Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-10
Herbert Willis Tries to Escape From
Massachusetts, State Prison.
MURDERER OF FRED STRANGE
Herbert Was Fatally, His Brother
Seriously Wounded by Guards.
TWO OF THE LATTER HURT

BOSTON August 1O.-While attempt
ing TO escape from the state prison at
Charlestown just before noon today. Her
bert Willis, the young Taunton desperate,
who was recently sentenced to life I'M
prisonment for the murder of Fred N.
Strange was fatally injured. and his
brother Edward. who assisted him in his
break for liberty. was seriously wounded
by the guards. Two OF the latter were
wounded by the Willis brothers
Edward Willis. who had gone into the
prison to visit his brother. had contrived
to pass a revolver to Herbert, retaining
a weapon himself. and with these they
tried to overcome the guards.
Shot In Head and Neck.
Everett Willis was removed to the Massa-
chusetts General Hospital, where it was
found that he had been shot in the head
and neck.
Herbert Willis. who is in the prison hos
pital. was shot twice in the head. The two
guards who were hurt were Turnkey E. F.
Darling. who was shot in the thigh AMI cut
about the head, and Yard officer Abbott,
who was also injured about the head by
blows, thought to have been delivered with
the reyolvers in the hands of the dcspera-
does
Everett Willis arrived al the prison this
forenoon TO pay monthly visit to his
brother. He was admitted by the usual
officials Herbert was escorted to the guard
room TO meet him. All the time Officer Ed
ward Whitman and Turnkey Darling were
in the rotLnda with Yard officer Abbott,
Officer Townsend and others mar by. Sew
eral other visitors were in the rotunda at
the time, man, two women and two chill
dren.
The Willis brothers had been converSing
in low tone, sitting apart from the others
in the guard room for about half an hour,
when Officer Whitman saw the visitor pass
~. tt,x.xy
sprang toward Turnkey Darling, their in
tention evidently being to secure his keys.
Desperadoes Open Fire.
Whitman rushed to Darlings assistance,
and as he did so the Willis brothers opened
fire. One bullet struck Darling tine thigh.
Seeing the desperate nature of the af-
fair, Whitman returned the fire, but
missed
Officer Abbott who came through the
door into the guard room at the same in
slant. The trouble and srappled with
Edward Willis Both brothers, who mad
been beating Darling, began to pound Abb
.ott.
Townsend, from the office door, then fired
a shot, which penetrated the neck of Ever
EFT Willis, and second later Officer BEN
jamin. who was on duty in one of the
wings, fired shot through the oars,
wounding Everett Willis in the head.
Meanwhile, Herbert Willis had fired sew
eral shots from his revolver, to which the
officers responded, using great care not to
hit the other visitors. A shot from the re-
volver of Officer Whitman took effect In
HerOert'S head, while one from Darling 5
pistol found Judgment in the back of the
uurderers head.
Herbert Willis was then secured and re-
moved from the scene. Everett Willis was
also taken away, and the officers nearly
all OF whom bore some mark of the af-
fair. were given prompt medical attention.
Darling Fears Blood Poisoning.
1t is thought none of them will suffer
seriously. except possibly Darling, who is
of advanced age The bullet which struck
him In the thigh passed completely through
the limb. and is considered dangerous in
view of the possibility of blood poisoning.
Herbert Willis is in precarious condition
as a result of his wounds. and there was
little hope that he will survive His broth
er, though seriously wounded, it is thought
has chance of recovery.