The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-01-22
STABBED BY A CONVICT.
Assistant Warden Dieffenbach Murder0us
ly Assaulted by a COlOred Peniten-
tiary Prisoner.

Ferdinand A. Diffenbach, assistant warden
at the penitentiary. was murderousIy assaulted
o Tuesday by Levi Poindexter, colored. a
prisoner in the institution Mr.. Diffenbach
is native of Manchester. this county. and
formerly resided in this city, was IL we'll.
known teacher. and later engaged in the cigar
business. The Baltimore Sun Of Wednesday
gives the following account of the occurrence:
His wounds consist of two stabS, one in the
abdomen, several inches long, and another in
the breast perhaps three inches long, which
extended to, but did not cut the liver The
weapon used was a table knife, which had
been ground to sharp point at the end.
The assault occurred at l o'clock. while
the second division Of prisoners were going
into the dining room fer their dinner. About
$50 Of the men had entered the room and had
taken their seats at the long tables, when. the
squaG with Poindexter entered. Poindexter
was ia the middle of his squad, and, with the
other prisoners, was walking in lock-step.
Mr.. Dieffenbach was standing in an aisle
down which the squad passed, in order to see
that there was no disorder. Deputy Warden
j. 4. Mccullough was seated a short distance
away.
As Poindexter reached Mr.. Dieffenbach he
suddenly jumped from the line, threw his
left arm around the neck of Mr.. Dieffenbach
and twice plunged into him knife which he
had carried concealed in his sieve. Mr.. DEF
fenbach grappled with his assailant, and they
fell to the floor, with PoindeXter on top.
Before he could Use his arm again to use his
knife PoindeXter was seized from behin1 by
Mr.. Mccullough, who dragged him backward
and forced him to the floor. The deputy then
placed his foot on the hand that held the
knife and secured the weapon. Several of
off ~,
the officers, but the entrance of several depu-
ties furnished Il sufficient force to overpoweF
PoindeXter and take him to his cell.
Mr.. Diefienbach was carried to the recep.
tion-room and made as comfortable as posi-,
BILE. Warden Weyler sent for Il doctor. DIR.
Henry +. Cassidy Was the first to come, and
upon his advice the wounded man was sent
to the City Hospital. Prof John W. Cham
berS and the house staff washed out the wounds
and dressed them. DIR. Cotton, of the hospi
tai staff, said that the wounds were danger
Gus. from the fact that the intestines were
lacerated and there was Il consequent liability
Of pcritonitis. Mr.. Dieflenback was resting
quietly last night.
When Warden Weyler visited PoindeXter
III his cell and asked him why he had cut
Mr.. Diefienbach. he said he had nothing to
saw Atterward he began to speak in Il ram
u
to be thought so. He declared that some one
had placed poison i'll his food, and in reply
to another question concerning the assault
said there was poison in his shoes.
PoindeXter is about - years of age. He
was committed from Baltimore city for a
period Of six years from September 80, 1895,
for receiving stolen goods. He was born in
Illinois and came to Baltimore from Wash
ington. He is employed in the shoe shops at
FASTING table, and, although his work is
perhaps the lghtest in the prison, he has on
several occasions refused to work. for which
ne received light punishment. Warden Wey-
ley said that the last time he was punished
was on December 80. when he was locked up
for Il time So far as known he had no rea
son TO entertain amy animoStity toward Mr..
Dietlenhach.
Mr.. Deffenbach has been connected with
the pcnitcntary since 1887. when he was APP
pointed deputy warden by Warden Horn.
Three years later he was promoted by Warden
WeyIer /" The position of assistant warden
He is married and has family living at BIS
East Lafayette avenue.