Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-12-16
MURDER0US ASSAULT
On a Former Brattlcboro Man

VINE Is Deputy Warden In the Ma..,.
chusetts State PrIsOn---5s Su,,h.,
Taken In the Wound I'm His Face.
An attempt was made to murder Da,u,v
Warden Nathan ID. Allen at Charleston
Mass, Wednesday, by prisoner a, The
state prison. 1t was the intention OF lbe
assalant to cut the deputy's throat but he
misiudged his aim. The knife struck ius,
below the ear on the left side OF the ts..
and passed over 20 the other ear F.ny.
seven stitches were necessary to lose ,Ie
wound. The deputy is marked for life
The assailant was Sambriel Hcrris of
Taunton, who is in prison for l. year. for
burglaries and polygamy. The only min.
ry he suffers is slight scalp wound, which
was caused by the deputy's walking STICK
Herbs had been an unruly prisoner and
within a week he had been pun Shed
for the third time within year, and 10 +,
supposed that he laid all of his troubles a,
the door of the deputy warden. If pris.
oners have anything TO say TO the deputy
warden they can do so while passing from
their cells to the shops. Sometimes pris.
oner is sick and wants to 90 to the ho.p.
tai. II that is the case he raises his hand
and if the deputy recognizes him the pr.s.
oner can leave his place and speak with
him. As Herbs approached the deputy he
raised his hand. The deputy said "Weu.
Herbs, what's wanted?' When he had
finished speaking Herbs was directly In
front Of him. He wheeled as a soldier
would do to salute his superior. As hed did
so he drew a knife and struck a swinging
blow at the deputy's neck
The knife entered the skin about a quar-
ter of an inch below the left ear, and Her.
ris drew the keen blade clear across the
face. The cut was deep, the knife blade
passing to the bone. Had the wound been
an inch lower the juguar vein would have
been severed As il was no big arteries
were cut. There was no time for the dep.
uty to draw his revolver and shoot the man
in his tracks. The only thing which the
deputy could do In self-defence he did. A.
ways when in the yard, he carries large
walking stick. the lower end of which is
"loaded" AS the prisoner struck the
blow which he thought would kill, the dep
uty raised his stick. 1t descended on the
prisoners head with such terrible force
that the stick was broken in two Herbs
staggered and fell to his knees.
A few feet away Officer Pillsbury, an
1 outside guard, was standing. He rushed to
/ the deputy's assistance and before Herbs
| could strike a second blow Pillsbury had
/ him by the throat and in his power. OH
/ er officers rushed TO his assistance and Her
/ ris was locked in a cell. When Herris had
/ been placed in the cell be stood no to the
/ bars and glowering at the warden while he
/ held his coat far open said, with a terrible
/ imprecation, "Now shoot me-
Although seriously wounded Deputy
/ Allen neither tainted nor fell TO the
ground. While other officers Were rushing
/ Herbs in a cell he walked to the hospital.
/ His GOODNESS and courage, officers say, was
remarkable.
DR.. Sawin was summoned by telephone
and the prison physician, DR.. McLaugh-
/ lin, was called. Deputy Allen refused to
allow them to etherize him and stood the
painful work of stitching without mur-
muir. When this work had been finished
be walked to his home near the prison
without assistance.
The weapon which Herris used has no,
been found. AS soon as the blow had
been struck Herbs disposed of the weapon
in some mysterious manner.
Deputy Warden Allen has been in the
state prison, serving in his present posi-
ton, since Warden Bridges assumed charge
of the institution six years ago. Mr.. Al
len was deputy sheriff 10 years and ja!leT
nine years at Greenfield, Mass, before 90
ing to Charestown.
Mr.. Allen is a former Brattleboro man
and those who remember his characters
ties when he lived here are positive that
the assailant would have come out second
best if Mr.. Allen had had fair opporiun-
ity to defend himself He was employed
here several years in the book store Of Eel
ton Il Cheney. He went from here 70
Greenfield. His wife is a daughter Of c.
W. Wyman.