New-York tribune., 1897-08-11
SHARP FIGHT IN A PRISON
HERBERT WILLIS TRIED TO ESCAPE
FROM CHARLEsTowN.
HE WAS SHOT AND BADLY wouNpEp-hi'
pporurR ALSO HURT. AND SEVERAL Of

,,r w.c SHOT AND BADLY WOCNDED-HlS
nRorurR ALSO HURT. AND SEVERAL Of
r,crps ,NJuREp-wILI.Is LIKELY TO DIE.
pos,or Auy 1o-wh.le attempting to escape
,~o,, IN. state Prison at Charestown. just De-
fore roon TODAY Herbert Willis. the young Iaun-
ton desperado who recently sentenced 10 nie
Imprisonment for the murder or Frequency Az
Strange was fatally injured, ana MS oroi"ei' D'ei
cu who assisted him in his break for liberty was
seriously wounded by the guards. TWO OF ,he ia'
tor were wounded by the Willis brothers, VINO urea
TO shoot their way out with revovers which Ever
ctt willis had brought with him on VISIT 10 'he
prisoner. ...
Everett Willis was removed to the Massachusetts,
General Hospital, where 1t was iouno tnat ne % nau
been shot in the head and neck. Herbert "iiiis
who is in the prison hospital. was shot twice IN
the head The two guards who were hurt were
Turnkey +. +. Darling, who was shot IN the
thigh and cut about the head, and Yard Ohcer
Abbott. who was also injured about the head by
blows thought TO have been given with the reVoN-
ers in the hands Of the desperadoes.
Everett Willis arrived at the prison this forenoon
TO nav a monthly visit TO his brother. He was ad-
mittcd by the usual officials, and Wills the muir
derer was escorted to the guardroom to meet MS
relative. Officer Edward Whitman and turnkey
Darling were in the rotunda with fard OIhcer
Abbott Officer 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 conversng In low tone. sitting
apart from the others In the guardroom Tor about
half an hour, when Officer Whitman saw the
visitor pass a revolver to his brother. Together
they sprang toward Turnkey Darling, their inteh-
ton evidently being to secure his keys. Whitham
rushed to Darlins's assistance and as he did so
the Willis brothers opened fire. One Of the bullets
struck Darling in the thigh.
Seeing the desperate nature OF the AFFAIR, "hltham
returned the shots. but missed and Ofhcer Aooo'''
who came through the door into the guardroom at
the same instant, the trouble and grappled with
Everett Willis. Both brothers, who had been beat
ing Darling. began to pound Abbott. Offcer Town-
send from the office door. then fired shot which
penetrated the neck of Wilis's brother and sec
ond later Officer Benjamin. who was on duty IN
one of the wings. fired shot through the bars
wounding Willis in the head. ,,
Meanwhile Herbert Willis had been jumping 1
his I; revolver to which the officials responded using
great not TO hit the other visitors. ", shGo ~
Williss head while from Oar ing's found lodge
ment in the back of the head. The murderer was
wills f was also taken away. and the officers nearly
all Of whom bore some mark OF the analr' received
them will suffer seriously except possibly Darling,
who is OF advanced age The bullet, when struSh Sk K
limb. and the wound is considered dangerous in
view Of the possibility Of blood-poisoning;
result Of his wounds and there is Lite hope that
he can survive his nr9thef cbnncs Of reing
well. . ...a
Herbert Willis, eighteen years old, was sentenced
10 a life term of Imprisonment last FEBRUARY, altc
having been been convicted Of the murder or i red
erick y. Strange, several months previous. me
murder OF Strange was but the beginning OF series
OF bold highway robberies and other acts OF sini-
lar nature which for time terrorzed SouihWeste,
ern Massachusetts, and the adjoining districts OF
Rhode Island. Strange was murdered, apparently,
In order that the highwayman who perpetIateG tne
deed might obtain possession OF his bicycie IN io-
lowing up this cew the attention of the authorities
was attracted to Willis, who was an expert wheel
man. 1t known that he was given 10 WANDER
ing around at night. He arrested While at work
in his fathers butcher shop. after an unusually Vo-
lent struggle with the police. Sui SeQuent inVessa-
ton showed that Willis had found cave, IN when
he had hidden large quantity o? plumber that was
identified by persons who had sunered from MS
hevery. This evidence, together with other proof
brought about his conviction.
Taunton. Mass, Aug. 10-Everett b. Willis Is
eighteen years old this month and resembles his
brother very much In appearance. He has in this
city reputation Of being Of venturesome disposi-
tion. and according TO his mother, has been very
nervous since the arrest of his brother Mrs Wills
Everett off this morning for Boston. but SAYS
that she had reason 10 suspect that he con,em-
plated anything rash. and did not know tina. he car
| ried revolvers.
| Ever snce his brothers conviction Everett VIII
| lis has been sulen and morose and many OF those
| who acted informers at the time OF Herberts
| arrest have feared that he would on learning ol
| their identity, turn upon them In his vengeance
Everett, well his brother is fine athlete, anC
craved excitement and II is thought here that the
| plan originated with him. 1t is now known thai
last week Everett sold all the goods and fixtures o
his fathers fish market, and that he used part OF
the proceeds to purchase the two revolvers and &c
| pay his cdIfare 10 Boston.