The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-05-04
Claiming a Convict.

With view of putting a stop to the
murderous assaults that have recently
been committed on warders by con-
victs at the Dartmo)r prison, in Eng
land, and in order to maintain the dis
cipline of the establishment, the au-
thorities, acting under directions from
the home secretary, put Thomas Jones,
a convict from Liverpool, upon his
trial for maliciously w%oundlng John
Staddon, assistant warder. The
prisoner was brought from the punish
ment cells to the office, in charge of
two warders. He walked quietly
enough to the Office, apparently in
ignorance of what was about to take
place. Directly he was brought inside
the door and was confronted by the
magistrates, governor, deputy governor
and others inside the railing, he APP
peared stupefied for the moment, and
then suddenly remembering where he
was, he said to the warders, in an in
solent and defiant tone whats the
matt er-what are they going to do ?"
He was told by the warders to be
quiet and behave himself. Jones,
however, violently exclaimed, Hang
me if you like, but don't shoot me-"
and Immediately, although he was held
by two powerfully built warders,
struck out right and left, kicking at
the officers ami ferociously endeavoring
to bite them.
One warder promptly twisted his leg
around Jones to prevent him kicking,
a second firmly gripped his arms from
behind, while a third, who had rushed
to their assistance, grasped the nape
of the prisoners neck, in order to stop
his endeavOr to use his teeth. Even
the efforts of these three men to hold
Jones were insufficient. Handouts
were slipped on the wrists of the
prisoner, who, however, still resisted
savagely, %endeavored to bite the OIL
GERS, and although held bodily by
warIers, continued his mad struggles.
A pair of shackles were sent for, and
on these being brought into the office
the prisoner, who had evidently been
shackled before, shuddered. and strug-
gled more liercely than ever. He was
eventually jerked upon the ground and
thrown on his back, where, after a
most exciting struggle, the irons were
tightly fastened around his legs. These
measures failed to subdue the spirit of
the prisoner, who violently wrestled
in the hands of his keepers. A chain
covered with leather was next pro-
cured and this was passed round the
waist of the prisoner and then tightly
secured to the iron gates or ratings
running across the room. Jones then
worked himself up into a towering
passion and il required the combined
efforts of the warders to hold his head
and shoulders.
During the examination of the prin-
cipal warder, Moore, the prisoners
violence was even intensified !; he
Kissed and spat at the witness, and
uttered incohereEt EXPLANATIONS which
it was impossible to understand, biting
at everybody and everything, like a
mad dog, throughout the hearing.
lie was eventually committed for trial
ut the Devon assizes and carried back
to his cell, where the handouts and
shackles were removed. He there
upon smashed the window panes, tore
his clothes to shreds and attempted to
commit suicide by twisting his braces
around his neck. The warders at once
rushed to the cell, and on opening the
door were again attacked by the pris-
oner. Once more the man was Sc
cured, his hands manacled behind his
back, and he was finally removed to a
dark cell and locked in, in the condi.
ton of absolute nudity to which he
had reduced himself .--NeW York Her.
ald.