Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-22
KILLED BY A KEEPER,
A Thrilling Incident at Sing sias-Csnvicta
Try to Escape.

A Thrilling Incident at Sing siag-Cenvicts
Try to Escape.
SISo SING, n. Y, Aug. 22-Charies Vincent
and Thomas Welsh, two convicts, attempted to
escape from the state prison at this place at
o'clock this morning -and, a. q result, des-
perate fight ensued between the two con-
victs and number Of the keepers, during
which Convict Vincent was shot and
instantly killed and Convict Welsh se-
riously wounded. At about a. m
Night Keeper Post heard Vincent and Welsh
forcing their way out of their cells. They bad
used a large pair Of shears, which they procured
while at work in one Of the shops 70 cut the
sheet-iron covering OF the lock Of their cell,
both men occupying one cell Az soon a. the
we're confronted by Keeper Post The two
criminals started to run along the corridor and
were quickly overtaken by Keeper Post Then
desperate struggle ensued. The keeper was
knocked down ard his gun taken away from
him. Two Of his fingers we're bitten Oh, and
then he WAS thrown from No. gallery to the floor
below, u distance of about sixteen feet By this
time a number Of the other keepers who had been
attracted by the noise went to the assistance Of
Post. Convict Welsh succeeded in reaching the
south end Of the prison and managed 70 get
outside Of the prison by way Of the warden's
house. Vincent who carried Posts gun. was
also endeavoring to get out of the prison when
he was pursued by Keeper Mccormick. The
convict. seeing that he was being rapidly over
taken. turned on the keeper and fired three or
four shots in rapid succession. The convict's
aim was bad. however, and none Of the shots
took effect. Convict Vincent had reached the
window near the warden's house to follow
Welsh, who had escaped through this window
and slid down the drain pipe into
the yard. Keeper Mccormick raisedI his
double-bsrreled gun and fred at Vincent, the
ball striking the convict in the abdomen aud
killing him instantly. The 200 convicts in
the prison, most of whom were asleep at the
time Of the attempted outbreak. were aroused
by the firing and they kept up 4 con-
slant yelling and cursing. Convict Welsh was
out of the prison yard, but he was closely fol-
lowed by another keeper. The latter fred at
the convict and shot him in the leg. Welsh
then fell over and surrendered. He was re-
moved TO tho hospital on the prison ground.
Warden Brown and his son. the deputy war
den and Chief Keeper Connaughton we're asleep
In their houses at the time the convicts
attempted to break out OF the prison. They
we're aroused by the firing and the noisS made
by the convicts, and were soon In the prison
the convicts. immediately after Welsh got out Of
the prison bell WIS set ringing violently to
indicate there had been an escape. This
alarmed the residents Of the village and
especially those living In the immediate
vicinity Of the prison. Many thought that
tutTt udu OeeH geuerhl outbreak among inc
convicts and the citizens got out
Of their beds and armed themselves
TO prepare for the emergency. Mean
time Warden Brown. the assistant warden and
Chief Keeper Connaughton had great difficulty
in 9uieting the excited convicts. They were all
armed with Wholesalers and threatened to kill
the first convict who made any effort 70 break
out. The dead convict carried into tho
dead house. where piece Of canvas was thrown
over his body. 1t was kept there 70 await the
arrival Of the coroner.
Prison Surgeon Irving said that while Con-
vict Welsh had been seriously wounded his in
jury was not necessarily fatal Convict Welsh
is serving q term Of ten years, while Convict
Vincent was doing time for fifteen years.
Both were regarded o. desperate criminals
They both work in the repair shop. under
Keeper Durken. 1t 10 supposed that they had
carefully planned their escape. They man.
aged to smuggle the big pair Of shears which
they used to cut of the locks Of their cell
from the repair shop. How they got possess
sion Of these shears and removed the lock
from their cell without being detected before
they we're is q mystery to the prison officials.