Massachusetts Department of Correction, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Monday, February 13, 1928
Age: 50
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: February 13, 1928
Weapon Used: Blunt object; Bat
Suspect Info: Died in mental hospital
Night Supervisor Amlaw and Night Watchman Gerrior were beaten to death at the State Hospital for the Criminally Insane in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, by an inmate known to be the most vicious of all the other inmates. He was admitted to Bridgewater Hospital in 1914 after he was transferred from the state prison where he was serving a 10 year sentence for breaking, entering, and larceny. He broke a post off the foot of his bed and laid in wait.
Watchman Gerrior was making his rounds when he encountered the inmate standing in the doorway of his cell. No one could ever figure out how he unlocked his cell door. The inmate beat him to death with the bat. He then walked down the corridor where he met Supervisor Amlaw and beat him to death in the same way. With keys he took he liberated four other inmates from their cells. As they made their way toward an exit they were met by several guards who sounded the alarm, overpowered them, and returned them to their cells.
A criminally insane inmate who kills can not be held responsible for his actions. He died in Bridgewater Hospital in 1943.
Supervisor Amlaw had served with the Massachusetts Department of Corrections for 20 years.