The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-11-07
An UPRI}NG OF MANIACS
Mstsawan State Asylum.
KEEPERS WERE OVERPOWERED.

crowding Of Quarters and Inadequate
Provisions For the Guards-The Insane
Men Fought Desperately With Plates
and Cups as Weapons-Rloters subdued
Newburg, N. Y. (SpeciaD. OF the
most daring escapes in the annals OF
prison history of the State occurred at
the Nlatteawan State Hospital for
Criminal Insane when large body OF
desperate insane criminals made
dash for liberty. Seven of the mad
men succeeded in making their escape
while the others were finally repulsed,
| after being beaten with clubs whil'
scaling the wall. In the melee several
of the keepers were injured, two or
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 1852. To re.
lieve this congestion, which has exist
ed for some time, hospital was or
dered built at Dannemora. 1t has just
been completed, and is about ready to
receive patients. .s.
The authorities had in every way
tried to keep the plans of the proposed
removal from the prisoners, but they
had seemed to learn Of every move
ment. 1t had been decided to make
heavy draft from the State Hospital to
Dannemora Immediately after elec-
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
q number Of new keepers were placed
on the pay roll. -
The men ate their supper as usual ct
| 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. 5s. ...."..s.. / ~. =, "
| At e:45 william Kelly. principal
keeper, who was appointed to the po-
sition but few weeks ago, made
1:h1s rounds. Kelly is powerfully built
| man, standing over six feet and
weighing about .240 pounds. AS he
passed through the ward known as
"No g.. SOUTH" In which about forty
tconvicts were kept, he saw a crowd
Of them earnestly icopversing, and
greatly excited. He separated them
and went on his way. ~ - =. T.
There were four. keepers In the
room Doyle, Stack, Clark and Maher.
The head keeper passed into Ward No.
3, south. Finding everything quiet
there he came back through No. 2.
. Asihe opened the door large body
of convicts, pounced upon him.. He
struck them down with his fists for, a
time, but there were too many against
him. r .51tes w
&. 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 dySoverpowered
Keepers Doyle gSlack, Clark and Ma.
her; and had succeeded In binding and
f'gaggingsDoyle and locking him in the
bathroom. { ~: ~.
Maher and Slack finally succeeded I'd
| liberating themselves and ran to the
| aid of Kelly, but the desperate Grim,
| inals overpowered them again, took
| away their keys, and leaving them
locked in the ward, made their way to
the dining hall. 49,.
The battle in, the dining room, where
there were a number of keepers, was
terrific. Broken. furniture and crock.
cry Uttered the room at its conclusion
and the bruised and beaten keepers
were covered with blood. 1t seemed
miracle that none were killed, out
right. -. -
They were all overpowered, and the
shrieking madmen reached the yalj
which surrounds the hospital.
There is fence fourteen feel high
around the yard. Theimen started to
scale the fence. In the meantime an
alarm had been sounded throughout
the building and all Of the available
attendants rushed to the yard. (.ea
;, With clubs and sticks they beat
down many. Of them and returned
them to the hospital Seven of the
men succeeded In getting out and es-
Gaping. They are:
James Clark, aged Twenty-Five, of
New York City. committed for rob-
berry; John Flynn, aged twenty-five, of
New York City, committed for bur-
glary; John Mccarthy, aged twenty
two, Of New York City, committed for
grand larceny; Peter Foster, negro,
aged twenty-five, Of New York City,
committed for highway robbery; Will
lam Johnson. aged twenty-three, of
Schoharie County, committed for
grand larceny; Patrick Geoghegan,
aged thirty-two. Of New York City,
committed for grand larceny, and Pat
rick Murphy. aged twenty-four, Of
New York City, committed for murder.
All these men, when they escaped,
were dressed in blue striped shirts,
blue coats and trousers and wore slip
pers.