The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-05-07

q gun shot wound inflicted by Cant.
@, G. Dawson ON May 2, 1908, at
the West Virginia .penitentiary at
Moundsville, w. Va, in Marshall
county, West Virginia, and further
find that the killing was justified
under the circumstances"
Briggs had been employed In the
broom factory and was reported
about ten days ago for the poor quail
ity Of his work: He worked none
after that, claiming to be i'll, al
though DR.. Stewart, the prison ply
s1cian could find nothing wrong with
him. After breakfast Saturday
morning he left the dining room and
went into the main hall. There he
Informed Joe Bloyd, captain OF the
guards, and others that he was not
going to work any more.\ Captain
Bloyd told Guard Cleghron to take
, him to his cell and lock him up.
Briggs said he would not go to his
cell and started towards the door,
leading into the yard. Cleghorn Sc
cured his mace and called on Guard
Miller, Of the north hall to assist.
him. The three guards, Bloyd,
Cleghorn and Miller then followed
Briggs out into the yard, BlQyd all
the time calling to the prisoner to
come back.
After reaching the yard Briggs
picked up a heavy stick about four
feet in length and continued to walk
across the yard toward the black
smith shop, all the while threatening
to kill anyone who molested him.
/ Briggs continued walking until he
reached pile of sand, about which
were number Of stones and brick
bats. He dropped the piece Of wood
/ he was carrying and picked up an
armful of rocks. Turning upon his
pursuers, he hurled the rocks at
| them with terrific energy. Mr.. Bloyd
| drew his pistol, but did not fire until
after the negro had thrown several
rocks at him. He says he then fired
| two shots in the air, but as the ne
gro continued crowding him, he fired
two shots at the prisoner, but If
either took effect the negro showed
mo indication of, it. Having exhaust
ed his Ammunition, Bloyd retreated,
going to tower No. 4, the guard on
which could not see what was going
on, and asked the latter to lower him
his shot gun.
! During the absence Of Mr.. BlOyd
the negro returned to the sand pile
and got another. armload Of rocks,
At this juncture Warden Dawson,
who was in the Office when the trou-
BILE commenced, appeared upon the
scene. The warden told Briggs to
! stop throwing rocks and give him
| self up! Briggs kept on coming and
the warden fired twice to scare him.
Warden, Dawson then returned to
the office and came back a moment
| later with two revolvers and walked
directly towards Briggs, who came
forward to meet the attack and con-
tinued hurting rocks, cursing the
warden all the while. The negro
swore he might as we'll die then as
any time and manifested not the
least fear Of being shot. During the
vigorous onslaught by Briggs the
warden kept walking backwards nn-
til further retreat was impossible On
account Of the wall. Realizing that
it was either his life or the Negroes,
| Warden Dawson took careful aim
with his pistol and fired several
shots. The distance between the two
men at this time was from ten to fiji
teen feet. Briggs staggered back
several feet on the lawn and sank
to the ground. He expired In few
moments.