Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-12-19
A DESPERATE KILLED.
A Convict IN Idaho PtnIlthtIaIy Meets
With a Violent Death,
At THE HANDS or A TURNKEY.
M. same Was Samuel naiion aud lie
was Character Of the
Worst Type.
fb,sho piag siai,,aenl

On ETipay iuOiH"b 'ase NOuNict
Samuel uatton was stabbed and
alrno.t instantly killed by Howard
French. turnkey Of the Idaho penitcn.
tinry. Hatton had been In close con.
iiaemont sincc August 22ud, as pun.
lshmept for some inirsction OF the
prison rulcs. ON the previous Sunday
he was taken to the barber shop to DO
shaved and he furiously assaulted the
ba ,hor. The guards overpowered
him and he was ordered placed
upon bread and water diet. On
Sunday morning Turnkey French and
Convict "rex" Hurbert, who is second
cook nj tho ponitentisry, went to Hat.
toms cell with n regulation breakfast,
the ilrst slnco Sunday. The cell opens
on the third balcony that runs almost
entirely around the cell house, and is
tho next but one to the end OF the cor.
ridor from the stairway. Hatton was
sitting up In bed writing letter when
the breakfast was brought In. Ho re-
fused to eat anything and called the
turnkey by all the vile ey"hets he
could think Of. Mr.. Freb.. mon
stratod with the convict, and told him
II he behaved himself tho new warden
would be asked 10 release him from
solitary conf uement ana allow him
the same privileges the other con.
vlcs enjoyed. For II reply Hatton
tipped out apoLher string OF Oaths.
The remainder OF the story IL best
told In MIR. French's words: ~ then
told him II he did not behave himself
he would probably be kept on bread
and water for come time 10 cOmc.v
The cook And myself Loft the
cell, the latter carrying the untouched
breakfast. l had large bunch OF keys
In one hand. Being reminded That a
cup OF coffee still remained In the cell,
went In again TO get II. Just as
stepped from the cell door Hatton
sprang upon my back, striking me
several times on the head before L
realized what had happened. He then
tried TO throw me over the low railing
10 the stone fioor, over thirty feet below.
dropped the coffee and keys aud
threw one arm around Hat,0n and
called 10 Tex to catch hold OF the
Infatuated man and pull him
away, but the cook seemed fright
ened aud did not comply. Hat.
ton finally got both his arms
around my waist, and, In his efforts 10
throw me- over the railing, lifted me -
that both my feet were oil the floor.
| seized the railing with my left hand
and with my right drew my knife,
telling Hatton II he did not let no
would kill hun. The cook then ran up
and pulled Hattun back several feet.
The latter turned on the cook, who ran
10 the end Of the gallery calling for
holp. Hatton followed Tex n few feet
anu then turned again on nae. i was
then near the end OF the corridor, with
Hatton between myself and the steps
| and, II | had wanted TO run away,
could not have done 30. stood In
| front Of the cell and warned Hatton
10 keep away. he rushed towards
me, trying ns he came to secure a
heavy paddock that hung on ono VI
| the cell doors, and falling, he gTabbe
for "a casekniIe that lay on the
floor, which the cook In bis flight had
| dropped. lilo missed the knife, how
ever, and struck at me with his right
haud, at the same time trying 10 catch
hold OF me. l stepped back and struck
bim with my knife In the lett side.
| Halton cried out Il am cut, 'and turned
and ran from me 10 the heat OF the
stairs, where he FELL" Mr.. French
stated that Hatton had frequently
threatened TO Kill him, saying at one
time: ~ willslip up behind you some
day anu stick knife into YOU"
At the inquest Deputy Warden Berry
| produced the prison record anu
informed the jury that the deceased
was 81 years OF age, u native OF Eng.
land, by occupation painter, ami tina,
In 1885 he was sen, up from Altufas
county for grand larceny, sentenced TO
fourteen years. imprisonment. The de.
ceased was powerful man, being
| ak feet and three Inches In height.
| His record OF the prison had been n
| bad one, 80 much 10 that he was
most OF the time confined In dar k
cell, In irons, aud placed on brea d
aud water diet. All the time allowed
for good behavior wRa forfeited in his
case. Mr.. Berry has had over thirteen
years. experience with criminals, and be
| considered Hatton one OF the moet
dangerous ami unfuly convicts he has
ever dealt with. On one occasion he
nearly beat u fellow convict to deaf b
with a horseshoe, while 1t was u fire..
quent occurrence Tor him to beat other
convicls without the slightest provoca.
ton. On January Goth, 1859, he
escaped from the penitentiary, but was
recsptured the same day. Several
| guards and number OF prisoners were
examined, the gist Of their testimony
being that Hatton was "bad MANI a
vicious ant pugnacious character, who
would as soon SEQ human blood flow rs
| 10 eat.
The jury rendered verdict OF lusii-
fable homicide, exonerating Turnkey
French from oil blame.