The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-06-12
Chatning a Convict.

With a view Of putting stop to thu
murderous assaults that have recently
been committed on warders by convicts
at the Dartmoor prison, in England
and in order to maintain the discipline
OF the establishments, the authorities
acting under directions from the home
secretary, put Thomas Jones, q convict
from Liverpool, upon his trial for nal
lciously wOunding John Staddon, asis
tant Warder. The prisoner was brought
| from the punishment cells to the Office,
Ill charge OF two warders. He walked
quietly enough to the office, apparently
III ignorance of what was about to take
place. Directly he was brought inside
the door andwas confronted by the mag
lstrates, governor, deputy governor and
others inside the railing, he appeared
| stupefied for the moment, and then sud
denly remembering where he was, he
| said to the walders, in an insolent and
defiant tone: "What's the matter
what are they going to do2" He was
told by the warders to be quiet and be-
have himself, Jones, however, violent
ly exclaimed, 'Hang me if you like, but
| don't shoot me-" and immediately. al
| though he was held by two powerfully
built warders, struck out right and left.
kicking. at the officers and ferociously
| endeavoring to bite them.
One warder promptly twisted his leg
around Jones to prevent him kicking, a
second firmly gripped his arms from be-
hind, while third, who had rushed to
their assistance, grasped the nape of the
prisoners neck, in order to stop his en-
deavor to use his teeth. Even the eff
forts Of these three men to hold Jones
were insufficient. Handouts were slip
ped on the wrists of the prisoner, who,
however, still resisted slvagely, endeav-
ored to bite the officers, and although
held bodily by warders, continued his
mad struggles, A pair of shackles were
sent for, and Oh these being brought
into the office the prisoner, who had evil
IDENTIFY been shackled before, shuddered.
and struggled more fiercely than ever.
He was eventually jerked upon the
ground and thrown on his back, where,
after 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
procured and this was passed round the
waist Of the prisoner and then tightly
ooCulcu W Cuo IRON BaCoS or railing run
nirg across the room. Jones then work.
ed himself up into a towering passion
and it required the combined efforts of
the Warders to hold his head and should
erS.
During the examination of the prin-
cipal warder, Moore, the prisoners vio-
lence was even intensified; he Kissed and
spat at the witness, and uttered inco-
hc"n:t nyclan nna. .vyl,iol, 40 --y.,q ;,,ap.e
sible to understand, biting at everybody
and everything, like mad dog, through
out the hearing. He was eventually
committed for trial at the Devon assizes
and carried back to his cell, where the
handouts and shackles were removed.
He thereupon smashed the window
panes, tore his clothes to shreds and
attempted to commit suicide by twist
ing his braces around his neck. The
warders at once rushed to the cell, and
on opening tile door we're again attacked
by the prisoner. Once more the man
was secured, his hands manacled, behind
his back, and he was finally removed to
a dark cell and locked in, in the condi-
tion If absolute nudity to which he had
reduced himself,