Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-08-11
DASH FORT BERTY.
Murderer Willis Attempts to|
Escape from Prison.
Brother Assists, Supplying Revolvers
desperate Attempt Fails.
Willis Fatally and Brother and Two Prison
Guards Seriously Wounded.

Boston, Aug. 1O.-While attempting
to escape from the state prison at
Charlestown Just before noon, today,
Herbert Willis, the young Taunton
desperado, who was recently sentenced
to life Imprisonment for the murder Of
Fred N. Strange, was fatally injured
and his brother, Everett b.. who as
sisted him in his break for liberty, was
seriously injured by the guards. Two
of the latter We're wounded by the Will
lis brothers, who tried to shoot their
way out with revolvers. which Everett
Willis, the murderers brother. had
brought with him on visit to the pris-
oner.
Everett Willis was removed to the
Massachusetts general hospital, where
it was found he had been shot in the
head and neck. Herbert Willis, who
is in the prison hospital. was also shot
in the head. The two guards who were
hurt were Turnkey r. F. Darling. who
was shot in the thigh and cut about the
head, and Yard Officer Abbott, who
was also injured about the head by
blows. thought to have been delivered
with the revolver in the hands of the
desperate.
Everett Willis arrived at the prison
at about II O'Clock this afternoon, 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 Officer Edward Witham was
on guard i'm the rotunda. Turnkey OAR
ling was at the door leading into the
yard. Officer Abbott was on duty in
the yard and Officer Townsend was at
the door leading from the office to the
guard room.
Five other visitors were in the ro-
tunda at the time, q man. two women
| and two children. The brothers Willis
had been conversing in low tone, sit
ting apart from the others in the guard
room for half an hour. when Officer
Witham saw the visitor pass revolver
to his brother, and together they sprang
towards Turnkey Darling. their inten-
ton evidently being to secure his key.
Witham rushed to Darling's assistance
and as he did so, the Willis brothers
| opened fire. -
Seeing the desperate nature of the
affair. Witham returned the shot, but
missed. Meanwhile officer Abbott,
hearing the sound of the shots, came
through the door into the guard room
and Officer Townsend came from the
office. Witham had closed with Everett
Willis and seemed to have secured him,
but the next instant he eluded Williams
grasp. seeing which Townsend fired
shot, which penetrated the neck of the
desperate man. At almost the same
instant Officer Benjamin, who was on
duty in one of the wings. fired a shot
through the bars, wounding Willis in
the head.
Meanwhile Herbert Willis had been
jumping around in lively fashion, firing
shots from his revolver. to which the
officials responded. using great care not
to hit the other visitors. A shot from
the revolver of Officer Witham, how
ever, took effect in the head, while one
from Darling's at almost the same in
slant found Judgment in the back of the
head
The murderer was then secured and
removed from the scene. Everett Willis
was also taken away and the officers,
nearly all of whom bore some mark o.
the affair, were given prompt medical
attention. 1t is thought none of them
will suffer seriously, except possibly
Darling who is of advanced age. Tho
bullet which struck him in the thigh
passed completely through the limb
and is considered dangerous, in view of
the possibility of blood poisoning.
The whole affair occupied but a few
moments, but it caused the greatest
excitement and measures were taken
to prevent any outbreak among the
,riSn ~
ever, and it was only a short time be-
fore quiet was restored.
Herbert Willis was sentenced to
life term of Imprisonment, last Febru-
airy, after having been convicted of the
murder of Frederick N. Strange. sew
eral months previous. The murder of
Strange was but one of a series of bold
highway robberies and other acts of n
similar nature, which for the time, ter
rorized southwestern Massachusetts
and the adjoining districts of Rhode
Island.
Strange was murdered apparently, in
order that the highwaymen who perpe-
trated the deed, might obtain possess
sion of his bicycle. In the burglaries
which subsequently occurred, several
plcycles were lost and it became I'M
derstood that the perpetrator Of the
crime was an expert wheelman.
The fact first attracted the attention
OF the authorities to Willis as well as
the knowledge that was given to wan
dering around late at night. He was
arrested while at work in his fathers
butcher shop after struggle in which
ne nearly chewed off the thumb Of one
OF the policemen. Subsequently inves-
tlgation showed that Willis had formed
a cave in which he had hidden a large
Quantity of plumber, which was iden-
titled by persons who had suffered from
his thievery. This evidence together
with other proofs brought about his
conviction and sentence to a life term
in the state prison.
AT o'clock this afternoon, it was
learned from the prison authorities
that the murderer was in a very pre-
carious condition as result of his
wounds, and that there was little hope
that he could survive. His brother.
though seriously wounded. it is Thought
has chance of getting WELL
CONTINUED on page -
49, 3E 81 ssse 81 :.