Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-10-09 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SCENE IN A CONVICT PRISON.  A singular scene is reported from the United States convict prison at Trenton. A man named Driscoll, who had been several times previously convicted, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, and was placed in the brush-making shop. One day Driscoll was heard singing at his work, and the keeper, named Ashley, said he would report him. As the keeper turned to go back to his desk Driscoll seized him by the collar, and, grasping a heavy iron wedge used in his work, raised it over the keeper's head. A murmur of excitement ran through the room, and many of the prisoners stood up. Keeper Ashley was cool, however, and, tearing himself from the convict's grasp, he retired to his desk and wrote out a report against Driscoll, who remained standing with the wedge in his hand. Two keepers came in answer to a summons, and as they entered the room Driscoll seized a long brass-handled needle from his work-bench, and sprang into the corner of the room,where heplaced his back against the elevator shaft and shouted that he would kill the first man who laid a hand on him. The two keepers advanced to within 10ft, of him and drew their revolvers. Ashley, fearing a general revolt, rang the alarm signal. and in a few seconds keepers were pouring intc the room from every direction. Then the signal was rung for the convicts to fall in line; and, under the care of four keepers, they all marched out but Driscoll, who still defied the officers and brandished the wedge in his right hand, while in his left he held the needle, ready to pierce any. one who came within reach. A. down keeper. hemmed him in and stood ready to shoot MID down if he made a step towards them. " Lay down those tools and give up or we shall be obliged to shoot you, " said one of the keepers. " Shoot and be d--d, answered Driscoll, defiantly, " I will have one life for it, anyway." "If you don't surrender in five minutes 1 will put a ball through you," said the keeper, taking out his watch and counting the minutes aloud. As he said " Five," Inspector Cartwright, who has control of the prison, shouted, "Don't shoot," and a moment later he added, "Give him time to consider. Talk to him." The keepers extended the time to 10 minutes, and meanwhile endeavoured to reason with the desperate man. He answered with jeers and taunts and swore at the officers villainously, as if to tempt them to lose patience and kill him. Feeling that there was no recourse but to shoot him, the inspector walked slowly out of the room, knowing his departure would be taken as a withdrawal of his command. The instant he shut the door, however, he relented, and rushing back into the room he shouted, " Don't shoot!' just in time tc arrest the fingers that were dressing the triggers. One of the keepers turned and expostulated with Inspector Cartwright, saying, "Would you see one of us murdered ? Isn't any one of our lives worth more than this wretch?" If anybody is to be killed. I will be the man," said the inspector resolutely, pressing forward into the ranks of the keepers. They tried to hold him back ; but he thrust them aside and advanced to within five feet the man who menaced his life with two ugly weapons. "Young man," he said, "you are acting very foolishly. You are throwing away your life. Do you know who I ani ?" "No," answered Driscoll defiantly; " I don't know you, and I don't want to know you." " I am one of the prison inspectors, and I am here to protect you. My name is Cartwright." "If you are Dave Cartwright you are a gOOd man and have a good name in this prison. I will go anywhere with you if you will send these hounds away," said Driscoll, without altering his menacing attitude. Inspector Cartwright turned to the keepers and told them to go and leave the prisoner to him. All but Engineer Thompson and two keepers left the r3tfrutremrui'redhAn°7l.4t:ehLaLyucwlreairdoi ufeiiitosetoCarlelL:riilsig.t'sl:'LDtihanrisstoO'vlol You are aiidreavetaAntindho'eeet the weapons and took the inapector's hand, and he wait led to the dungeon aad locked up.