Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-11
SHOT.
THEY MAKE ATTEMPT TO EscAru
FROM PENITENrIARY.
FIRED ON BY PRISON GUARDS
One of Them Fatally and To Othef
Seriously woundcd-Two of the
Guards Injured, One of Them se-
riousIy.


BOSTON. August lo.-while attempting
TO escape from the State prison az
Charlestown. Just before noon to-day
Herbert Willis. the young Taunton des-
perado who was recently sentenced to
life imprisonment for the murder OF
Fred. n. Strange, was fatally injured,
and his brother. Everett, who assisted
him in his break for liberty. was So
riously wounded by the guards. Two
Of the latter were wounded by the wils
lis brothers.
Everett Willis. who had gone into thu
prison TO visit his brother. had contrived
to pass a revolver TO Herbert, retaining
weapon himself. and with these they
tried to overcome the guards.
SHOT IN HEAD AND NECK.
Everett Wills was removed TO tho
Massachusetts General Hospital, whcrel
Il was found that he had been shot in
the head and neck.
Herbert Willis. who IS In tho prison
hospital. was shot twice in the head
The two guards who were hurt vera
Turnkey Il. f. Darling, who was shot
In tho thigh and cut about tho head. and
Yard-ohicer Abbott who was also In
jured about the head by blows thought
to have been delivered with the revplyers
I'm the hands Of the despcradoes.
Everett Willis arrived at the prison
this forenoon TO pay a monthly visit TO
his brother. lie was admitted by the
usual officers. Herbert was escorted to
tho guard-room TO meet him. At thu
time officer Edward Whitman and Turn
key Darling were In the rotunda with
Yard-Ohlcer Abbott, Officer Townsend.
and others nearby. Several other yisi-
tors were I'm the rotunda at the time
man. two women, and two children.
The Willis brothers had been conyers-
ing in a low tone. sitting apart from
the others I'm the gusrd-room FOR about
half an hour, when officer WlVtham saw
the visitor pass a revolver TO his bro
Their, and tog, her they sprang toward
Turnkey Darling. their intention evldent-
ly being to secure his keys.
DEsPERADoES OPEN FIRE.
Whitman rushed to Darlings assist
anne, and as ne did SO tho Willis brothers
opened fire. one bullet struck Darling in
the thiCh.
Seeing the desperate nature OF the az
fair. Whitman returned tho fire, but
missed.
Officer Abbott, who came through tho
door into the gunrd-room at the same in
slant saw the trouble and grappled with
Everett willis. Both brothers, who had
been beating Darling. began 70 pound
ABBOTT
Townsend, from the office door. then
fired a shot which penetrated the neck
OF Everett Wills. and a second later ON
D. -f,,lt, hn xras On la
OF the wings. fired shot through tho
bars. woundlng Everett Wills In tho
head.
Meanwhile Herbert Wills had fred
several shots from his revolver. to which
the officers responded. using great cars
not TO hit tho other visitors A shot
from the revolver Of Oiicer Whitman
took effect I'm Horbert's head. while one
from Dsrling's pistol found Judgment IA
the back Of the murderers head.
Herbert Willis was then secured ana
removed from the scene. Everett Wills
was also taken away. and the officers,
nearly all OF whom bore some mark OF
the affair, We're given prompt medical at
tentlon. $500 $685. -'-
DARLING FEARS WOODWORKING.
1t Is thought none OF them viii suffer
seriously except, possibly, Darling, who
IS of advanced age. The bullet which
struck him in the thigh pVsed completely
through the limb. and is considered dan
gerous. in view or the possibility OF blood
poisoning Herbert Wills IS in a pre-
carious condition as result OF hts
wounds, and there f. little hope that no
viii survive His brother, though Sc
rlously wounded 1t Is thought, has u
chance Of recovery.