrender he said =
'No. I'll Kill some OF youlfellows to-day FIRST. In