Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-08-07
WHOLE NO. 1895.
DEATH OF A DESPERATE.
Two Hundred Threading Convicts
In Sing Sing Prison.
An Pour of perii--John Barrett the Leader,
shot Down.
Isrmn the New Yn,k n,ral,l.

noiye OF SIX keepers, one of whom
was finally compelled 10 shoot John
Barrett, New York burglar, whose
rebelIioGs conduct had enlisted the
sympathies of his fellow convicts.
Ever since Tuesday morning Barrett
who was sent for three years by
Recorder Hackett in 1877, and who
halls from Ne. 80 East thirty. first
street, where his mother is now re.
siding has been unwilling TO work,
and was anxious to obtain "sick
ticket" Dir. Joseph ii Smith, the
physician OF the prison, examined
him, aud declared that he was IL
excellent condition and fit to work
AZ his place in The foundry ; Barrett
was comp, lied TO 60 To The shop
The next morning "wednesday
WHOM the Doctor approached ose OF,
,he Lookup cells where unruly con.
victs are kop', b rrelt's cell door be-
ing partly open, the fell1w threw the
foui contents OF his bucket in the
Doctors face, saying, III soc if you
wouldn't give me ticket" For
this be Was punished on Thursday
by ord,r Of the Warden. The pun.
ishmens consists in padding" and
is done with a leather strap by the
chief keeper, who is in this instance
was officer Bigiin. Barrett would
not submit TO this degrading punish.
ment, bu. main force kept him down
and he had TO submit. He Wa at
once seat back to the lookup and
placed Ia irons Yesterday MIRA
ing the ID Jctor oi course did no,
have any very great desire 20 visit
this particular convict's c,li again
having rather disagreeable r,col
lection of the previous days receipt
ton. So officers Mccormick and
Mackin were de,a led TO bring him
down STAIRS He was led out OF his
dark cell TO The main hall in front
OF the chaplAin's Office, but walle
standing there be continually kept
his hands in his pocket. He was
told 10 take bis hands out and fold
his arms, but as he ives raising his
arms to fol- them he stepped back
soT ewhas one Ct the officers saw
that he had sharp knife in his
hands. Officer McCormick At once
struck at him with his care, drove
him back, and Just as Ofiicor Maokln
was warned that Barrett had a
knife. the convict plunged ii into Mac
in's left thigh, ,nflic,irg an ugly
wound, several inches in length.
A CHASE oNER ROOFS AND CUPoLAs.
The wounded man having been
cared for by Others, Officer McCor.
mick parsued Barrett, who. by
this time bad fled to the north end
of the yard Reiuforcements coon
came up, out the convict eho was
young man of about Il was too fleet
for his puisuers. II bad DISAPPEARED
and for time search was irultIess.
Officer Good, who bad in the mean
time been ordered TO join in the
chase, happened to pass through the
moulding shop. There he was in
formed by one of the workmen that
Barrett had just been 10 there and
armed himself with several pieces
of iron known as "sprues" and that
be had climbed up the roof Quick
as lightning Good Jumped through
one Of the windows that cover the
roof, and he had last one foot
outside when one OF the heavy
"sprues' was hurled at him, but
fortunately it only grazed his head.
Barrett hallowed to him. "lf you
come near me III kill you" The con-
Wet Was then about fifteen feet from
the officer, while another keeper
was stationed at The other end Of
the roof. Good called upon BIN to
sure, der, when in reply, another
sharp piece OF iron WAS hurled at
him. The officer then drew his re-
volver and fired without taking aim
advancing at the same time steadily
but cautiously along the roof. The
shot however did not brighten Bar
rett single moment. From the
roof he went through a window into
the cupola room this time followed
by both officers. There, too, be de-
fed both of them to approach. and
while one of them called for
more help the fellow escaped from
the root down into the moulding
rooms TO the very spot where his
ordinary working place was That
was about 1l:30 O'Clock. He was
now once more in the midst of his
comrades with only few keepers
around him There be stood, as the
pursuing Ulcers found him leaning
against huge water tank, and
having armed himself in the mean
time with a hammer most for.
midable to- used Ia the foundry
be defcd the officers 10 come near
him. Right in this aud the adioin
ing shop some two hundred eonVicts
are employed. When they heard
the NOISE they all came rushing on So
if ready for fight. One fellow
went mp to Barrett and whispered
words of cheer to him, telling him
to hold his ground; they would
stand by bin. Thus encouraged. still
holding the hammer in one hand, ne
took with the other rivesing ham
mer from the shelf. testing it first,
and then swinging it with defiance
at The officers.
AN EXIRAoRDISARY CRISIS
Ii was now a suprems moment
Tue wbistls had just blown for din
ner, aud come OF the c9nViets were
forming IN line Extreme caDii)n
bad to be taken row by the officers
The least mistake on their part, aud
over 200 convicts would have hnrl q
all the mass of iron aud tools that
lay around in the shop at their
heads, and made shurt work OF
them. Taking in the situation at q
glance, Bigliu, the chief keeper, be.
gan to parley with. Barrett, tell.
ing him not to make fool
Of himself and 10 surrender
Barrett said, "If you promise not to
/ paddle me for this / will 60" Biglin
however, made no promise. "Then, >
said Barrett, "I'll be God damned i