The Penn's Grove record., 1897-08-13
BULLETS FLY IN PRISON.
Desperate Attempt to Release a Con-
vict in Boston,
BICYCLE BANDITS" FIERCE FIGHT

Attack of Herbert willis, the Taunton
CNrass) Desperate, and His Brother
Upon Keepers at Chariestown - h
Prisoner Fatally shot-His Brother
and Two onicers Seriously Wounded.
BosroS, Mass. (SpeciaD.-while attempt
ing to escape from the State Prison at
Charlestown just before noon, Herbert Will
Is, the young Taunton desperate, who was
recently sentenced to life imprisonment for
the murder OF Frederick N. Strange. was
fatally injured and his brother, Everett, who
assiated him In his break for liberty, was
seriously wounded by guards. Two OF the
latter were wounded by the Willis brothers,
who tried to shoot their way out with revolt
vers which Everett Willis had brought with
him on a visit to the prisoner.
Everett Willis was remove to the Massa-
shusetts General Hospital. where 1t was
found that he lad 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 L. r. Darling, turnkey. who
was shot in the thigh and out about the
head, and Yard O6icer Abbott, who was al
so injured about the head by blows, thought
to have been delivered with the %reyolvers
In the hands OF the d~esperadoes.
Everett Willis arrived at the prison dur
ing the forenoon to pay n 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 10 the rotunda with
Yard Officer Abbota, Office 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 conyersing In
a low tone, sitting apart from the others in
the Ruurd-room for about half an hour when
Ohlcer Whitman saw the visitor pass a re-
volver to his brother, n together they
sprang toward Darling. their intention evil
IDENTIFY being to secure his keys. Whitman
rushed to Darling's assistance. and as he
did so tho 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 Jane through the door into
the gaard-Foam y he same instant; saw
troubso and Srapplc& Eith Edward WINS
ling, began to pound Abbott. Oficer Town
send, from the office door. then fired q shot.
which penetrated the neck OF Willis, and a
second later Officer Benjamin. who was on
duty in one of the wings, fired o shot
through the bars, wounding Willis In the
head.
Meanwhile, Herbert Willis bad been
jumping around, firing repeated shots from
his revolver, to which the officials respond
I'd, using great care not to hit the other
visitors. A shot from the revolver OF Of
icer Whitman took effect in tue head,
while one from Darling lodged In the back
Of his head. The murderer was then Sc
.ured and removed. Everett Willis was
also taken away, and the officers, nearly
Ill of whom bore some mark OF the affair,
were given medical attention.
1t Is thought none of them will suner
Jeriously, except, possibly, Darling, who is
advanced In years. The bullet, which
truck him In the thigh, passed completely
through, and the wound Is considered
dangerous.
At2 O'Clock D. M, 1t was learned from the
prison authorities that the murderer was In
precarious condition, as a result OF bis
Wounds. and that there was little hope that
ae could survive. His brother, though
~Ieriously wounded, 1t is thought, has Q
,hance Of getting well.
Herbert Willis, the prisoner, ID nineteen
rears old, and his brother eighteen. Her
aert Willis wa committed on February ~
II this year for the murder Of young Fred
Y. Strange, near Taunton, about q year ago.
He had terrorized the community for two
weeks. His first offence was stealing Q bi.
,ycle in Providence, R. 1. On the night OF
tune 20 occurred the murder OF strange.
Wills held up Strange as the latter was
iding along on his bicycle n took 1t from
lin When Strange resisted and began to
oilow Willis shot him. He was arrested
IN August 8 and tried, found guilty and
lentenced a few months later.
Everett Willis has always been Of q rem
uresome disposition, and was suspected OF
completely in Herbert's crimes, but nothing
,ould be proved against him. There are
our younger sisters In the family. Samuel
}. Willis, the father, left Taunton on June
4, and is thought to have gone to Alaska.