Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-10-01
4 CONVICT At BAY
Overcome by Kindness When Threats Were of
no Avail.


A convict caused great commotion in
the state prison here last Tuesday, writes
a Trenton, n. j., correspondent to the
! Times. In the afternoon the alarm sig
nal was rung in the prison for the first
time in many years, and in an instant, al
most, deputy keeper and guards crowded
( in the brush shop, whence the alarm
came.
They found all the prisoners at work
except James Driscoll, powerful CON
Wet, oged % years, who had been sent to
/ Trenton for two years from Passaic for
/ burglary. He stood in one corner near
/ the elevator, armed with heavy chiSel
and a long needle. In front of him stood
I two deputy keepers, covering him with
/ their heavy revolvery. The first thing
was to clear the shop of prisoners, which
was safely done, and then the head keep
/ er stepped up to Briscoll, around whom
/ a dozen keepers were clustered with drawn
/ revulvers.
"Driscon," he said. IF you don't lay
those things down in five minutes we will
shoot"
"Shoot and be hanged. I will have one
life anyway replied Driscon, logged
ly.
/ The keeper held his watch in his hand.
/ and told of the minutes as they slowly
/ passed.
/ wo-three-four-'
/ Don't shoot" at this moment interpos-
/ ed Prison Inspector Cartwright, who was
an eyewitness of the scene and whose
/ word is law in the prison, give him time
/ to consider
/ Arguments were used in order to induce
/ Driscoll to surrender but without success.
/ Again 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 al. he closed the
! door he changed his mind, and returned
| with the determination to prevent blood
shed.
Hold on, wait q moment, " he said, as
/ he advanced toward Driscoll. desp ite the
/ efforts of the keepers to restrain him.
Now, look here, young man. said the in
| spector, as he stood within five feet of the
prisoner, you are throwing your life
away. Do you know me-"
mo, don't know you, and l don't want
to know you answered Driscon as he
Orandi.hed his weapons.
Il am one of the inspectors, and it is
my duty to protect you. That is what
l am her for. My name is Cartwright,
sir"
IF your name is Cartwright, you have
got a good name in this prison. If 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
left the room, DrIscoIl laid down the wea-
pons and walked quietly with the inspec-
tor to the rotunda. On the way the in
spector told him that he had committed
Il very grave crime and would have to be
punished for it. But" said the in
spector, Il will see that you are not tor
tured."
Driscoll was then handcuffed and plac-
ed in the dungeon, and is now feeding on
bread and water. The Immediate cause
of Driscoll's revolt was an order of Depu.
ty Keeper Ashley for him to stop singing
which he refused to obey. Driscou has
the reputation of being very unruIy. He
has served term on Blackwells island
for burglary, and also ten years N Sing
Sing for burglary and shooting an officer
In New York.