The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-21
MUTINY IN PRISON
DESPERATE CONvICTs RISE AGAINST
GUARDS AND TRY TO ESCAPE.
An Exciting Incident in the Kentucky
Penitentiary That Ended Badly
for the DesperadOes.
WALLACE BISHOP FATALLY SHOT
AN SDIANIAy WHO KILLED A PO-
LICEMAN AT CONVICTION, Ky.
Another Murderer wounded I'm the
Shoulder and N Negro Hit by a
Bullet from n winchester.
TWO OF THE GUARDS CAPTURED
AND THEIR WEAPONS TAKEN By
THE MUTINOUs COSvICTs,
Who De1ed the Warden Until Forced
Into Submission-BishOp's Body
Sent to Hammond.
Another Murderer wounded I'm the
Shoulder and n Negro Hit by
Bullet from N winchester.
TWO OF THE GUARDS CAPTURED
AND THEIR WEAPONS TAKEN BY
THE MUTINOUs CoNvICTs,
9ho Dened the Warden Until Forced
Into SubmissiOn-BishOp Body
Sent to Hammond.

FRANKFORT, KY. Aug. 2O-Fired by
desire to gain their freedom. Wallace
Bishop and Thomas Mulligan, of Kenton
county. and Lafayette Brooks. of Morgan
county. all murderers and desperate GRIM
inals, made a futile attempt to escape
from the State penitentiary here this
morning and as result Bishop received
bullet wound in his breast and died to-
night. Brooks is shot through the shoulder
and Alfred Ransome, coIored. a Louis
vile murderer, who for a few moments es-
sayed TO follow the three daring leaders,
Is suffering from a wound in the shoulder.
The mutiny. which lasted for four and
half hours and ended in an ignominious
surrender by the convicts. caused great
excitement within the prison and among
the people of Frankfort. The convicts
chose what they considered a most pro-
pitious time for their outbreak. Selecting
the breakfast hour for their dash for
liberty, when they hoped to stampede a
large number of prisoners, they over
powered the guards with their pistols; cap
tured Charles Willis, a foreman of the reed
department of the chair factory and using
him as a shield, entrenched themselves in
a room where they deied the officials. 1t
not until they discovered that Warden
Eph Lillard intended to starve them out
that they decided to surrender.
Ransom shot by Eph Lillard, jr.,
while the men were entrenched. Bishop
was wounded as he was surrendering, be-
cause when told to hold up his hands he
attempted TO put one of them in his
pockets as If reaching for weapon, and
Brooks was wounded by a stray ball at the
time Bishop fell
Wallace Bishop is said to be only the
alias of the convict shot in the mutiny.
His name is said TO be Burns. He was
conscious up to an hour before his death.
At his request Father Major, of the
Catholic Church. was sent for and bap-
tized him shortly before he died. His fam
lily lives at Hammond, Ind. and the body
will be sent there for burial
STORY OF THE MEETING.
The trouble started at a m while
Brooks, Mulligan and Bishop, one of whom
had a pistol concealed about his person.
were coming out of the dining
room to answer a hospital call. Suddenly
of the convicts drew a
weapon and compelled Guard A. H. Gill
to give up his arms Guard r. F. Hurst.
who rushed to Gilrs assistance, was also
captured by the convicts. Capt Nat Madi-
with six guards and fred on the bunch.
but no wounded. The convicts
then ran across the yard and at the en-
trance to the reed department of the chair
factory captured Charles Willis, of Clark
county foreman. They covered him with
their pistols and. placing him between them
and the guards. retreated to the rocker de-
partment Of the chair factory, from whence
nd vie Of
yard. AT window they stationed Willis,
and Brooks. with revolver in his hand,
took a position just beside the captive,
resting the muzzle OF the weapon on the
foreman's left side. The convicts then de-
fed Warden Lillard TO attempt to capture
them. shouting that they would kill the
foreman at the first move made against
them.
CITIZENS TURN OUT.
BY this time several hundred citizens.
many OF them heavily armed, had gathered
at the prison gates. but the warden denied
admission TO all. He issued orders for all
the shops 10 close. and for all the prisoners
10 be returned at once TO their cells. He
then placed a guard of sixty men around
the building in which the desperadoes had
barricaded themselves and called on them
10 surrender. The cOnvicts' only reply was
a taunt. For the protection OF Foreman
Willis the warden then determined TO
starve the desperadoes into submission.
In about half an hour note was dropped
from the window of the room where the
convicts had taken refuge. asking Warden
Lillard and Deputy Warden Madigan to
come up under flag OF truce and deal
with them The demand was ignored.
Shortly after this James Buckley, formerly
city wOrkhOuse keeper. and Morgan Brew
er. former guard at the penitentiary.
climbed 10 the roof OF the residence over
looking the building in which the convicts
had taken refuge and fired several shots
into the room where the desperadOes were
tEtrenched. They were compelled TO de-
sist. however. Foreman Willis was
forced 10 the window in the line OF FIRE
He called TO the men 20 stop shooting
and informed them that RarsOme, the ne
gro convict. had been shot I'm the shoulder
AT o'clock another note was dropped
from the convlcts window, offering TO sur
render II the men were insured safe deliv-
cry 10 the cellhOusc This request was also
ignored The cOnvicts asked that Captafn
lfllard and Captain Madfgan come in mr.
son To escort them. but IL was believed this
was merely ruse 20 Kill the officials
Later another letter was brought from
the desperadoes by Frank Brooks. OF Bond
county. The note stated that II the warden
would come 10 the head OF the steps leading
10 the reed department the convfcts would
surrender first sending their weapons down
By Frank Brooks. Warden Lillard prepared
20 accept the terms OF this note and as a
matter OF precautiOn a half a dozen guards
were placed In the hospital overlooking the
reed department warden Lllard, accom-
panied By eight men. then proceeded to
the foot OF the stairway.
BISHOP SHOT.
Suddenly the crack OF Winchester was
heard showing that the note was but a
Tuse. we got Bishop" shouted a guard.
'.IIe is dead" The prisoners had emerged
from the reed room. they had promised.