The Penn's Grove record., 1900-10-26
IN UPRlSIHG0F MANIl|CS
Revolt Of Insane Criminals il tie
MatteaWail State Asylum.
KEEPERS WERE OvERP0WERED.

ktETEn ULnG IUyvEnEJys
rhe Trouble VS. Caused BY tho Over-
crowding o. Quarters and Inadequate
Provisions For the Guards-The insane
Men Fought D~esperately with Plates
and Cups Is Weapons-Rioters subdued
Newburg, N. <. Gpecial).-one Of the
most daring escapes in the annals Of
prison history Of the State occurred at
the Matteawan State Hospital for
Criminal Insane when a large body OF
desperate insane criminals made a
dash for liberty. Seven Of the mad
men succeeded in making their escape
while the others were finally repulsed.
after being beaten with clubs while
scaling the wall. In the melee several
of the keepers were injured, two Of
them very seriously.
The Matteawan State Hospital for
Criminal Insane was built to accom-
modate about $50 patients. They have
been sent there in such numbers, how
ever, that the place held 1872. To re-
lieve this congestion, which has exist
ed for some time, a hospital was or
dered built at Dannemora. It has just
been completed, and is about ready to
receive patients.
The authorities had in every way
tried to keep the plans of the proposed
removal from the prisoners, but they
- - .ovrn wo~ a<xv
ment. 1t had been decided to make a
heavy draft from the State Hospital to
Dannemora Immediately after cleo
ton. This intelligence seemed to
spread through the big building like
wildfire, and there has been for several
days a noticeable feeling of unrest
about the big institution, still no seri-
GUS trouble was anticipated, although
a number of new keepers were placed
on the pay roll.
The men ate their supper as usual at
5 p. m. There was that same feeling
Of discomfort noticeable, but it had
not apparently increased in fervor.
After supper the prisoners were ta-
ken to their corridors and were about
ready to be taken to their cots for the
night, the time for retiring being Z
o'clock.
At Gas William Kelly, principal
keeper, who was appointed to the pc.
sition but a few weeks ago, made
ms rounds. Kelly Is q powerfully built
man standlng ove SIX Ieet 2
weighing ABOUT az POUNDS. AS ne
passed through the ward known as
NO. 2, SOUTH" IN which about forty
conyicts We're kept, he saw q crowd
OF them earnestly ~conyersing and
greatly excited. He separated them
and went on his way.
There were four Keepers in the
room-Doyle, Stack, Clark and Maher.
The head keeper passed into Ward No.
:, south. Finding everything quiet
there he came back through No. {.
AS ne opened the door q large body
OF conyicts bounced upon him. He
struck them down with his fists for a
time, but there were too many against
him.
The Keepers at the asylum are al
lowed to carry no weapons or arms,
SO that his resistance was slight. He
called for help, but none came. The
~convicts had already overpowered
Keepers Doyle, Slack. Clark and Ma
her, and had succeeded in binding and
gagging Doyle and locking him In the
Mahsf and Slack ngcceedeain
Dhefating themselves and ran to the
aid of Kelly, but the desperate GRIM
lnals OyerDoWered them agaip.took
aWay their keys, and leaving them
I9ckeu "a the ward, made their way to
,n Ts ainlng nah.
th ame Date N Inc dinlng room, where
tarr;ea WERE 9 OF keepers, was
e e1i l;ttara nroken furniture and crock
and the hr, ,i ; Io ond ~ Us conclusion
were covarod sr;t, %n Ne osalen keepers
. miracle tha w ploou. =. seemed
right Aoe were Ailieu out
They were al, ovo,nowo,oa - u.
shrieking madmen reacbad tha va, uS
which surronnds fha hosn;toi a1u
There is q fence fourteen foot b,ah
around the yard. The men sta,tad t.
caa1o oeoAeSu "