Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-20
C0NQUERING A CONVICT.
KINDNESS WINS WHERE FORCE
MEANT BLOODSHED

The Prison Alarm Rung Out at Trenton
for the First Time in Years-An the
Keepers Held ut Bay by single Des-
perado-An Inspectors Goodness.
NEWARK, n. j., Sept. 19.-One convicS
caused a great commotion in the State
prison at Trenton yesterday. The alarm
signal was TuBg in the prison Tor the first
time in many years, and in an instant al
most all the deputy keepers and guards
crowded into the brush shop, whence the
alarm came. They found all
the prisoners at work except
one. This exception was James Driscoll,
a powerful convict, aged % years, who
had been sent to Trenton for two years
from Passaic for burglary. He stood in
one corner, near the elevator, armed with
a large chsei and needle. In front of
him stood two deputy keepers covering
him with their heavy revolvers.
BOLD AS A DEMON.
The first thing was to clear the shop
of prisoners, which was safely done, and
then the head keeper stepped up to Dris-
coll, around whom dozen keepers were
clustered with drawn revolvers. "Dris-
coll,' he said, "it you don't lay those
things down in five minutes, we will
shoot"
''Shoot and be d. will have one life
any way" replied DrIscoll doggedly.
The keeper held his watch in his hand
and told off the minutes as they passed.
ne-two-three--tour ~
Don't shoot" at this moment inter-
posed Prison Inspector Cartwright, who
was an eyewitness of the scene, ana
whose word is law in the prison. "Give
him time TO consider"
REsoRTING TO ARGUMEN"'.
Arguments were used in order TO in
| duce Driscoll to surrender, but without
success. \ gain did Inspector Cartwright
| say Don't shoot"
Finally, realizing that harsh measures
would have to be resorted to, he started to
| leave the room, but as he closed the door
| he changed his mind and returned with
| determination to prevent Dloodshed.
| Hold on, walt a moment" he said, as
he advanced toward Driscoll, despite
the efforts OF the keepers to restrain him.
Now, look here, young man." said the
inspector, as he stood within five feet OF
| the prisoner. you are throwing your life
away. DOn'tyOu know meW
mo, don't know you, and don't
want to know you," ans wered Driscol, as
he brandished his weapons.
sUAsIoN WINS THE DAY.
81 am one of the inspectors and it is my
| duty to protect you. That Is what l am
here for. My name is Cartwright"
"It your name is Cartwright, you have
got good name in this prison. Ii you
will send these hounds away from here, l
will go anywhere with you," said Driscoll,
as he took both weapons in his left hand
and allowed the inspector to take him by
the right. After nearly every official had
lett the room Driscoll LAID down his weap-
ons and walked quietly with the inspector
| to the rotunda.
BAD RECORD.
On the way the Inspector told him he
! had committed very grave crime and he
would have TO be punished for it. But"
said the Inspector, II will see you are not
tortured" DrisColl was then handcuffed
and placed in the dungeon, and is now
feeding on bread and water. The imme-
diate cause of Driscoll's revolt was an
! order by Deputy Keeper Ashby for him to
stop singing, which he refused to obey.
| Drlscoll has the reputation OF being very
| unruly. He has served term on Black
Wells Island for burglary, and also ten
years in Sing Sing for burglary and shoot
ing an officer in New York.