The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-17
SHOT A PRISONER
Tony Brown, an UnruIy Prison
er, Is Wounded.
Makes an Unsuccessful Attempt
to Kill James Phillips.
NO HEED TO WARNING.
Struck Phillips While Covered
by Jailer's Revolver.
Brown Twice Wounded Before
He Gave Up.
Both Bullets Pass Through His
Foot.
NO HEED TO WARNING.

Tony Brown, a prisoner in the county
jail, attempted to kill James Phillips.
another prisoner. this morning and was
shot twice by the officers before he gave
up.
Brown and Phillips are both colored
and are both federal prisoners awaiting
trial for selling liquor to the Indians at
Lawrence Brown is now confined in
the dungeon.
When Jailer Lawson opened the door
to the lower corridor this morning and
started gathering the breakfast dishes
together, everything was as quiet as
usual. Lawson was on the outside OF
the cage containing the cells Phillips
was in a cell on the south side The
door to the cage was on the east side
and locked Lawson heard a scufie in
Phillips cell on the south side
Help cried Phillips.
Lawson started for the cage door and
on his way passed Phillips cell.
Hell murder me- shouted Phillips
Lawson looked through the heavy
steel grating and saw Phillips covering
in one corner and Brown standing over
him ready to crush his skull with
heavy iron casting.
Throw up your hands, shouted Law
son and he stuck his revolver through
the steel bars and covered Brown.
Brown stepped back a pace and look
ed at Lawson.
Drop that IRON" shouted Lawson.
I'm get him yet" shouted Brown and
he made a move toward Phillips wko
was cornered on the bunk in the corner
of the cell and could not escape without
passing Brown. .
Drop that iron or I'll shoot shouted
Lawson
Instead of obeying the command
Brown made a spring toward Phillips
and struck him a heavy blow on the
left side of his body
Lawson fired low and struck Brown
IN the right foot The would>Se murder
er stopped. Lawson kept MIN covered
with his revolver. Before Lawson had
arrived Brown had struck Phillips
twice and bruised both eyes and cut his
face The blood was flowing from the
wounds
Lawson could not leave his position
on the outside of the cell for fear that
Phillips, who had nothing with which
to defend himself would be murdered
Lawson called to Mrs. Cook, the wife Of
tne sherIn who lives in the front part
or the Jail, and Mrs. Cook te1ephOned
to the police station for help. Officers
Smith. Hutton. McE1rOy and CARPENTER
answered the call for help.
When they arrived at the Jail Lawson
was still standing peeping through the
bars with his revolver covering Brown.
who was watching his chance to pounce
upon the defenseless man covering in
the corner.
The officers took positions where they
could cover Brown through the bars
with their revolvers. Lawson started
for the keys to unlock the cage door
at the other end.
IF he makes a move shoot and break
his legs" said Lawson.
AS Lawson started for the cell door
Brown made a second attempt to reach
Phillips and strike him with the heavy
iron
Stop shouted Officer Carpenter.
shoot" ordered Lawson
Brown paid no heed to the commands
and Carpenter pulled the trigger of his
As calibre revolver. The bullet struck
Brown in the same foot in which Law
son had shot him. He then stopped and
gave UP the fight Lawson opened Tie
cage door. The other prisoners were all
crouching in the cells forthest from
the scene of the trouble, afraid of the
flying bullets. Brown allowed himself
to be led to the dungeon in the base
ment.
TN kill him yet he shouted as he
was being led away.
His foot was dressed The bullets
both passed through the foot and the
wounds are not dangerous. The trouble
between Brown and Phillips is of long
standing and commenced before they
were placed in the Jail The iron which
Brown had was a casting broken from
the plumbing in the wash room.