The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-22
WAS SHOT IN BREAST.
Assistant Superintendent Receives
Blow on Forehead and Arm.
TWO GUARDS WERE ATTACKED.
The Trouble Was the Result Of the ric-
a Convict, 20 Work-lmpcrti-
nent Remarks Made by Him.
Much Blood Split Before
He Was Subducd.

He Was Subducd.
After the buzz and wnirl OF the
chinery at the Stale pcntcntiary had
stopped for dinner III 11:45 o'clock yes
tcrday morning, one Of the most daring
attempts to Kill ever known was made
upon the lives of the Assistant Supern-
tendent and the guards of the institution
by a negro man named Prince Howard,
who was at one time a preacher in
Brunswick county The negro had weight
ed down his passion with luminosity, and
was sagacious enough tc let 1t cool off
when the most trying moment came and
death stared him in the face as the blood
trickied from the LETT S.Ge OF his breast
and the wrist of his left arm, through
which he had been shot by Assistant Su-
perintendept E. f. Morgan in self-defense.
The ruftian was only suhdued Dfter
several Of the guards had come to the
rescue His plot was one of the boidest
ever heard Of by the PRISON officials. He
wanted all the other conNicts 10 aid him
In carrying ii out, and called upon them
in the presence of the guards and Assist
ant Superintendent Morgan to come to
him nnd aid him in his attack upon the
guards. The convicts We're ordered 10
their cells They obeyed the order, which
was given by Captain Morgan There
was. however. some stubbornness among
a few of them, but these did nothing to
cause trouble
HOW THE TROUBLE BEGAN
Howard. being a med.um-s;zed negro.
did not consider that he should do as
much work as is done by his more sturdy
fellow-conricts, and protested against It
to one of the guards. Mr.. John r. Moss.
In plniner words, he refused point blank
to lift his hand to do any sort of work.
He talked impudently 10 all of the guards
with whom he came in contact, and re-
.terated the assertion made to Mr. Moss
Howard was among the conVlcts VINO
work in the shoe department and had
made known to them his intentions of at
lacking the guards. For this purpose
he carried a large shoe knife and pair
of scissors concealed III one of his pock-
cts.
Yesterday morning MIR. Moss reported
the fact to Captain Morgan, that How
ard had refused to work and had talked
back 10 him in a very unbecoming way,
as we'll as threatening manner Inc as
sistant superintendent then started out 10
erliighten himself concerning the reports
which had come to him
Howard was among the gang Of convicts
a, work on the new wall at the peniten-
tiary. Sometime yesterday morning cap
tain Morgan scnt a message TO Howard
through Mr. Moss. telling him to come
down from his cell after dinner; that ne
would have to punish him for MS ms
conduct The convict then said to MI.
Moss that he would come down, but ne
would not be punished. nor made to work
either
The bell had tolled the dinner hour and
the hundreds OF ,cenvcts, in their striped
suits filed out OF the workshops. one al
another. to the front yard. where their
meals ara issued to them When HOWARD
came along he was met by Captain MOI
gan who told him that he would nave 10
punish him.
Tbs anger in the negro then asserted
itself. and he declared he would not De
punished then or after dinner, or al any
othe: time. His conduct attracted the az
tention OF tho other prisoners. ana Saptaiii
Morgan advanced TO take hold OF the man.
who stepped back a step or two, and drew
what was thought to be a knife. 1t was at
this stage of the affair that the negro
called 10 his fellow convicts to come 10
him, which they did not do
Captain Morgan then drew his revolver
and ordered the prisoner to drop the WeaP.
on, and ordered the other prisoners out Vi
the way. It was about this time ina
Messrs Moss and Smith quickly CANA TO
ths assintance of the Assistant Superinten-
dent and Howard made 8 vicious lunse
at Mr.. Smith. cutting him in the left hand
with the weapon he drew. which proved 20
lee half OF a pair of scissors. and then Mr.
Moss made a swing at the negro With a
prison club. He missed the mark. and the
forea OF lha blow turned the man around
and sent the cllh flying to the ground
The convict picked UP the club and then
attempted to stab Mr.. Moss in the back.
Mr.. Moss few steps 20 escape beng
cut. Captain Morgan all the time kept his
pistol POINTED a, the negro. Howard was
IN the act Of cutting Mr.. Moss when Cap
tain Morgan fired into the ground to
frshten the negro. who then advanced upon
the Assistant Superintendent and attempted
20 assault him with tho scissors and ciup
In his hand. Howard landed q heavy blow
across the forehead of Captain Morgan
with the club which he had in his mana.
In attempting to ward OFT the blow he re-
ceiveG a largo wound of about hNe incnes
in length the left wrist This time Cap
.ain Morgan fired low, tho bali entering the
negros ieft wrist
Howard then made another rush at the
assistant superintendent and cut large
cash across his forehead with the c!uo.
He Was then fired at for the third time by
Captain Morgan. the ball penetrating the
breast on the left side about one and one
half inches below the heart and entering
the lung. Blood was then seen flowing
rrotnsely from the negros breast and
arm He WAS then carried to the hospital.
Where DIR. Benjamin Harrison called to at
tend him. Captain Morgan and the wound
ed guards had their injuries dressed in the
Office at the penitentiary
CAPT. MoRGAN-S STATEMENT.
The following is the statement of As
sistant Superintendent Morgan concerning
the afair:
heard Mr.. Moss statement and he
told me that :he negro had neglected to
work. and ] told him to tell the negro
that would have him runished and to-
come down after dinner. Howard told Mr.
Moss that he would come down after
dinner. but would not be punished.
II got mp to take charge of Howard.
and as I put my hand o, him he drew what
thought was knife. but happened to.
be pair Of scissors. ] spoke to him and
said:
= ezzouara put down that knife.