The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19
BULLETS FLY IN PRISON.
Desperate Attempt to Release Con-
vict In Boston.
"BICYCLE BANDITS" FIERCE FIGHT

CIass) Desperate, and His Brother
Upon Keepers at Charlestown - Tho
Prisoner Fatally shot-His Brother
and Two Onicers Seriously Wounded.
BosToN, Mass. (speciaD While attempt
ing to escape from the State Prison al
Charlestown Just before noon, Herbert Will
Is, the young Taunton desperado, who was
recently sentenced to life Imprisonment for
the murder of Frederick N. Strange, was
fatally injured and his brother Everett, who
assisted him in his break for liberty, was
seriously woundedby guards. Two Of the
latter were wounded by the Willis brothers,
who tried to shoot their way out with revol-
vers which Everett Willis had brought with
him on visit to the prisoner.
Everett Willis was removed to the Massa-
chusetts General Hospital. where 1t was
found that he had been shot In the head
and neck. Herbert Willis, the murderer,
who is in the prison hospital, was shot
twice in the head. The two guards who
were hurt were E. F. Darling, turnkey, who
was shot in the thigh and cut about the
head. and Yard officer Abbott, who was al
80 injured about the head by blows, thought
to have been delivered with the revolvers
in the hands Of the desperadoes.
Everett Willis arrived at the prison dur
ing the forenoon to pay monthly visit to
his brother. He was admitted by the
usual officials, and Willis, the murderer.
was escorted TO the guard-room to meet
his relative. At the time, Edward Whitman
and Darling were In the rotunds with
Yard Officer Abbott, oficer Townsend,
and others near by. Five other visitors
were in the rotunda at the time.
a man, two women, and two children.
The brothers Willis had been conversing In
a low tone, sitting apart from the others In
the guard-room for about half an hour, when
Of1cer Whitman saw the visitor pass re-
volver to his brother, and together they
IDENTIFY being to secure his keys. Whitman
rushed to Darling's assistance, and as he
did SO the Willis brothers opened fire. one
OF the bullets striking Darling In the thigh
Seeing the desperate nature OF the affair,
Whitman returned the shots. but missed.
Abbott, who came through the door Into
the guard-room at the same instant. saw
trouble and grappled with Edward Willis.
Both brothers, who had been beating OAR
ling, began to pound Abbott. Officer Town
send. from the office door, then fired shot,
second later Officer Benjamin, who was on!
duty In one Of the wings, fred shot
through the bars, wounding Willis In the;
head.
Meanwhile, Herbert Willis had been
jumping around, firing repeated shots from
his revolver, to which the offcisls respond
ed, using great care not to hit the other
visitors. A shot from the revolver OF Ot.
ficer Whitman took effect IN the head,
while one from Darling lodged In the back
Of his head. The murderer was then Sc
cured and removed. Everett Willis was
also taken away, and the officers, nearly
all Of whom bore some mark OF the affair,
were given medical attention.
It is thought none Of them will suffer
seriously, except, possibly, Darling, who y
advanced In years. The bullet. which
struck him in the thigh, passed completely
through, and the wound Is considered
dangerous.
At 2 O'Clock D. M, It was learned from the
prison authorities that the murderer was In
q precarious condition, as result OF n1s
wounds. and that there was little hope that
he could survive. his brother, though
seriously wounded, It Is thought, has o
chance Of getting well.
Herbert Willis, the prisoner, Is nineteen
years old. and his brother eighteen. Her
bert Willis was committed on February u
OF this year for the murder Of young Fred
N. Strange, near Taunton, about year ago.
He had terrorized the community for two
weeks. His first offence was stealing bi.
cycle In Providence. K. I. On the night OF
June "a occurred the murder Of Strange.
Willis held up Strange as the latter was
riding along on his bicycle and took It from
him. When Strange resisted and began to
follow Willis shot him. he was arrested
on August 8 and tried, found guilty and
sentenced few months later.
Everett Willis has always been OF ven:
turesome disposition, and was suspected OF
completely in Herbert's crimes, but nothing
could be proved against him. There are
four younger sisters In the family. Samuel
B. Willis, the father, left Taunton on June
IA. and Is thought to have gone to Alaska.