The Yale expositor., 1912-09-19
MORE TROUBLE At
JACKSON PRISON
SYRIAN CHURCH SEXTON SHOT
BY CAPTAIN BLACkMAN
NEAR WALLS OF PRISON.
STATE INVESTIGATION WILL BE
PROMPTLY MADE.
II Is Alleged That There Was a
Plot to Secure Guns and That
One Plotter Escaped.

The militiamen serving as guards
at the Michigan state prison, Jack
son, shot and killed the sexton of ST.
Mary's Catholic church when they
saw him near the walls of the prison
judging he was up to some mischief
The shooting occurred at midnight,
Friday. The dead man is John Eisy,
Syrian, who resided on East Wash
ington street.
The militia now on guard is the
remnant of the 800 soldiers whom
Gov. Osborn called out to guard the
prison when the management report
ed itself unable to cope with the re-
cent mutiny of inmates with the regu-
lar force of guards.
After being shot twice Eisy died at
the city hospital about Is minutes
after his arrival there in the police
ambulance.
The shooting occurred in an alley
just west of the Washington street
mills. His body was pick ed up about
10 feet from the street. One
bullet had struck his right arm near
the elbow and another entered the
body near the top of the right hip
and came out through the abdomen on
the left side. During the few minutes
he survived he was in great agony
from the effects of the wounds.
1t is reported from one source that
the shooting was the result of plot
by which E.isy and a pal hoped TO
secure possession of guns; that sol
diers went on with the deal in order
to catch the men; that the men and
the soldiers met by appointment, and
that after some dickerng officers sho.
at the men, one Of whom escaped.
The attorney general has promised
a statement when the investigation is
finished.
A thorough. probe of the shooting
. is to be instituted at once by the
civil authorities.
Capt Biackman, in command of the
provisional troops who are guarding
Jackson prison, admitted it is said,
that he fred the shot that killed
Eisy.
I'm awful!y sorry about it, said
Capt. Blackman. Il didn't intend to
Kill him. ! shot at his legs. but it
was quick shot and it took effect
higher on his body than | intended
it should. | had to shoot quick as
he had rifle which we had delivered
to him according to previous arrange
ments, raised in a threatening man
ner. and | believe if | had not shot
as ! did he would have Drained one
OF our men.
1T was reported to me Friday
that this foreigner had approached
Privates McArdie and Jackson with a
proposition to get possession of some
Of the states fire arms. They told
me they had agreed to meet him at
II o'clock Friday night and deliver
the guns. told them to 90 ahead
with it and we would arrest the men,
Lieutenant Smith and myself secreted
ourselves where We COULD see the
deal made and hear what was said.
After they handed Eisy the rifles he
stuck them between his legs, and as
was paying the privates they told
him he was under arrest. At that mo-
ment he stepped back and raised one
Of the rifles in a threatening attitude
] fred three shot at him. Lieutenant
Smith didn't shoot He was not be-
side me. but was on watch as We
thought there were two men in the
deal. When Eisy met the privates
and dickered with them on the street
Friday he had another man with him
but we didn't see anything of him
Friday night
Capt Blackman's statement that he
killed Eisey astonished the city, and
when the populace recovered from
the first shock comment flew thick
and fast. Many openly condemn him,
while others excuse him on the
ground that he made an unfortunate
mistake at the cost of human life.
To Investigate Jackson Prison.
There will be thorough investiga-
ton of Jackson prison, not only con-
corning the recent riot and the events
leading up to the shooting of John
Eisy, but one that will cover the en-
tire administration of Warden Simp-
son. Warden Simpson himself will
ask for the investigation at a spe-
cial meeting of the board of control.