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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:16:53 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:16:53 -0700 |
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diff --git a/1318-h/1318-h.htm b/1318-h/1318-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ab519a --- /dev/null +++ b/1318-h/1318-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6280 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Twin Hells, by John N. Reynolds + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1318 ***</div> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE TWIN HELLS + </h1> + <h3> + A Thrilling Narrative of Life in the<br /> Kansas and Missouri + Penitentiaries + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By John N. Reynolds + </h2> + <h4> + ATCHISON, KANSAS. + </h4> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h5> + TO MY DEAR OLD MOTHER<br /> AND<br /> TO THE MEMORY OF MY SAINTED WIFE<br /> + THIS BOOK<br /> IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY<br /> THE AUTHOR. + </h5> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <a href="#link2H_PREF"> PREFACE </a> <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> <b>A + KANSAS HELL</b> </a> <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> MY + INITIATION AND CRIME <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. + </a> THE COAL MINES <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0003"> + CHAPTER III. </a> THE COAL MINES (Continued) <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a> THE PUNISHMENTS OF THE + PRISON <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> SUNDAY + IN THE PRISON <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> SCENES + IN THE HOSPITAL <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a> ESCAPES + FROM PRISON <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. </a> THE + PRISONERS <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> FORTY-EIGHT + HOURS IN HELL <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a> STOLEN + HORSES <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a> CANDIDATE + FOR THE STATE SENATE <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. + </a> A DARK HOUR <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER + XIII. </a> FREEDOM <br /><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0016"> <b>A MISSOURI HELL</b> </a> <a + href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> THE CONVICT'S HOME + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. </a> THE WORK + OF THE CONVICT <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI. </a> THE + MISSOURI PRISONERS <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII. + </a> THE MISSOURI PRISONERS—(Continued) <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII. </a> PRISON + DISCIPLINE <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX. </a> NOTED + CONVICTS <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX. </a> THE + EX-CONVICT <br /><br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_PREF" id="link2H_PREF"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PREFACE + </h2> + <p> + The following pages treat of hell—A Kansas hell and a Missouri hell. + Those who desire to peruse works that tell about Heaven only, are urged to + drop this book and run. I was an inmate of the Kansas penitentiary for + sixteen months, and make mention of what came under my own observation in + connection with what I experienced. While an inmate of this prison I + occupied cells at various times with convicts who had served terms in the + Missouri prison. From these persons I gathered much useful material for my + book. After my release I visited the Missouri penitentiary, and verified + the statements of those criminals, and gathered additional material from + the prison records and the officials. I have written chiefly for the youth + of the country, but all ages will be deeply interested in the following + pages. A large majority of the convicts are young men from sixteen to + twenty-five years of age. They had no idea of the terrible sufferings of a + convict life, or they surely would have resisted temptation and kept out + of crime. The following pages will impart to the reader some idea of what + he may expect to endure in case he becomes entangled in the meshes of the + law, and is compelled to do service for the State without any + remuneration. Every penitentiary is a veritable hell. Deprive a person of + his liberty, punish and maltreat him, and you fill his life with misery + akin to those who wander in the darkness of "eternal night," I think, when + the reader has perused the following pages, he will agree with me, that + the book has the proper title. That this volume may prove an "eye-opener" + to the boys who may read it, and prove interesting and instructive to + those of mature years, is the earnest wish of the author. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + A KANSAS HELL + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. MY INITIATION AND CRIME + </h2> + <p> + Guilty! This word, so replete with sadness and sorrow, fell on my ear on + that blackest of all black Fridays, October 14, 1887. + </p> + <p> + Penitentiary lightning struck me in the city of Leavenworth, Kansas. I was + tried in the United States District Court; hence, a United States + prisoner. + </p> + <p> + The offense for which I was tried and convicted was that of using the + mails for fraudulent purposes. My sentence was eighteen months in the + penitentiary, and a fine of two hundred dollars. I served sixteen months, + at the end of which time I was given my liberty. During the period I was + in prison I dug coal six months in the penitentiary coal mines, and was + one of the clerks of the institution the remainder of the term. Getting + permission to have writing material in my cell, I first mastered + short-hand writing, or phonography, and then wrote my book: "A Kansas + Hell; or, Life in the Kansas Penitentiary." My manuscript being in + short-hand, none of the prison officials were able to read it, and did not + know what I was doing until I obtained my liberty and had my book + published. + </p> + <p> + This, no doubt, will be the proper place to give some of my antecedents, + as well as a few of the details of the crime for which I was sent to the + penitentiary. I spent my youth and early manhood at Indianola, Iowa, from + which place I removed to Nebraska. After residing for some time in + Columbus, of that State, I was appointed by the governor to assist in + organizing the Pawnee Indian Reservation into a county. When organized it + was called Nance County, being named for Hon. Albinus Nance, then governor + of the State. I held the position of county clerk of that county for four + consecutive years. During this time I organized the Citizens' Bank. I was + its cashier at first, and, later on, its president. I had a lucrative + business and was doing well. My wife's health failed her; she became + consumptive. My family physician advised a removal to the South. I closed + out my business at a great sacrifice, and came to Atchison, Kansas. Here I + located, and made it my future home. Soon after my arrival I commenced the + publication of a daily newspaper, known as the "Times." In the county in + which I located I found one of the worst and most corrupt political rings + on the face of the earth. This combination had controlled the politics of + the county for almost a quarter of a century. Soon I became involved in a + terrific newspaper war with the members of this political organization. An + election of county and State officials was soon to take place. In order to + test the strength of the contending elements, in my newspaper, I presented + the name of Hon. W. D. Gilbert as a candidate for district judge in + opposition to the ring candidate. A sharp fight ensued. Mr. Gilbert was + elected by an overwhelming majority. This was the first time for + twenty-five years that this ring had been defeated. The members of it were + very sore. Looking upon me as the principal spirit, I was the object + toward which they directed all their shafts of spite. + </p> + <p> + Some time before this an insurance company had been organized in the city + of Atchison. I was invited to become its president. I examined the books + of the corporation, and found it to be organized according to the laws of + Kansas; that the company had a charter from the State, and also certified + authority to issue policies of insurance, granted by the State insurance + commissioner. I accepted the presidency on condition that the company was + simply to have the use of my name, and that I was not expected to give any + of my time to the company, as I was otherwise engaged. I was editor of a + daily newspaper, and could not attend to anything else. While this company + was doing business a printed circular was used, stating that the + corporation had one hundred thousand dollars PAID up capital. This + circular was sent out through the mails over the State advertising the + business. It was charged this circular was fraudulent; that the company + did not have that amount of capital paid in. My name was attached to this + printed circular. For this, I was indicted in the United States District + Court, on the charge of using the mails for fraudulent purposes. The + advertised capital of this corporation was SUBSCRIBED, but not all paid + in, as it was not needed in the business of the company. After indictment + I was arrested, and gave bonds for my appearance at the next term of + court, which was held soon after. + </p> + <p> + Not being able to secure the attendance of all my witnesses, my attorney + wrote the prosecuting attorney asking his consent that my case be + continued. The request was granted. When the case was called, my attorney + appeared and introduced a motion to continue the case, filing affidavits + necessary in such cases. The prosecuting attorney having given his + consent, there was no doubt in the minds of those interested as to the + continuance of the case. For some cause best known to himself, the judge + would not grant the continuance, and forced me to trial without having a + single witness. It was my intention to have some fifty witnesses + subpoenaed, to prove that the insurance company of which I was president + was not a fraud. Not being allowed to have my witnesses, I was, under the + instructions of the court, which were, indeed, exceedingly pointed, found + guilty, and sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment and to pay a fine + of two hundred dollars. The political ring now triumphed for a brief + period. In order to prove conclusively to the reader that this was a piece + of spite work, I have only to state that I was the only one of all the + officers of that company that was ever tried for running a bogus insurance + company. Why was it that I was the only one sent to the penitentiary when + there was the secretary, treasurer, and six directors equally as guilty as + myself? + </p> + <p> + To prove more conclusively that it was political spite work that sent me + to prison, let me inform the readers that about the time the insurance + company at Atchison was organized, a similar one was organized in Topeka. + They were similar in EVERY RESPECT. I was president of the one at + Atchison, while a distinguished gentleman by the name of Gen. J. C. + Caldwell was president of the one at Topeka. Both of these companies + failed. The president of the Atchison company was sent to the + penitentiary, while the president of the Topeka company was appointed by + the governor of the State to the responsible position of chairman of the + State Board of Pardons. Many persons have asked why this difference in the + treatment of the presidents of these two companies. The only answer that + can be given is that General Caldwell stood in with the Kansas political + ring, while I did not. Every sensible man must admit that if it was just + for me to serve a term in prison for the offense charged against me, + General Caldwell should have been prescribed for in the same manner. I + have no fight to make upon Mr. Caldwell. He is an excellent gentlemen. He + was in luck. The fates were against me. Had I been a State instead of a + United States prisoner, no doubt Mr. Caldwell, as chairman of the Board of + Pardons, would have used his influence to secure for me my liberty. That I + was sent to prison is wholly due to politics. It is unnecessary, + therefore, for me to inform the reader that I am now "out of politics." + Having served out my term I returned to my home in Atchison. As to the + ring that sent me to prison, some of them are dead, others have left + Atchison to make their homes in other places, others have failed + financially, and still others have fallen so low that they have scarcely + friends enough to bury them should they happen to die. + </p> + <p> + The big wheel of life keeps on revolving. Those who are up to-day may be + down to-morrow, and vice versa. But to continue my narrative. Immediately + after my conviction and sentence I was taken to the Leavenworth County + jail. Here I remained until the following Tuesday in the company of a + dozen or more prisoners who were awaiting trial. On Sunday, while in this + jail, my wife, who died during my imprisonment of a broken heart, and an + account of which is given in a subsequent chapter, came to see me. I can + never forget this visit. She remained with me during the entire day. + During the conversation of the day I said to her that, it seemed that the + future appeared very gloomy. That it would be a miracle if I ever was able + to survive the disgrace that had been so cruelly placed upon me. That all + ambition and hope as to the future had fled, and that I could not blame + her if she should now free herself by means of divorce, as my conviction + of crime was a legal ground for divorce in Kansas. In reply to this, the + noble little woman, her face aglow with the radiance of womanly devotion, + said, that for twenty years of married life our home had been one of + sunshine; that I had been kind to her and made her life one of happiness, + and that now, when misfortune came, it was not only a duty, but the + highest pleasure, to prove her fidelity. She kept her word. She was true + to the last. When dying, her last words were a petition for the blessings + of God upon her husband who was far away behind frowning prison walls. On + Tuesday morning a deputy United States marshal came to the jail and gave + me notice that in a few moments we would leave for the penitentiary. This + officer was a gentleman, and did not seek to further humiliate me by + placing irons on my person. I have often thought of this act of kindness + on the part of this humane official. We took the train at Leavenworth, and + in a very few moments were at my future place of residence. Lansing, the + small village where the penitentiary is located, is about five miles from + the city of Leavenworth. The entrance to the prison is from the west. + Under the watchful care of the officer who had me in charge, I passed + under a stone archway, to the left of which was a small office, where a + guard was on duty during the day time. We were halted by this officer, who + inquired if we had any firearms. No one visiting the penitentiary is + allowed to carry fire-arms within the enclosure. The marshal who had me in + custody handed over a large navy revolver. Between this archway and the + western wall of the prison is a beautiful lawn. The walks are lined with + fragrant flowers; beautiful fountains send aloft their silvery sprays. + Passing up the roadway leading to the entrance door, and looking about me + upon the rich carpet of green, the flowers and fountains, I came to the + conclusion that the penitentiary was not so bad a place as I had imagined. + I changed my mind, however, as soon as I had seen inside the walls. + </p> + <p> + The prison enclosure contains about ten acres of ground. This is + surrounded by a stone wall some fifteen feet high, and six feet thick at + the base. It is not more than four feet at the top. At each of the four + corners may be found a tower rising some ten feet above the wall. A guard + is on duty in each of these towers during the day. He carries a + double-barreled shotgun loaded with buckshot. In case a prisoner tries to + escape he is liable to get a dose of lead, provided the officer on duty is + a good marksman. The western wall is almost entirely made of a large stone + building with its two long wings. The main building is four stories. The + wings stretching to the north and south, each two hundred and fifty feet, + contain the cells. On the first floor of the main building are the offices + of the warden, clerk, deputy warden and turnkey. The upper rooms are used + by the warden's family. + </p> + <p> + I was first conducted into the clerk's office and introduced to Mr. Jones, + the clerk. He is a very pleasant gentleman, and spoke kindly to me, which + I can assure all was very acceptable, for just about that time I was + feeling very badly. His remark was: "I am very glad to meet you, Mr. + Reynolds, but sorry to meet you under these sad circumstances." On his + invitation I took a chair and sat down to await the next part of the + progamme. As I sat there and thought of the kind words spoken to me by the + clerk, I quickly reached the conclusion that if all the officers of that + institution were as kind as Mr. Jones, it would not be as bad a place as I + had anticipated. I had no experience then that would justify any other + conclusion. Soon a side door of the office opened and in came the deputy + warden, Mr. John Higgins. Mr. H. is the sourest appearing man I ever met + in my life. At least, it seemed so to me on that day. He can get more + vinegar on the outside of his face than any other person in the State of + Kansas. He did not wait to be introduced to me. He never craves an + introduction to a criminal. As soon as he came into the room he got a pole + with which to measure me. Then, looking at me, in a harsh, gruff voice he + called out: "Stand up here." At first I did not arise. At the second + invitation, however, I stood up and was measured. My description was taken + by the clerk. In this office there is to be found a description of all the + criminals that ever entered the Kansas penitentiary. I was asked if I was + a married man, how many children I had, and how much property I possessed. + These questions were easily answered. After the deputy warden had + discharged his duty he retired. I soon discovered that it was according to + the rules of the prison for the officers to talk in a harsh and abrupt + manner to the prisoners. This accounted for the way in which I was greeted + by the deputy warden, who is the disciplinarian of the prison. I may say, + in passing, that all the harsh manners of Mr. Higgins are simply borrowed + for the occasion. Away from the presence of prisoners, over whom he is to + exert his influence, there is not to be found a more pleasant and + agreeable gentleman. In came a second official, and, in the same gruff + manner, said to me, "Come along." I followed him out to the wash-house, + where I took a bath. A prisoner took my measure for a suit of clothes. + After he had passed the tape-line around me several times, he informed the + officer that I was the same size of John Robinson, who had been released + from the penitentiary the day before. "Shall I give him John Robinson's + clothes?" asked the convict. In the same gruff manner the officer said, + "Yes, bring on Robinson's old clothes." So I was furnished with a + second-hand suit! The shoes were second-hand. I am positive about this + last statement, judging by the aroma. After I had been in the penitentiary + some four months, I learned that John Robinson, whose clothes I had + secured, was a colored man. Being arrayed in this suit of stripes I was + certainly "a thing of beauty." The coat was a short blouse and striped; + the stripes, white and black, alternated with each other, and passed + around the body in a horizontal way. The pantaloons were striped; the + shirt was striped; the cap was striped. In fine, it seemed that everything + about that penitentiary was striped—even to the cats! Being dressed, + I was next handed an article that proved, on examination, to be intended + for a handkerchief. It was covered with large blue letters—"Leavenworth + Mills. XXX Flour," etc. It was a quarter section of a flour sack! Nine + hundred prisoners very soon empty a great many flour sacks. After the + flour has been consumed the sack is cut up into quarter sections, washed, + hemmed and used for handkerchiefs. No better handkerchief can be invented. + They are stout, stiff and durable! They will bear all manner of nasal + assaults! There is no danger of blowing them into atoms, and the officials + are not afraid to give them out to convicts sent there charged with the + use of dynamite! One of them has been known to last a prisoner for five + years. + </p> + <p> + After I had donned my suit and taken possession of my handkerchief, I was + ordered to fold my arms. Prisoners marching in ranks, or going to and fro + about the prison enclosure, are required to have their arms in this + position. The object is to prevent them from passing articles. I was + marched to the building known as the south wing of the cell house. In this + building, which is two hundred and fifty feet long, there are cells for + the accommodation of five hundred convicts. The prisoners who occupy this + wing work in the shops located above ground, and within the prison + enclosure. + </p> + <p> + The officer in charge conducted me to cell number one. Click went the + lock. The door was pulled open, and in his usual style, he said, "Get in." + I stepped in. Slam went the door. Click went the lock, and I was in a + felon's cell! These rooms are about four feet wide, seven feet long, and + seven feet high. In many of the cells two men are confined. These rooms + are entirely too small for the accommodation of two prisoners. A new cell + house is being built, which, when completed, will afford sufficient + additional room so that each prisoner can have a cell. In these small + rooms there are two bunks or beds when two convicts occupy the same cell. + The bed-rack is made of iron or wood slats, and the bed-tick is filled + with corn-husks; the pillow is also filled with the latter material, and + when packed down becomes as hard as a board. When the beds are not in use + they are fastened to the side of the wall with a small chain. When down + and in use they take up nearly the entire space of the cell, so that it is + impossible for the two occupants to pass each other in walking to and fro. + The other furniture consists of a small tin bucket, holding about two + quarts of water, and a wash-basin. A short-handled broom is also found in + one corner of the cell, with which the convict brushes it out every + morning. The walls are of stone, decorated with a small looking-glass and + a towel. Each cell contains one chair and a Holy Bible. There is no rich + Brussels carpet on the floor, although prisoners are allowed one if they + furnish it themselves. No costly upholstered furniture adorns these safe + retreats! Nothing in that line is to be discovered except one + cane-bottomed chair for the accommodation of two prisoners, so that when + one sits on the chair the other stands, or occupies a seat on the stone + floor. There is not room for two chairs, or the State would furnish + another chair. These rooms are built of stone. The door is of one-half + inch iron bars, crossing each other at right angles, leaving small spaces + about two by six inches; through these spaces come the air, light and heat + for the health and comfort of the inmates. When I entered my cell on that + eventful morning I found it occupied by a prisoner. He was also a new + arrival; he had preceded me about an hour. When I entered he arose and + gave me his chair, taking a seat on the floor in the opposite corner. + After I had been locked in, before going away the officer said, "Now I + don't want you fellows to get to talking, for that is not permitted in + this institution." We sat in silence, surveying each other; in a few + moments my companion, seeing something in my personal appearance that + caused him to lose his self control, laughed. That he might give full vent + to his laughing propensities, and not make too much noise, he drew from + his pocket his quarter section of a flour bag and put it into his mouth. + He soon became as red in the face as a lobster. I was curious, of course, + to know what it was that pleased him so much. Rising from my chair, going + to the door and looking through the openings I could see no officer near, + so I asked my companion, in a whisper, what it was that pleased him so. It + was with difficulty and after several trials before he could succeed in + telling me what it was that caused him to be so convulsed. I told him to + take his time, cool off gradually, as I had eighteen months, and could + wait patiently. At last, being able to control his feelings sufficiently + to tell me, in the midst of his outbursts of laughter, he said, "You look + just like one of them zebras in Barnum's Circus!" When my attention was + called to the matter, sure enough, I did look rather striped, and I, + amused at his suggestion, laughed also. Soon an officer came gliding + around in front of the cell, when our laughing ceased. My companion was a + young fellow from Doniphan County. He got drunk and tried to rob an + associate, still drunker, of a twenty dollar gold piece. He was arrested, + tried and convicted of robbery, receiving a sentence of one year. Directly + an officer came, took him out of my cell and conducted him to another + department. All alone, I sat in my little parlor for nearly an hour, + thinking over the past. My reverie was at length broken by the turning of + my door lock. A fresh arrival was told to "git in." This prisoner had the + appearance of just having been lassoed on the wild western prairies. He + resembled a cow-boy. His whiskers were long and sandy. His hair, of the + same color, fell upon his shoulders. As soon as the officer had gone away + and everything had become quiet, I asked this fellow his name. + "Horserider," was his reply, from which I inferred that he was a + horse-thief. "How long a term have you?" was my next question. "Seven + years," was his reply. I comforted him by saying it would be some time + before he rode another horse. + </p> + <p> + The next part of the programme consisted in a little darkey coming in + front of our cell with a rudely constructed barber's chair. The cell door + opened, and an officer said to me, as if he would hit me with a club the + next moment, "Git out of there." I went out. Pointing to the barber's + chair, he said, "Squat yourself in that chair." I sat down. "Throw back + your head." I laid it back. It was not long before my raven mustache was + off, and my hair cut rather uncomfortably short for fly time. After this + tonsorial artist had finished his work then came the command once more, + "Git in." I got in. It now came Mr. Horserider's turn to bid a long + farewell to his auburn locks. He took his place in the chair, and the + little darkey, possibly for his own amusement, cut off the hair on one + side of the head and left the other untouched. He then shaved one side of + his face without disturbing the other. At this moment the bell for dinner + rang, and the little colored fellow broke away and ran to his division, to + fall in ranks, so that he would not miss his noon meal. Once more Mr. + Horserider entered his cell and we were locked in. A more comical object I + never beheld; he did not even possess the beauty of a baboon; he might + certainly have passed for the eighth wonder of the world. When he came in + I handed him the small looking-glass and asked him how he liked his + hair-cut. Remember, one side of his head and face was shaved close, and + the other covered with long sandy hair and beard. Looking into the glass, + he exclaimed: "Holy Moses! and who am I, anyway?" I answered his question + by stating that he favored Mr. What-Is-It. He was very uneasy for a time, + thinking that he was going to be left in that condition. He wanted to know + of me if all horse-thieves of the penitentiary wore their hair and + whiskers in this style. I comforted him all I could by imparting the + information that they did. He was much relieved when the darkey returned + after dinner and finished the shaving. + </p> + <p> + I was next taken out of my cell to pass a medical examination. Dr. Mooney, + the gentlemanly officer in charge of the hospital, put in an appearance + with a large book under his arm and sat down by a table. I was ushered + into his presence. He began asking me questions, and wrote down my answers + in his book, which proved to be the physician's register. + </p> + <p> + "Have you any decayed teeth?" was his first question, + </p> + <p> + "No, sir," was my reply. + </p> + <p> + "Have you ever lost any teeth?" + </p> + <p> + "No, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Have you ever had the measles?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Have you ever had the mumps?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Have you ever had the chicken-pox?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Have you ever had the thresh?" + </p> + <p> + Well, I didn't know what was meant by the thresh. I knew that I had been + "thrashed" a great many times, and inferred from that fact that I must + have had the disease at some time or other in my youth, so I answered, + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Have you ever had the itch?" + </p> + <p> + "What kind?" said I. "The old fashioned seven year kind? Y-e-s, sir, I + have had it." + </p> + <p> + He then continued asking me questions, and wanted to know if I ever had a + great many diseases, the names of which I had never heard before. Since I + catch almost everything that comes along, I supposed, of course, that at + some period during my childhood, youth or early manhood I had suffered + from all those physical ills, so I always answered, + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir." He wound up by inquiring if I ever had a stroke of the horse + glanders. I knew what was meant by that disease, and replied in the + negative. + </p> + <p> + He then looked at me over the top of his spectacles, and, in a rather + doubting manner, said, "and you really have had all these diseases? By the + way," he continued, "are you alive at the present moment after all that + you have suffered?" Mr. Mooney is an Irishman. He was having a little + cold-blooded sport at my expense. Whenever you meet an Irishman you will + always strike a budget of fun. + </p> + <p> + His next question was, "Are you a sound man?" + </p> + <p> + My reply was to the effect that I was, physically, mentally and morally. + So he wrote down in his book opposite my name "physically and mentally a + sound man." He said he would take my word for being sound morally, but + that he would not put that down on the books for the present, for fear + there might be a mistake somewhere. Before discharging me, he calmly + stated that I would make a good coal miner. All the prisoners undergo this + medical cross-examination. + </p> + <p> + After I had run the doctor's gauntlet, I was conducted from the south wing + of the cell-house to the north wing. Here I met for the first time Mr. + Elliott, who has charge of this building during the daytime. It is a part + of this highly efficient officer's duty to cross-examine the prisoners as + to where they have lived and what they have been doing. His examinations + are very rigid. He is a bright man, a good judge of human nature, and can + tell a criminal at sight. He would make an able criminal lawyer. He is the + prison detective. By means of these examinations he often obtains clues + that lead to the detection of the perpetrators of crime. I have been told + by good authority that on account of information obtained by this + official, two murderers were discovered in the Kansas penitentiary, and, + after their terms had expired, they were immediately arrested, and, on + requisition, taken back to the Eastern States, where the crimes had been + committed, and there tried, convicted and punished according to the laws + of those States. After I had been asked all manner of questions by this + official, he very kindly informed me that I came to the penitentiary with + a bad record. He further stated that I was looked upon as one of the worst + criminals in the State of Kansas. This information was rather a set-back + to me, as I had no idea that I was in possession of any such record as + that. I begged of him to wait a little while before he made up his mind + conclusively as to my character, for there might be such a thing as his + being mistaken. There is no man that is rendering more effective service + to the State of Kansas in the way of bringing criminals to justice than + Mr. Elliott. He has been an officer of the prison for nearly nine years. + As an honest officer he is above reproach. As a disciplinarian he has no + superior in the West. + </p> + <p> + After this examination I was shown to my cell. It was now about two + o'clock in the afternoon of my first day in prison. I remained in the cell + alone during the entire afternoon. Of all the dark hours of my eventful + history, none have been filled with more gloom and sadness than those of + my first day in prison. Note my antecedents—a college graduate, a + county clerk, the president of a bank, and an editor of a daily newspaper. + All my life I had moved in the highest circles of society, surrounded by + the best and purest of both sexes, and now, here I was, in the deplorable + condition of having been hurled from that high social position, down to + the low degraded plane of a convict. As I sat there in that desolate abode + of the disgraced, I tried to look out down the future. All was dark. For a + time it seemed as if that sweet angel we call hope had spread her wings + and taken her departure from me forever. The black cloud of despair seemed + settling down upon me. But very few persons possess the ability to make + any thing of themselves after having served a term in the penitentiary. + Having once fallen to so low a plane it is almost impossible to rise + again. Young man, as you peruse this book, think of these things. Once + down as a felon it is a miracle if one ever regains what he has lost. I + sat brooding over these things for an hour or more, when my manhood + asserted itself. Hope returned. I reasoned thus: I am a young man. I enjoy + good health. There will be only a few months of imprisonment and then I + will be free. I thought of my loving wife, my little children, my aged + mother, my kind friends, and for their sake I would not yield to despair. + Soliciting the aid of a kind Heavenly Father, I resolved to do the best I + could toward regaining what I had lost. My father was a minister of the + gospel for fifty years prior to his death. He was not blessed with much of + this world's goods. For this reason I began in very early life to aid + myself. I spent seven years in college preparing for the struggles that + awaited me. I earned every dollar of the money which paid my expenses + while securing my education. I carried the hod to assist in building the + college in which I afterward graduated. Few men can truthfully make this + statement of themselves. While working my way through the institution + where I received my education, I learned one useful lesson—self + reliance. I learned to depend upon my own efforts for success. Every one + must learn this useful lesson before he can become anything in life. After + I had met with misfortune and found myself in a prison cell, I was glad + that I had learned to rely upon my own efforts. + </p> + <p> + The question: "What shall I do in the future?" now came to me. That + afternoon I laid my plans which I would carry out out in the years to + come. I was financially ruined in the great battle I carried on with the + Atchison ring. I was aware of the fact that, when I got out of the + penitentiary, all the money that I would have with which to make another + start in life would be five dollars. The United States presents her + prisoners, when discharged, with a suit of citizen's clothes and five + dollars. This was my capital. What could I do with five dollars, in the + way of assisting me in getting another financial foot-hold in life? After + my release it was necessary for me to do something at once to get money. + It never entered my mind to borrow. It will be interesting to the reader + to know what I did, after my prison days were past, to make a "quick + raise." Sixteen months of imprisonment slipped away. I regained my liberty + on Monday. I received my five dollars and immediately started for my home, + in Atchison. On my arrival, Monday night, I had four dollars and ten + cents. On Tuesday morning I went to the proprietor of the Opera House, in + Atchison, and inquired how much money was necessary to secure the use of + the building for the next evening. "Fifty dollars," was his reply. I gave + him all the money I had, and persuaded him to trust me for the rest. I + informed him that I was going to deliver a lecture on my prison life. He + asked if I thought anybody would come to hear a convict talk. In answer, I + told him that was the most important question that was agitating my mind + at the present moment, and if he would let me have the use of the Opera + House we would soon settle that question. I further told him that if the + receipts of the evening were not enough to pay him for the use of the + house, that I would pay him as soon as possible. He let me have the use of + the house. I advertised in the daily papers of the city that I would + lecture in the Opera House the following evening on my prison life,—admission + fifty cents. I thought if the good people wanted to come at all they would + come even if they had to pay well for it. I was very restless from the + morning that I engaged the Opera House until the next evening, at which + time I was to speak. I did not know whether I would have any audience. If + not, I was fifty dollars deeper in debt. The evening for the lecture came, + I went to the Opera House prepared to interest anyone that might put in an + appearance; I entered the building in the rear, and took my position on + the platform. The signal was given and up went the curtain. I was highly + pleased when I saw my audience. The building was packed. The lecture was a + financial success. In this manner I secured a nice "stake" for future use. + I delivered that lecture for several weeks in Kansas, and made a thousand + dollars above expenses. To return to my first afternoon in the cell. I + thought of another scheme. I conceived the idea that a book about, a + penitentiary, giving its history, and also the history of many of the + leading criminals, modes of punishment, escapes, etc., would be very + interesting, and would sell. I decided to write such a book while in + prison. In order to write a book it became necessary to have writing + material. How was I to secure this? It was against the prison regulations + for a prisoner to have a lead-pencil or scrap of paper. The officials were + very strict on this point. It was essential they should be. If the + prisoners could pass notes, it would not be long before a prison + insurrection would be the result. The plan that I adopted to secure + writing material was rather unique, and perhaps the reader will like to + know how I managed this difficult matter. It is wonderful what a man can + accomplish, with adverse surroundings, if he wills it. As I have stated + before, I had much to do in securing the election of Hon. W. D. Gilbert to + the district judgeship. This made him feel very kind toward me. He came + often to visit me at the prison. One day while visiting me, I asked him to + use his influence with the warden to secure for me the privilege of having + writing material in my cell. "What do you want with writing material," + said he. The answer I gave was, that I might pass away my leisure hours in + learning to write short-hand. He called on Warden Smith, and got his + consent. He told the warden that if I would master this useful art while + in prison, on my release, he would appoint me his district court reporter, + at a salary Of $2,500 a year. The scheme was a success. I sent and got my + short-hand books and writing material. I mastered short-hand, and can now + write as fast as one would care to dictate. It was not long before I began + writing my book in short-hand. The officials, as was their custom, would + examine my cell daily to see if anything had crept in that did not belong + there. They could not read short-hand. They did not know what so many + little straight marks and curves indicated. I persevered, and one month + before my time expired I had my book completed, and sent it out by a + friend who visited the prison, who kept it for me until I secured my + liberty. As before stated, I lectured until I got money sufficient, and + then I published my first book on prisons, giving it the impressive title + of "A Kansas Hell." This book sold rapidly, and soon the first edition was + disposed of. I made enough money out of this book to place me on my feet, + financially. But, to return to my cell the first afternoon. I remained + alone until time for the prisoners to come in from their work, when I + found that I was to have a "life man" for my cell-mate, whose name was + Woodward R. Lopeman. I have given his history in a subsequent chapter. I + remained in my cell during the evening, until the prison bell rang for + retiring. Strange to say, after going to bed, I soon fell asleep, and did + not awake until the prison bell rang on the following morning. When I did + awake, it was to find myself, not in my own pleasant little home in the + city of Atchison, Kansas, but in a felon's cell. I arose and dressed, and + then waited and wondered what would be the next thing on the programme. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. THE COAL MINES + </h2> + <p> + I was next taken to the coal mines. These mines are located just outside + of the prison enclosure, and are surrounded by high stone walls and stone + buildings, which, by their location, take the place of walls. The coal + yards are separated from the prison campus by a partition wall, which + constitutes the south wall of the coal department and the north wall of + the prison. + </p> + <p> + Passing from one of these departments to the other, through a large + gateway, the gate being kept by a convict, an old man who murdered his + son, and who has a life sentence. Reader, how would you like to spend your + entire life, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after + year, in the monotonous employment of opening and closing a large gate? + When my escort and myself reached the mines, I was placed in charge of Mr. + Dodds, the official in control of the mines at the surface. Mr. Dodds is a + very competent officer, and has been on duty at that place more than + twenty years. From this officer I received a mining cap. This piece of + head-wear was turban-shaped, striped, of course, with a leather frontlet, + on which was fastened the mining lamp. This lamp, in shape, resembled an + ordinary tea-pot, only it was much smaller. In place of the handle was a + hook, which fastened to the leather frontlet. The bowl of the lamp + contained the oil; a wick passes up through the spout, at the end of which + is the light. The miner carrying his lamp in this position has it out of + his way. With the cap on my head and lamp lighted, I stood on the verge of + a ten by twelve hole in the earth, that was almost eight hundred feet + deep. We think that a well one hundred feet deep is quite a distance down + into the ground, but here was a hole eight times deeper. In the mining + vernacular this hole is termed a shaft—the term that will be + employed in speaking of it hereafter. There are two of these shafts, about + one hundred yards apart. Each shaft is divided by a wooden partition which + descends from the top to the bottom. Two elevators, or cages, as they are + called, ascend and descend along the shaft. While one cage is coming up + the other is going down. They derive their motor power from two large + engines, one for each shaft. The officer in charge inquired, before making + my descent into the mines, if I ever fainted. "Never," was my reply. + Persons sometimes faint in going down this shaft. "Step into the cage," + was the order given. I obeyed, and, reaching up, took hold of some iron + bars that went across the top. The signal was given, down I started. After + I had descended a few feet a current of air coming up from below put out + my light, which left me in the darkness of an Egyptian night. Down, down, + down I went. There are a great many things in life that I have forgotten. + There are a great many more that I expect to forget, but that first ride + down the coal shaft I never can forget. Thug! I had struck bottom. It is + said that when one starts down hill in this world he keeps on going until + he strikes bottom. My readers will certainly agree with me that reaching a + resting place eight hundred feet under the surface I had found the lowest + round of the ladder. Whatever I may be in the future, to whatever heights + I may ascend, I shall not forget that my starting point was nearly a + thousand feet under the Kansas penitentiary. Water seeks its level. You + may force one below the surface, and to whatever depth you please, to the + extent of your power, but if he does not belong there, you cannot keep him + down: in the course of time he will rise. + </p> + <p> + It was six long, dreary months before I was able to reach the first round + in the ladder. Through that period I lay in the penitentiary mines, or at + the bottom of "The Kansas Hell." It is said the old fashioned Hell has + fire and brimstone; while the "Kansas Hell" has no fire, one thing is + certain, it has plenty of material out of which to make it, and an + abundant supply of sulphur. + </p> + <p> + At the end of my descent I found an officer there on duty. He told me to + step off and occupy a seat on a small bench near by. He desired to impart + some information. He advised me that while I was there, a convict, it + would not be proper to assume the warden's privileges or endeavor to + discharge his duties. In other words, the best thing to do was to keep my + place, revolve about in my own orbit, carefully regarding all laws, both + centripetal and centrifugal; otherwise, I might burst by the natural + pressure of too highly confined interior forces! I confess that, though + not subject to such infliction, I very nearly fainted over these ponderous + polysyllables! He also informed me that the beautifully paved highway to + popularity in the coal mines was to excavate large quantities of the + carboniferous substance contained in the subterranean passages of the + mine; the more coal I got out the more popular would I be! + </p> + <p> + After his lecture was over the officer gave a low whistle, and out from a + dark recess there emerged a convict in his stripes. His face and hands + were covered with coal dust. He came out grinning, showing his white + teeth. As I caught sight of him I thought, surely, this is a fiend from + the lower regions. Take one of those prisoners with his striped clothes, a + light burning on his head, his face black and shining like ebony, behold + him in the weird darkness of the mines, and if he does not call to your + mind the picture of one of the imps of Eternal Night there is nothing in + this world that will. This prisoner was the runner or messenger for this + officer at the foot of the shaft. Each officer in the penitentiary who has + charge of a division of men has a messenger to run errands for him. When + this messenger came up to the officer he made his obeisance. Convicts are + taught to observe good manners in the presence of the officials. He was + told to take me to another officer in a distant part of the mines, a Mr. + Johns, who would give me work. From the foot of the shaft there go out in + almost all directions, roadways or "entries." These underground roadways + are about six feet in width and height. I could walk erect in most of + them. Along these entries was a car track, over which the small coal cars + pass to and from the rooms where the coal is taken out, to the shaft, and + hoisted to the top with their load of coal. Some of these entries extend + more than a mile out into the earth from the base of the shaft. As my + fellow-prisoner and I were passing along one of these roadways to the + place where I was to work, he asked me my name and the nature of my + offense. At this place let me inform, the reader that the prisoners are + given permission to converse with each other in the mines. Their + instructions are to the effect that they are not to talk about anything + but their work, but in the penitentiary the same rule holds good as on the + outside: "Give a man an inch and he will take a yard." So, when permission + is given to the convict to talk about his work, he talks about everything + else. In answer to my escort's question as to the length of my sentence, I + informed him that I had eighteen months. He dryly remarked that was + nothing, and if the judge who sent me up could not give me a longer term + than that, he should have sent me home to my family. He also remarked that + he was afraid I would get into trouble in the mines on account of my short + sentence. There were a great many long-term fellows down there, who were + envious of short-term men, and were likely to put up jobs on them by + reporting their mistakes and violations of regulations to the officer in + charge, and thus get them punished. I informed my guide that I thought I + would get along some way with the prisoners, and keep out of trouble. I + then inquired of him as to the length of his sentence. + </p> + <p> + "Twenty-five stretches," was his reply. I did not know what he meant by + the term "stretches" and asked for information. "That is the prison term + for years, a stretch meaning a year," was his reply. I learned that my + companion, having twenty-five stretches, was carrying about with him a + twenty-five years' sentence. A quarter of a century in prison! This was a + young man. He had been in the prison for three years. When he entered this + living tomb he had the bloom of youth upon his cheek. When he goes out, at + the end of his term, if he lives so long, he will be an old, broken down + man. He will not be likely to live that long. The average life of a + convict is but fourteen years under the most favorable surroundings, but + in the coal mines it cannot exceed five years at most. + </p> + <p> + Let me tell you of this man's crime, and then you can determine for + yourself how easy it is to get in the penitentiary. This young fellow is + the son of one of the most respectable farmers in the State. He attended a + dance one night in company with some of the neighbor boys at a village + near by. While there, he got under the influence of strong drink, became + involved in a quarrel over one of the numbers with the floor managers, and + in the fight that ensued he drew his knife and disemboweled the man with + whom he was fighting. In a few moments the wounded man died. The young + fellow was tried, convicted of murder, and sent to the penitentiary for + twenty-five years at hard labor. It is awful to contemplate. Young man, as + you read this, had you not better make up your mind to go rather slow in + pouring whisky down your throat in future? + </p> + <p> + As we passed along through the mines I thought about that word "stretch," + and as I did not like the idea of having jobs put up on me, came to the + conclusion that I would render myself popular by telling the prisoners in + the mines who might ask me as to my sentence, that I had eighteen + "stretches." I did not think that calling a month a "stretch" would be + "stretching" my conscience to such a degree as to cause me any particular + distress, for I knew that by the time I had served out a month it would + seem equivalent to a year on the outside. + </p> + <p> + After following along the entry for some distance, almost a mile, we came + to that portion of the mines where I was to work. Coming up to the place + where the officer was seated, the headquarters of this division, my guide + made a low bow, and informed the officer in charge that he had brought him + a man. Then bowing himself out, he returned to his place at the foot of + the shaft. + </p> + <p> + The officer in whose division I was to work now signaled his messenger, + and there came out of the darkness another convict, stripes, cap, lamp and + all. + </p> + <p> + "Get Reynolds a set of mining tools," said the officer. + </p> + <p> + These were soon brought, and consisted of a pick, a short-handled shovel, + two iron wedges and a sledge hammer. + </p> + <p> + "Take him," said the officer, "to room number three, and tell George + Mullen, who is working in that room, to teach him how to mine." + </p> + <p> + I got my arms around those implements of coal warfare, and following my + escort, passed along the entry for some distance, possibly two hundred + yards, when the roadway in which we were walking suddenly terminated, and + instead, there was a small hole that went further on into the earth. When + we came to this place my guide dropped down on his hands and knees and + passed into the room. I halted. I had never been in such a place before. I + did not know what there was in that dark hole. Soon my escort called out, + "Come along, there is nothing in here to hurt you." So I dropped down on + my hands and knees and into the dark hole I went. + </p> + <p> + These rooms where the miners work are about twenty-eight inches in height, + twenty-four inches wide, and about fifty feet long. Think of working in + such a place as that! Oh, how often have I sighed for room enough to + spread myself! How I would have made that coal fly had the vein been on + top where I could have stood on my feet and mined. George Mullen, the + convict who was to teach me to mine, was at the farther end of the room at + work when we entered. We crawled on our hands and knees to him, and when + my guide had delivered his message he withdrew and hastened back to his + headquarters near the stand where his officer sat. + </p> + <p> + After he had gone and my room-mate and myself were left alone, about the + first question that George asked me was, "How long have you got?" + </p> + <p> + "Eighteen stretches," was my quick reply. + </p> + <p> + George loved me dearly from that moment. I very soon discovered that I was + very popular with him on account of my long sentence. + </p> + <p> + "How long are you in for?" said I to him. + </p> + <p> + "Always," was his answer. + </p> + <p> + He was a life prisoner. At one time he was marshal of a Kansas town, and + while acting in that capacity he killed his man. He was trying to arrest + him, so he informed me, and the fellow showed fight, when he took out his + gun and shot him. It was claimed by the authorities that the shooting was + unprovoked, and that the man could have been arrested without killing him. + Aside from the fact that he had killed his man, I must say that I never + met a man for whom I had a higher regard. He was very kind to me, very + patient, and made my work as easy for me as he possibly could. I remained + with him for nearly a month, when, having learned the business, I was + taken to another part of the mines and given a task. + </p> + <p> + "Have you ever mined any?" inquired my instructor. + </p> + <p> + "No; I never was in a coal mine before coming here." + </p> + <p> + He then gave me my first lesson in mining. I lay on my right side in + obedience to his orders, stretched out at full length. The short-handled + shovel was inverted and placed under my right shoulder. This lifted my + shoulder up from the ground a little distance and I was thus enabled to + strike with my pick. The vein of coal is about twenty-two inches in + thickness. We would mine out the dirt, or fire-clay as it was called, from + under the coal to the distance of two feet, or the length of a + pick-handle, and to the depth of some six inches. We would then set our + iron wedges in above the vein of coal, and with the sledge hammer would + drive them in until the coal would drop down. Imagine my forlorn condition + as I lay therein that small room. It was as dark down there as night but + for the feeble light given out by the mining lamp; the room was only + twenty-eight inches from the floor to the ceiling, and then above the + ceiling there were eight hundred feet of mother earth. Two feet from the + face of the coal, and just back of where I lay when mining, was a row of + props that held up the roof and kept it from falling in upon me. The loose + dirt which we picked out from under the coal vein was shoveled back behind + the props. This pile of dirt, in mining language, is called the "gob." I + began operations at once. I worked away with all my might for an hour or + more, picking out the dirt from under the coal. Then I was tired + completely out. I rolled over on my back, and, with my face looking up to + the pile of dirt, eight hundred feet thick, that shut out from me the + light of day, I rested for awhile. I had done no physical work for ten + years. I was physically soft. To put me down in the mines and set me to + digging coal was wicked. It was murder. Down in that dark pit how I + suffered! There was no escape from it. There was the medicine. I had to + take it. I do not know, but it seems to me that when a man is sent to that + prison who has not been in the habit of performing physical labor, he + should not be put to work in the mines until he becomes accustomed to + manual labor. It would seem that it would be nothing more than right to + give him an easier task at first and let him gradually become hardened to + his work at coal digging. Nothing of this kind is done. The young, the + old, the middle-aged are indiscriminately and unceremoniously thrust into + the mine. Down there are nearly five hundred prisoners. Among them are + boys from seventeen to twenty years of age, many of whom are in delicate + health. Here are to be found old men, in some cases sixty years of age. I + do not wish to be understood as casting any reflections upon the officers + of this institution. They cannot help these things. If Warden Smith could + avoid it there would not be a single man sent down to that region of + death. The mines are there and must be worked. Let this blame fall where + it belongs. I must say injustice to our common humanity, that to work + these two classes, the boys and old men, in those coal mines is a burning + shame and outrage. It is bad enough, as the sequel will show, to put + able-bodied, middle-aged men to work in that pit. The great State of + Kansas has opened those mines. Her Legislature has decided to have them + worked. It becomes the duty, therefore, of the prison directors to work + them as long as they are instructed to do so, even if scores of human + beings are maimed for life or murdered outright each year. The blame + cannot rest on the prison officials, but upon our lawmakers. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. THE COAL MINES (Continued) + </h2> + <p> + After we had mined some twenty-five feet we took down the coal. To do this + the wedges are set and driven in at the top of the vein of coal, with the + sledge hammer. After my companion had struck the coal several times it + began to pop and crack as if it would fall at any moment. I became + alarmed. I was never in such a place before, and I said: "George, had I + not better get out of this place? I don't want the coal to fall on me the + first day." His reply was, that if I wanted to learn how to mine I must + remain near the coal and take my chances of being killed. This was indeed + comforting! Then he informed me that he was going to knock on the coal and + wanted me to catch the sound that was produced. He thumped away, and I got + the sound—a dull, heavy thud. Now, says he, "when coal sounds in + that manner it is not ready to drop." So he continued to pound away at it. + The more he pounded the more the coal cracked and the more alarmed I + became. I was afraid it would drop at any moment and crush me. I begged of + him to cease pounding until I got into the entry out of the way of danger. + He tried to make me believe there was no danger. I was hard to convince of + that fact. There I lay stretched out on my side next to the coal, he + driving in the wedges, and the coal seeming to me to be ready to drop at + each stroke of the hammer. "Now listen," said he, "while I knock on the + coal once more." I listened. The sound was altogether different from the + first. "Now," said he, "the coal is about ready to fall." It is necessary + for the miner to know this part of his business. It is by the sound that + he determines when it is ready to fall. If he is ignorant of this part of + his work, he would be in great danger of getting killed from the coal + falling unexpectedly. "Well," said I, "if this coal is about ready to + drop, had I not better get out of here into the entry, so that I may be + out of danger?" "No," was his reply; "just crawl up behind that row of + props and remain in the 'gob' until after the coal falls." In obedience to + his command I cheerfully got up behind the props and embraced that pile of + dirt. He struck the wedges a few more blows and then darted behind the + props out of danger. No sooner had he got out of the way than the coal + came thundering down. "Now," said my room-mate "go out into the entry and + bring in the buggy." "All right." And out I went on my hands and knees. I + soon found my way into the entry, but found no buggy; so back I crawled + into the room and reported. At this my instructor crawled out to see what + had become of that singular vehicle known as a mining buggy. I followed + after. I did not want to remain behind in that coal mine. I did not know + what might happen should I be left there in that dark hole alone. After we + had reached the entry where we could stand erect my teacher pointed to an + object which lay close to our feet, and said to me, "Man, where are your + eyes?" "In my head," I calmly replied. "Do you see that thing there?" "Of + course I see that thing." "Well, that is the buggy." "Indeed!" I + exclaimed. "I am certainly glad to know it, for I never would have taken + that for a buggy." It had a pair of runners which were held in their + places by a board being nailed across them. On this was a small box; at + one end there was a short iron handle. On our knees we pushed the buggy + into the room, took up the hammer, broke up the coal into lumps we could + handle, filled up the small box, dragged it out into the entry and emptied + it into a heap. This is called "buggying" coal. It is the most laborious + part of mining. Whenever a new man would be placed with the convicts for + instructions in mining he would have to buggy coal just as long as it was + possible to get him to do so. After a time, however, he would want to take + turn about with his teacher. + </p> + <p> + After we had finished getting out what we had down the noon hour had + arrived. At certain places in the entries or roadways there are large + wooden doors which, when shut, close up the entire passage. These doors + are for the regulations of the currents of air which pass through the + mines. The loud noise produced by pounding on one of these doors was the + signal for dinner. It was now noon. Bang, bang, bang, bang, went the door. + I had now put in one-half day of my sentence in the mines. Oh! the many + long, dreary, monotonous days I passed after that! At the call for dinner + the convict, ALWAYS HUNGRY, suddenly drops his tools and makes his way at + a rapid pace along the entry until he comes to the place where the + division officer has his headquarters. Arriving at this place each convict + takes his position in a line with his fellow-convicts. All talking now + ceases. They sit on the ground while eating, with their lower limbs + crossed. There are no soft cushioned chairs on which the tired prisoner + may rest his weary limbs. When seated, a small piece of pine board, about + a foot square, is placed across his knees. This is the table. No table + cloth, no napkins, no table linen of any kind. Such articles as these + would paralyze a convict! Thus seated in two rows along the sides of the + entry, with their mining lamps lighted and hanging in their caps, they + present a weird and interesting sight. The dinner had been brought down + from the top about an hour before on coal cars. Three of the prisoners are + now detailed to act as waiters. One passes down between the two rows of + convicts, carrying in his hand a wooden pail filled with knives and forks. + These culinary instruments have iron handles. Were they made of wood or + horn, the convicts would soon break off the handles and make trinkets out + of them. This waiter, passing along, drops a knife and fork on each table. + He is followed by another who drops down a piece of corn bread; then + another with a piece of meat for each man, which he places on the pine + board. There is no "Please pass the meat," or "Hand over the bread." Not a + word is spoken. After the knives and forks have been passed around this + waiter returns and gives each man a quart of water. THIS IS DINNER. The + bill of fare is regular, and consists of cold water, corn bread and meat. + Occasionally we have dessert of cold cabbage, or turnips or cracked corn. + When we have these luxuries they are given to us in rotation, and a day + always intervenes between cabbage and turnips. In the coal mines the + prisoner never washes himself before eating. Although he gets his hands + and face as black as the coal he has been digging, yet he does not take + time to wash himself before eating. Reader, how would you like to dine in + this condition? The old saying is, we must all eat our "peck of dirt." I + think I have consumed at least two bushels and a half! I can never forget + my first meal in the mines. I was hungry, it was true, but I couldn't + manage to eat under the circumstances. I sat there on the ground, and in + silence watched the other prisoners eat. I thought, "You hogs! I can never + get so hungry as to eat as you are now eating." In this I was mistaken. + Before ten days had gone by I could eat along with any of them. The first + day I thought I would do without my dinner, and when supper time came go + to the top and enjoy a fine meal. I imagined that after digging coal all + day they would surely give us a good meal in the evening. My mouth + "watered" for some quail on toast, or a nice piece of tenderloin, with a + cup of tea. Think of my surprise, when hoisted to the top at the close of + day, after marching into the dining-room and taking our places at the + table, when I saw all that was put before the prisoners was a piece of + bread, a cup of tea without sugar or milk, and two tablespoonfuls of + sorghum molasses. It did not require a long time for me to dispose of the + molasses, as I was very hungry, and handed up my cup for an additional + supply; this was refused. It is considered in the penitentiary an excess + of two tablespoonfuls of sorghum is unhealthy! There is danger of its + burning out the stomach! So at each supper after that I had to get along + with two spoonfuls. As far as the tea was concerned, it was made of some + unknown material whose aroma was unfamiliar to my olfactory; the taste was + likewise unfamiliar, and in consequence of these peculiarities of the + prison tea I never imbibed of it but the one time, that being amply + sufficient to last through the entire period of my confinement. From that + day on I took cold water, which, after all, is God's best beverage for the + human race. The penitentiary, so far as I know, is the only place in the + State of Kansas where prohibition actually works prohibition as + contemplated by the laws of the State! There are no "joints" in the Pen. + No assistant attorney generals are necessary to enforce prohibition there. + I never saw a drunken man in the prison. The Striped Temperance Society of + Kansas is a success. + </p> + <p> + For breakfast in the prison we have hash, bread, and a tin cup of coffee, + without sugar or milk; no butter, no meat. The hash is made of the pieces + of bread and meat left over from the preceding day. We had it every day in + the year for breakfast. During my entire time in the prison I had nothing + for breakfast but hash. One day I was talking to an old murderer who had + been there for eighteen years, and he told me he had eaten hash for his + breakfast during his entire term—six thousand five hundred and + seventy days. I looked at the old man and wondered to myself whether he + was a human being or a pile of hash, half concluding that he was the + latter! + </p> + <p> + In conversation with the chaplain of the prison I received the following + anecdote, which I will relate for the benefit of my readers. It is + customary in the prison, after the Sunday exercises, for such as desire to + remain and hold a sort of class meeting, or, as some call it, experience + meeting. In one of these, an old colored man arose, and said: "Breddren, + ebber since Ize been in dis prison Ize been tryin' to git de blessin'; Ize + prayed God night and day. Ize rascelled wid de Almighty 'till my hips was + sore, but Ize nebber got it. Some sez its la'k ob faith. Some its la'k of + strength, but I b'l'eves de reason am on 'count ob de quality ob dis hash + we hab ebbery day!" + </p> + <p> + Accidents are occurring almost daily. Scarcely a day passes but what some + man receives injuries. Often very severe accidents happen, and + occasionally those which prove fatal. Many men are killed outright. These + accidents are caused by the roof of the little room in which the miner + works falling in upon him, and the unexpected drop of coal. Of course + there are many things that contribute to accidents, such as bad machinery, + shafts, dirt rolling down, landslides, etc. + </p> + <p> + One day there was a fellow-prisoner working in the room adjoining me; he + complained to the mining boss that he did not want to go into that room to + work because he thought it was dangerous. The officer in charge thought + differently, and told him to go in there and go to work or he would report + him. The prisoner hadn't been in the place more than a half hour before + the roof fell and buried him. It took some little time to get him out. + When the dirt was removed, to all appearances he was dead. He was carried + to the hospital on a stretcher, and the prison physician, Doctor Neeally, + examined him, and found that both arms were broken in two places, his legs + both broken, and his ribs crushed. The doctor, who is a very eminent and + successful surgeon, resuscitated him, set his broken bones, and in a few + weeks what was thought to be a dead man, was able to move about the prison + enclosure, although one of his limbs was shorter than the other, and he + was rendered a cripple for life. + </p> + <p> + On another occasion a convict was standing at the base of the shaft. The + plumb-bob, a piece of lead about the size of a goose egg, accidentally + fell from the top of the shaft, a distance of eight hundred feet, and, + striking this colored man on the head, it mashed his skull, and + bespattered the walls with his brains. + </p> + <p> + I had three narrow escapes from death. One day I lay in my little room + resting, and after spending some time stretched out upon the ground, I + started off to another part of my room to go to work, when all of a sudden + the roof fell in, and dropped down just where I had been lying. Had I + remained a minute longer in that place, I would have been killed. As it + happened, the falling debris just struck my shoe as I was crawling out + from the place where the material fell. + </p> + <p> + At another time I had my room mined out and was preparing to take down the + coal. I set my wedges in a certain place above the vein of coal and began + to strike with my sledge hammer, when I received a presentiment to remove + my wedges from that place to another. Now I would not have the reader + believe that I was in any manner superstitious, but I was so influenced by + that presentiment that I withdrew my wedges and set them in another place; + then I proceeded to strike them a second time with the sledge hammer, + when, unexpectedly, the vein broke and the coal fell just opposite to + where my head was resting, and came within an inch of striking it. Had I + remained in the place where I first set my wedges, the coal would have + fallen upon me; it had been held in its place by a piece of sulphur, and + when it broke, it came down without giving me any warning. + </p> + <p> + On still another occasion, my mining boss came to my room and directed me + to go around to another part of the mine and assist two prisoners who were + behind with their work. I obeyed. I hadn't been out of my room more than + about half an hour when there occurred a land-slide in it, which filled + the room entirely full of rock, slate and coal. It required several men + some two weeks to remove the amount of debris that had fallen on that + occasion. Had I been in there, death would have been certain at that time. + </p> + <p> + Gentle reader, let me assure you, that although some persons + misunderstanding me, assert that I am without belief in anything, yet I + desire to say, when reflecting upon these providential deliverances, that + I believe in the Eternal Will that guides, directs, controls and protects + the children of men. While many of my fellow-prisoners were maimed for + life and some killed outright, I walked through that valley and shadow of + death without even a hair of my head being injured. Why was this? My + answer is the following: Over in the State of Iowa, among the verdant + hills of that beautiful commonwealth, watching the shadows as they longer + grow, hair whitened with the frosts of many seasons, heart as pure as an + angel's, resides my dear old mother. I received a letter from her one day, + and among other things was the following: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "I love you now in your hour of humiliation and disgrace as I did + when you were a prattling babe upon my knee. + + * * * + + "I would also have you remember that every night before I retire to + rest, kneeling at my bedside, I ask God to take care of and watch + over my boy." +</pre> + <p> + Of the nine hundred convicts in the penitentiary not one of their mothers + ever forgot or deserted them. A mother's prayers always follow her + prodigal children. Go, gather the brightest and purest flowers that bend + and wave in the winds of heaven, the roses and lilies, the green vine and + immortelles, wreathe them in a garland, and with this crown the brow of + the truest of all earthly friends—Mother! Another reason I give for + my safe keeping in that hour of darkness and despair: In the city of + Atchison, on a bed of pain and anguish, lay my true, devoted and dying + wife. Every Sunday morning regularly would I receive a letter dictated by + her. Oh! the tender, loving words! "Every day," said she, "I pray that God + will preserve your life while working in the jaws of death." The true and + noble wife, the helpmeet of man, clings to him in the hour of misfortune + and calamity as the vine clings to the tree when prostrate on the ground. + No disgrace can come so shameful that it will cause the true wife to + forsake. She will no more forsake than the true soldier will desert on the + battlefield. For those imps in human form that endeavor to detract from + the honor belonging to the wives of the country there ought to be no + commiseration whatever. Let us honor the wifehood of our native land. It + is the fountain of all truth and righteousness, and if the fountain should + become impure, all is lost. One more reason: Before I was sent to the + prison I was an evangelist, and was instrumental in the hands of God of + persuading hundreds of people to abandon a wicked life and seek the good. + During my imprisonment I received many letters from these men and women + who had been benefited on account of what I had said to them, and they + informed me that they still retained confidence in me and were praying God + for my deliverance. + </p> + <p> + Now, I believe, in answer to a mother's prayers, in answer to the prayers + of my sainted wife, in answer to the prayers of good men and women, who + were converts to "the faith once delivered to the saints" under my earnest + endeavors—in answer to all these prayers, God lent a listening ear + and preserved me from all harm and danger. + </p> + <p> + PATHETIC OCCURRENCES IN THE MINES + </p> + <p> + It is a great consolation for prisoners to receive letters from their + friends. One day a convict working in the next room to me inquired if I + would like to see a letter. I replied I would. He had just received one + from his wife. This prisoner was working out a sentence of five years. He + had been in the mines some two years. At home, he had a wife and five + children. They were in destitute circumstances. In this letter his wife + informed him that she had been taking in washing for the support of + herself and children, and that at times they had to retire early because + they had no fuel to keep them warm. Also, that, on several occasions, she + had been compelled to put the children to bed without supper. But this + noble woman stated to her husband that their lot was not so bad as his. + She encouraged him to bear up under his burdens, and that the time would + soon come when his sentence would expire and he would be permitted to + return home again, and that the future would be bright once more as it had + been before the unfortunate circumstances that led to his imprisonment. It + was a good letter, written by a noble woman. A couple of days after this, + as I was mining, I heard a voice in the adjoining room. I listened. At + first I thought it was the mining boss, but I soon discovered I was + mistaken. Listening again I came to the conclusion that the convict who + was working in the next room was becoming insane, a frequent occurrence in + the mines. Many of the poor convicts being unable to stand the strain of + years and the physical toil, languish and die in the insane ward. To + satisfy my curiosity, I took my mining lamp from my cap, placed it on the + ground, covered it up as best I could with some pieces of slate, and then + crawled up in the darkness near where he was. I never saw such a sight as + was now presented to me. This broad-shouldered convict on his knees, with + his frame bent over, his face almost touching the floor of the room, was + praying for his wife and children. Such a prayer I never heard before, nor + do I expect to hear again. His petition was something like the following: + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Heavenly Father, I am myself a wicked, desperate man. I do not + deserve any love or protection for my own sake. I do not expect it, but + for the sake of Jesus do have mercy on my poor wife and helpless + children." + </p> + <p> + I have been able, many times in my life, to spend an hour or more in the + prayer circle, and, unmoved, could listen to the prayers of the children + of God. But I could not remain there in the darkness and listen to such a + prayer as that going forth from the lips of that poor convict; so I glided + back through the darkness into my own room, and left him there alone, + pleading with his Creator for his lone and helpless ones at home. + </p> + <p> + Reader, did God listen to the wails of that poor heart-stricken prisoner? + Yes! yes! yes! For though a prodigal, sinful child, yet he is still a + child of the universal Father. Who of us dare excommunicate him? What + frail mortal of passing time would dare lift up his hand and say, this + poor wanderer is forgotten of his God? + </p> + <p> + What a glorious privilege is communion with God. What a sweet consolation + to know God hears, though we may be far removed from the dear ones we + love. And who can tell the glorious things that have been wrought by the + wonderful Father of the race by that strong lever of prayer. How often has + the rough ways of life been made smooth. How often do we fail to credit + the same to the kind intercession of friends with the Father of us all. + </p> + <p> + But to continue, it often happens that in the coal mines, persons, no + longer able to sustain the heavy load that is placed upon them of + remaining in prison for a long time, give way, and they become raving + maniacs. One day a prisoner left his room, and crawling out on his hands + and knees into the entry, sat down on a pile of coal and commenced to + sing. He had a melodious voice, and these were the words, the first stanza + of that beautiful hymn: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Jesus, lover of my soul, + Let me to Thy bosom fly." +</pre> + <p> + After he had completed the first stanza two of the officers came to him + and directed him to go back into the room to work. He replied that he did + not have to work; that he had religion, and that when a man had religion + he did not have to work. Said he, "We are now going to have a prayer + meeting, and" addressing one of the officers, "you you will please lead us + in prayer." The officer replied, "I don't pray in coal mines; I pray above + the surface so that God can hear." At this the insane convict picked up a + large piece of coal and was going to hurl it after him, and threatened + that if he did not get on his knees and go to praying he would compel him + to do so. While he was thus addressing one officer the other slipped + around in his rear and striking his arm knocked the piece of coal out of + his hand. Then the officers seized him, one on each side, and forced him + to go with them down the roadways to the shaft, from whence he was taken + to the top and placed in the insane ward, where he remains at this + writing. As he was passing down the entries, away in the distance we heard + him singing— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Other refuge have I none, + Hangs my helpless soul on Thee. + Leave, oh leave me not alone, + Still support and comfort me." +</pre> + <p> + I can never forget the impression made upon me as those words rang down + through the dark passages, coming from the lips of that insane convict as + they led him away from the confinement of the mines to the confinement of + insanity. How true those beautiful words were in his case! + </p> + <p> + THE COAL MINES A COLLEGE OF INFAMY + </p> + <p> + The mines of this Penal institution are a college for the education and + graduation of hardened criminals, and for illustration, and the + instruction of those not familiar with the subject matter referred to, I + will relate what came under my personal observation, and some things that + I heard while in there. One day, in company with me while engaged in + mining, were two other convicts. One of these was a hardened old crook. He + was serving out a term on the charge of making and passing counterfeit + money. The other fellow-convict was a young man seventeen years of age—a + mere boy. Tired of mining, we laid off awhile, resting. During this time + the old convict gave us instructions in the manner of making counterfeit + money. He told us how he would construct his counterfeit molds out of + plaster paris, which he would use in the same manner that bullet molds are + used. He would purchase some britannica metal. On some dark night he would + go into the forest, build up a fire, melt the metal, pour the melted + liquor into the molds, and in this manner make silver dollars. He informed + us that it didn't take very long to make a hatful of money. A few days + thereafter this young man, who was with us in the room at the time, + informed me that when he went out again into the world, if he was unable + to secure work, he would try his hand at making counterfeit money. I + advised him not to do this, as it was almost a certainty that he would be + detected. He thought differently. About a month thereafter he was released + from the prison. He went out into the world, and, unable to obtain work, + DID try his hand at making counterfeit money. Shortly before my time + expired here came this young man to prison again, with a sentence of three + years at hard labor for making and passing counterfeit money. He had + received his criminal instruction in the penitentiary mines, the result of + which will be that he will spend the greater portion of his life a + convict. + </p> + <p> + There are a great many instances where these young convicts, having + received their education in the coal mines, go into the world to become + hardened criminals. Down in this school of crime, in the midst of the + darkness, they learn how to make burglary tools, to crack safes, and to + become expert as pickpockets; they take lessons in confidence games, and + when their time expires they are prepared for a successful career of + crime. It is utterly impossible for the officers of the coal mines to + prevent these men from conversing with each other. If these mines were + sold, and the money obtained from the sale of them was used in building + workhouses on the surface, and these men placed at work there under the + watchful care of the official, they would then be unable to communicate + with each other, and would be saved from the debasing contamination of the + hardened criminals. They would be saved from all this that degrades and + makes heartless wretches. + </p> + <p> + A scene occurred in the mines one day that illustrates the fact that + judges sometimes, in their anxiety to enforce the laws, overstep the + bounds of justice, and inflict excessive punishment and place burdens upon + human beings which they are unable to bear. One afternoon in the city of + Emporia ten tramps were arrested and thrown into the county jail. During + the succeeding night one of these persons thrust a poker into the stove, + and heating it red hot, made an effort to push the hot iron through the + door, thus burning a large hole in the door-casing. The next morning the + sheriff, entering the jail, perceiving what this vagrant had done, was + displeased, and tried to ascertain which one of the ten was guilty of the + offense. The comrades of the guilty party refused to disclose the + perpetrator of the act. Court was then in session. The sheriff had these + ten fellows brought into court, hoping that when placed upon the witness + stand, under oath, they would tell which had committed the offense. Even + in court they were true to each other, and would not reveal the + perpetrator. They were then all convicted, and the judge passed a sentence + of ten years upon each of these vagrants for that trivial offense. They + came to the penitentiary. The day after their arrival they were all sent + to the coal mines. For two years they worked day after day down in the + Kansas bastile. One morning, after they had been in the mines for two + years, one of the number, at the breakfast table in the dining-room, + unperceived secreted a knife in his clothing and carried it with him down + to his place of work. He went into his little room and began the labors of + the day. After toiling for a few hours he took a stone and sharpened his + knife the best he possibly could, then stepped out into the entry where he + could stand erect, and with his head thrown back drew that knife across + his throat, cutting it from ear to ear, thus terminating his life, + preferring death to longer remaining in the mines of the Kansas Hell! Who + is there that is not convinced of the fact that the blood of this suicide + stains the garments of the judge who placed this unbearable burden of ten + years upon this young man, and who, I subsequently learned, was innocent + of the offense. I would advise the good people of Lyons County, and of + Emporia particularly, after they have perused this book, if they come to + the conclusion that they have no better material out of which to construct + a district judge, to go out on the frontier and lassoo a wild Comanche + Indian and bring him to Emporia and place him upon the ermined bench. I do + not even know the name of this judge, but I believe, if I am correctly + informed in this case, that his judgment is deficient somewhere. But I + must say in this connection, when the good people of Lyons County heard of + this suicide, they immediately thereafter petitioned the Board of Pardons + for the release of these prisoners, and the board at once reported + favorably upon their cases, and Governor Martin promptly granted their + pardons and they were released from the prison. If the pardon had not been + granted, others of them had resolved upon taking their lives as did their + comrade. One of these prisoners was for a time a companion of mine in one + of my mining rooms, and told me if he was required to remain in the coal + mines digging coal another three months he had made up his mind to follow + the example of his comrade, preferring death to the horrors of the mines. + </p> + <p> + For the further information of the reader, as to the dread of the + prisoners of work in the mines, I cite the following which I call to + recollection. The gentlemanly physician of the institution, Dr. Neeally, + told me that at four different times men had feigned death in the mines + and had been carried on stretchers to the hospital; the particulars in one + case is as follows: One of these men feigned death and was carried to the + hospital, and was reported by his comrades to be dead. He had suppressed + his breathing. The physician felt his pulse, and finding it regular, of + course knew he was simply endeavoring to deceive. In order to experiment, + the physician coincided with the statements of the attending convicts who + had carried him from the mines, and announced that he would try + electricity, and if he failed to restore him to life he would then have to + bury him in the regular way. The doctor retired for the purpose of getting + his electrical apparatus. In a few moments he returned, bringing it with + him, and placing the magnetic cups, one in each hand, commenced generating + the electricity by turning the generator attached to the machine. After a + few turns of the crank the prisoner opened his eyes; one or two more and + he sat up; a few more and he stood on his feet; another turn or two and he + commenced dancing around, and exclaimed, "For God's sake, doctor, do quit, + for I ain't dead, but I can't let loose!" Reader, what do you suppose was + the object this convict had in view in thus feigning death? What did he + hope to gain thereby? Being well acquainted with this prisoner, a few days + after the doctor had told me of the circumstances I met him, and asked him + what object he had in feigning death the time that he was taken from the + mines to the hospital? His reply was that he hadn't the nerve to take his + own life, as he believed in a future state of punishment, and that he did + not desire to step from the Kansas Hell to the hell of the future, and + that by feigning death he hoped to be taken to the hospital, placed in a + coffin, then taken out to the prison graveyard, and buried alive, so that + he would suffocate in his grave! + </p> + <p> + There is not a man in those mines but would leave them quickly for a place + on the surface. + </p> + <p> + I now call to mind one instance where a heart-broken father came to the + prison and offered one of the leading prison officials one thousand + dollars if he would take his son out of the coal mines and give him a + place on the surface during the remainder of his term. A man who labors in + these mines simply spends his time, not knowing but the next hour will be + his last. + </p> + <p> + As I have stated heretofore the prisoners are allowed to converse in the + mines, and as a result of this almost necessary rule, every convict has an + opportunity to listen to the vilest obscenity that ever falls upon human + ears. At times, when some of these convicts, who seem veritable + encyclopedias of wickedness, are crowded together, the ribald jokes, + obscenity and blasphemy are too horrible for description. It is a + pandemonium—a miniature hell! But worse than this horrible flow of + language are the horrible and revolting practices of the mines. Men, + degraded to a plane lower than the brutes, are guilty of the unmentionable + crimes referred to by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans, + chapter I, verse 27, which is as follows: "And likewise also the men, + leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lusts one toward + another, men with men, working that which is unseemly, and receiving in + themselves that recompense of their error which was meet." Every + opportunity is here offered for this vile practice. They are far removed + from the light and even from the influences of their officers, and in the + darkness and silence old and hardened criminals debase and mistreat + themselves and sometimes the younger ones that are associated with them in + their work. These cases of self-abuse and sodomy are of daily occurrence, + and, although the officials of the prison take every precaution to prevent + such evil practices, yet, as a matter of fact, so long as prisoners are + permitted to work in the mines it will be impossible to break up these + terribly degrading and debasing practices. Oh, Kansan! you that boast of + the freedom and liberty, the strength of your laws, and the institutions + in your grand young State, what do you think of this disclosure of + wickedness, equalling if not excelling the most horrible things ever + pictured by the divine teachers of humanity,—the apostles and their + followers? A hint is only here given, but to the wise it will be + sufficient, and but a slight exercise of the imaginative powers will be + necessary to unfold to you the full meaning of this terrible state of + affairs. + </p> + <p> + It is believed by the writer that if the people of the State of Kansas + knew under what circumstances men in the prison were compelled to work, + there would be a general indignation, which would soon be expressed + through the proper channels, and which might lead to a proper solution of + the difficulty. + </p> + <p> + In many of the rooms of the mines there are large pools of water which + accumulate there from dripping down from the crevices above; this, taken + in connection with the natural damps of the mines, which increases the + water, makes very large pools, and in these mud-holes convicts are + compelled to work and wallow about all day long while getting out their + coal, more like swine than anything else. How can this be in the line of + reformation, which, we are taught to believe outside of the prison walls, + is the principal effort of all discipline within the prison. The result of + work under such unfavorable circumstances is that many of the convicts + contract rheumatism, neuralgia, pneumonia and other lung troubles, and, of + course, malaria. Many persons that enter these mines in good health come + out physical wrecks, often to find homes in the poor-houses of the land + when their prison days are over, or die before their terms expire. In the + judgment of the writer the coal mines should be sold; until that is done, + prisoners who contract diseases there that will carry them to untimely + graves should be pensioned by the State, and thus kept from spending the + rest of their natural lives in some of the country poor-houses. + </p> + <p> + Each person in the mines is assigned a task; he is required to get out a + certain amount of coal each week. In case the convict fails to mine the + task that has been assigned him he must endure punishment, a description + of which will be given later on. It is the opinion of the author that + something should be done to remedy this. The young men from seventeen to + twenty, together with the old men from fifty to sixty, and those suffering + from diseases, are often required to dig as much coal as middle-aged and + able-bodied men. I have seen old men marching to their cells after a hard + day's work scarcely able to walk, and many times have I laid in the mines + along with these young boys who would spend hours crying like whipped + children for fear they would be unable to get out their regular task of + coal, and would therefore have to spend the Sabbath in the dungeon, + suffering unspeakable anguish. + </p> + <p> + Because of the dangers to which the inmate is exposed; because of the + debasing influences by which lie is surrounded, it is wrong, it is WICKED + to work our criminals in such a place as those mines of the Kansas + penitentiary. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. THE PUNISHMENTS OF THE PRISON + </h2> + <p> + The discipline of this institution is of the very highest character, and + is unequaled in any similar institution of the United States. The officers + are very watchful and strict. The inmates who work on the surface are not + permitted to converse with each other only within the hearing of an + officer, and then only with regard to matters that pertain to work. The + convict attends to his duties, observing the strictest silence. When + visitors pass about the prison the inmate is not permitted to lift up his + head to gaze at them. Not even is he permitted to take a drink of water or + to leave his place of work for anything without the permission of the + officer in charge. As soon as a criminal enters the prison and is clothed + in stripes, a copy of the rules and regulations is placed in his hands for + perusal. If he cannot read, an officer reads them to him. On the first day + of his admission the prisoner receives certain tickets, which are permits + for privileges granted to him. One of these tickets allows him to have + tobacco if he used the same before coming to the penitentiary; one allows + him to receive visits from his friends; another to write a letter, + monthly, to his relatives; and still another gives him the privilege to + draw a book from the library, weekly. These privileges are highly + appreciated by the prisoners. For the first offense in violation of any of + the rules and regulations the refractory prisoner is deprived of his + ticket; and in extreme cases these tickets have been kept from the + prisoner for six months. To deprive the convict of his tobacco for a month + or two, if he uses it, and many do, is a severe punishment. This kind of + punishment is usually effectual in securing good discipline. There are + extreme cases, however, that require severer punishment. To meet this + contingency, dungeons are provided. As their name implies, they are dark. + They resemble an ordinary cell with the exception of the door, which, in + the common cell, contains open spaces for the admission of light; but the + dark cell admits neither light nor a sufficient quantity of air. There is + no furniture in this dark cell. While undergoing punishment, if a prisoner + desires to rest, he can do so by reclining on the stone floor. No + refractory prisoner ever grows corpulent while confined in these dark + cells, as he only receives one meal of bread and water in twenty-four + hours! The prisoner is often kept in these cells from eight to ten days. + Sleep is almost impossible. When a prisoner enters the dungeon he is + required to leave behind him his coat, cap and shoes. During the winter + months it is often very cold in these cells, requiring the prisoner to + walk up and down the dungeon in his stocking feet to prevent his freezing, + and this for a period of ten days, in nearly every instance compels + submission. After the dark cells thaw out, during the summer months, they + are excessively hot. Sometimes in winter the temperature is below zero, + and in summer it often rises to one hundred degrees. They are then + veritable furnaces. Generally, after the prisoner undergoes the freezing + or baking process for eight or ten days, he is willing to behave himself + in the future. They are sometimes so reduced and weak when brought out of + the dark cell that they can scarcely walk without aid. I have seen them + reel to and fro like drunken men. They are often as pale as death. That in + many cases the prisoner contracts cold which later on terminates fatally, + is one of the principal objections to this mode of punishment. There is no + doubt that the dark cells of the Kansas Hell have hastened the death of + many a poor, friendless convict. If a person in the mines does not get out + his regular weekly task of coal, on Saturday night he is reported to the + deputy warden by the officer in charge, and is sent to the blind cell + before supper, and is kept there until the following Monday morning, when + he is taken out and sent to his work in the mines. While in there he gets + only bread and water once in twenty-four hours. This is a great inducement + to work; it certainly prevents criminals from shirking their labor, and + soon converts a lazy tramp into a rustling coal miner. There is one thing, + however, that is connected with this system of punishment that I will + criticise. The officer under whose immediate control the prisoner is + placed fixes the period of his confinement in the dungeon. It gives the + officer a good opportunity to abuse a prisoner he may dislike. These + subordinate officers are not all angels. Some of them are lacking in + sympathy. They have become hardened, and frequently treat their men like + beasts. These persons should not possess such a dangerous power. The + warden or deputy warden should decide the character as well as the period + of punishment. + </p> + <p> + If in this dark cell ten days and nights is insufficient to subdue the + rebellious spirit of the convict, he is taken out and placed in the + solitary cell. This is similar to the ordinary cell, with the exception + that it contains no furniture. Here the convict remains on bread and water + until he is starved almost to death, or until he is willing to submit and + do his work as ordered. + </p> + <p> + Another mode of punishment resorted to in a few cases, is even more brutal + than the dark cell. The obdurate prisoner is stripped naked and tied to a + post. The hose which is connected with the water-works is turned upon his + naked body. The water pressure is sixty pounds to the square inch. As the + water strikes the nude body the suffering is intense. This mode of + punishment is but rarely resorted to. It is exceedingly wicked and + barbarous. It is a shame to treat a human being in such a manner. There + are many hardened criminals and desperate characters in the penitentiary, + and it may sometimes be necessary to resort to extreme measures, but there + have been many instances when, as it seemed to me, these excessive + punishments might have been avoided and still the good discipline of the + prison maintained. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain + mercy." But the author would have you recollect that the punishments of + the Kansas penitentiary are not as severe as the discipline in her sister + institutions. Many of the inmates of this prison who have formerly served + terms in others of like character, have shown him the scars and marks of + brutal punishment. One of these poor unfortunates showed me his back, + which is covered with great furrows in the flesh caused by the + cat-o'-nine-tails in the hands of a merciless official of the Missouri + penitentiary. Another prisoner carries thumbs out of joint and stiffened + by the inhuman practice of hanging up by the thumbs in vogue in a former + place of imprisonment, and still another carries about with him ugly + wounds inflicted by bloodhounds which overtook him when trying to escape + from a Southern prison. + </p> + <p> + The foregoing is a view of the punishments inflicted from a prisoner's + standpoint. That the reader may arrive at just conclusions, I quote the + statements on the same subject made by the warden, Captain Smith, in his + able biennial report of last year. In doing so, I beg leave to state that + the convict who had ever been the object of the prison discipline, or who + had spent his ten days and nights in one of those dismal dungeons, + subsisting on bread and water, would readily say that the warden had + treated the subject in a manner "very mild." + </p> + <p> + "The discipline has been carefully looked after, and as a general thing + prisoners yield to strict discipline quicker than most people think. They + seem to see and realize the necessity of rules, and very seldom complain, + if they violate them, at the punishment that is sure to follow. Our + punishments are of such a character that they do not degrade. Kansas, when + she established her penitentiary, prohibited corporal punishment. She is + one of the few States that by law prohibits the use of the whip and strap; + taking the position that it is better to use kindness than to resort to + brutal measures. I have often been told, and that, too, by old prison men, + that it was impossible to run a prison and have first-class discipline + without the whip. Such is not my experience. We have had within our walls + perhaps as desperate men as ever received a sentence. We have controlled + them, and have maintained a discipline second to none in the country, How + did we accomplish this? Our answer is, by being kind but firm; treating a + man, although he may be a prisoner, as a man. If he violates rules, lock + him up. Give him an opportunity to commune with himself and his Maker; + also give him to understand that he is the executioner of his own + sentence, and when he concludes that he can do right, release him. It + matters not how vicious, how stubborn, or what kind of a temper he may + have, when left with no one to talk to, and an opportunity to cool down, + and with a knowledge that when he comes to the conclusion that he will do + better he can be released, he leaves the cell feeling much different than + the prisoner who leaves the whipping-post, after having received any + number of lashes that a brutal officer may desire to inflict. One goes to + his work cheerful, and determined to behave himself; the other dogged, + revengeful, completely humiliated, and only lives in hope that he may at + some time take his revenge upon the person that ordered or inflicted the + punishment, and upon the State or country that would, by its laws, + tolerate such a brutal or slavish practice." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. SUNDAY IN THE PRISON + </h2> + <p> + A prisoner is always thankful for the Sabbath. He has been working hard + all week, and Sunday affords the opportunity of resting. On the Sabbath + morning, the bell for rising rings at eight o'clock. At its ringing each + person must rise and dress; he is not permitted to do so before it rings. + If he gets tired of remaining in his bunk so late as eight o'clock, and + should wish to get up and dress, it would do him no good; it would be a + violation of rules and result in punishment. After the prisoner is up and + dressed, he washes and marches out in ranks to breakfast. It is hash, + hash, hash, for Sunday breakfast, the same as any other day, except once a + month it is codfish hash instead of beef hash. After breakfast, instead of + going from the dining-room to work, the prisoners are marched back into + their cells where they remain until time for chapel exercises. + </p> + <p> + There is a dining-room for the prisoners and another for the officers. The + room where the prisoners dine is a large hall capable of seating fully + twelve hundred men. Each table is long enough to accommodate twenty men, + and resembles an ordinary school-desk. There are no table-cloths or + napkins; nothing but a plain, clean board. The table furniture consists of + a tin quart cup, a small pan of the same precious metal, which holds the + hash, an iron knife, fork and spoon. No beautiful silverware adorns this + table; on the contrary, all the dining service is very plain and cheap. + The convicts are marched into the dining-room in divisions, and seated at + the table. Here they remain in perfect silence, with their heads bowed. + </p> + <p> + No talking or gazing about the dining-room is permitted. After all the + divisions are in and seated, the deputy Warden taps a small bell, and the + convicts begin the work of "concealing the hash." Before the men enter the + dining-room the coffee, bread and hash are placed on the table for each + man. The prisoners are given all the food they can eat. It is not the + quantity, but the quality, that is objectionable. + </p> + <p> + If more bread is wanted, instead of calling out "Please pass the bread," + the convict holds up his hand, and the waiter comes along and puts a piece + of bread in it. He gets but a pint of coffee, and if he wishes a second + supply he holds up his cup and it is refilled—but with water instead + of coffee. If he wishes more hash he holds aloft his meat dish, and an + officer hands him a large pan of hash, out of which he fills his dish. Not + a word is spoken during the meal. Ample time is given the convicts to get + all the food they desire; then the deputy warden, who occupies a raised + seat at the end of the dining-room, taps a small bell, and the men march + out in divisions, back to their cells on Sunday mornings, and to their + work on week days. + </p> + <p> + Breakfast over, and the men in their cells, the choir, which leads the + singing and furnishes the instrumental music for the occasion, is taken + out, and, under the watchful care of an officer, is conducted to the + chapel where they practice until time for the regular services. The choir + was composed of convicts who could sing, regardless of the crimes for + which they were sent to prison. I recollect at one time we had two + horse-thieves, two rapists—one with a sentence of forty years—three + murderers, two hog-thieves, and several others of equally villainous + records, and, last of all, the author! But this choir will compare + favorably with some of the high-toned church choirs outside! To return, + think of such a choir singing: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Oh, how happy are they, + Who their Saviour obey, + And have laid up their treasures above!" +</pre> + <p> + At eleven o'clock, the prison bell rings, and the men are marched in ranks + to the chapel. When the first division or company reaches the room where + the services are to be held, the string band commences to play, and as the + divisions march in one after another they are greeted with music. The + instruments used are a piano, organ, violin, cornet and bass viol. Very + fine music is rendered by the prison band. All being seated, the chaplain, + the Rev. Dr. Crawford, a genuine Christian and God-fearing man, rises, and + in his happy style reads some beautiful hymn which is familiar to the + congregation. The choir leads and the entire congregation sings. Such + singing! The convicts have only one opportunity a week to try their voices + in a musical way, and when that opportunity comes around it is improved. + Nearly one thousand voices unite in singing those beautiful gospel hymns! + A prayer is offered; more singing; then the chaplain, or some visiting + minister who may be present, preaches a short discourse. There is a large + field for usefulness, and for doing good, in the penitentiary. The harvest + is truly great. Chaplain Crawford comprehends the situation, and is + putting forth strenuous efforts to save these men who have drifted thus + far down the currents of sin. His labors are abundantly blessed of God. + Many men go out of that institution a great deal better than when they + first entered. Were it not for the cruel treatment the prisoners suffer in + the coal mines of that institution many more of them would be reformed. + This treatment tends to harden the criminal. The chaplain has many evils + to counteract, yet he contends nobly for the right, and some of these men + are being redeemed from a sinful life. After the sermon, the choir and the + string band furnish more soul-stirring music, which enlivens the spirits + of the prisoners, and then the chapel exercises are over. The prisoners + are now returned to their cells. Occasionally the convicts are permitted + to remain after the chapel exercises proper are over and have a social + meeting. The chaplain remains with them. These men sing, pray and give in + their religious experience. It is novel to hear these Christian criminals + telling how they love Jesus. + </p> + <p> + Immediately after the religious services are over the prison school + begins. Nearly one hundred of the convicts attend this school. The common + branches, reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, etc., are taught. This + school is graded, and under the management of the chaplain, who is an + excellent instructor, is a great blessing to the prisoners. Numbers have + fitted themselves here so that when they went out they were able to pass + examination and obtain certificates as teachers. + </p> + <p> + On entering the institution many of the prisoners who are unable to read + and write soon acquire these useful arts if they have any ambition for + self-improvement. If there was room, and this school could be conducted in + the evening, as well as on Sunday afternoons, much more good could be + accomplished. I would suggest that it would be a good act on the part of + the State to employ an officer who should devote all his time to teaching + and imparting instruction in the common branches, and let a room be fitted + up for evening school, so that all prisoners who might desire to improve + themselves could attend this place of instruction after the work of the + day was over. Nothing could be done that would be more advantageous to the + convict. The teachers for the prison school are selected from among the + prisoners, some of them being very fine scholars. + </p> + <p> + After school is over the Sunday dinner is served. The prisoners once more + march into the dining-room and take their places at the table. The Sunday + dinner is the "crack" meal of the institution. At this meal the prisoners + have as a luxury, beans, a small piece of cheese and some beet pickles, in + addition to their regular diet. This meal is served at 2:30. + </p> + <p> + The prisoners are then returned to their cells, where they remain until + the following morning. They spend their time in the cells which is not + taken up by sleeping, in reading. The prison has a fine library of five + thousand volumes. The State Legislature annually appropriates five hundred + dollars to be expended in purchasing books. This collection consists of + histories, scientific works and books of fiction. The greater part of the + criminals prefer the works of fiction. Were it not for this privilege of + reading, the Sunday afternoons and winter evenings would seem very long + and dreary. + </p> + <p> + Several officers are on duty during the time the men are locked in their + cells on Sunday, and the cell houses are very quiet and orderly, there is + no talking, as officers are constantly walking backward and forward in + front of the cells. + </p> + <p> + This is the manner and style of spending the Sabbath in prison. The + convicts who do the cooking for the officers and convicts, are compelled + to work on Sundays as any other day of the week. It would be nothing more + than right to give these men credit for this extra work, and in this + manner reduce their sentences. The law does not contemplate that criminals + in the penitentiary should work seven days in the week and fifteen hours + each day. There are more than fifty men who are forced to put in this + extra time in hard labor. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. SCENES IN THE HOSPITAL + </h2> + <p> + When a prisoner gets sick he reports to the prison physician in the + morning, before working hours. As the men march out of their cells to go + to their breakfast, those who are sick and desire to see the doctor fall + out of the ranks and occupy seats in the cell house. Soon the prison + physician, Dr. Nealley, calls and examines them. Many try to deceive the + physician and thus get into the hospital, simply to avoid work. But the + shirkers are pretty well known, and have to be very sick and give + unmistakable symptoms of their illness before they can get excused. It is + very difficult to deceive Dr. Nealley. He has been with the prisoners so + long, nearly six years, that he knows them and can tell without much + effort when one of them is sick or is not in condition to work. At these + morning examinations, sometimes there are nearly one hundred who report as + being sick. Most of them, instead of being excused, get a dose of medicine + and are sent to work. When a prisoner takes sick during the day while at + work, he is excused by his officer, and permitted to go to the hospital to + see the physician. Fully nine-tenths of the sickness of the prison is + contracted in the coal mines. The principal physical disabilities are + prison fever, colds, pneumonia, lung diseases and rheumatism. Very few + contagious diseases ever find their way into the prison, and those that do + are quickly discovered and checked by the prison physician. When a convict + is unable to work he is sent to the hospital. This department contains two + wards, in the first of which those remain who are not sick enough to be + confined to their beds, while the very sick are kept in the second ward. + Convicts, detailed for that purpose, are the hospital nurses. It is + gratifying to know that these convict nurses have a sympathy for their + sick comrades truly admirable. + </p> + <p> + Many of these sick men die. It is sad to die in the State's Prison! I + recollect one case that came under my own observation which was indeed + pathetic. A man had been sentenced for five years, and had served out his + time save one week, when, taken suddenly ill, he was sent to the hospital + and died the day before his term would have expired. This poor fellow + piteously begged of the doctor to try and extend his life so that he could + die a free man; but all in vain! On the day which would have brought + liberty he was borne through the large gate and buried in the prison + graveyard. It is heartrending to hear those men dying in the hospital, + call for their mothers, wives or sisters! The convict nurses are as kind + and sympathetic as possible, but in sickness and death there is no one + that can take the place of mother, wife or sister. + </p> + <p> + There was one man who died a few days before my term expired, for whom I + felt the greatest sympathy. His name was Frank Rhodes. He was sent from + Holton. While in jail and awaiting trial at that place he was converted. + Several Christian ladies had visited the jail and left with the inmates a + few Bibles and other religious literature. At his trial Frank was + convicted of crime and sentenced to the penitentiary for five years. When + he came to the State's prison he brought his religion with him. For two + years this man performed his duties faithfully. He soon gained the good + will of the officers. He was a true Christian man; he showed it in his + life while in prison. After awhile his religion got the better of him; he + could not control his emotions. Often during the chapel services, when the + convicts were singing their Christian songs, overcome by his feelings, + Frank would weep like a child. Time passed. It was a bright Sabbath + morning. The prisoners were marching out of the cell houses to the chapel, + to attend divine service. All nature seemed to be rejoicing. Frank could + not longer restrain himself. The glowing sunshine has much to do with + causing a man's religion to boil over. All of a sudden, clapping his + hands, Frank shouted at the top of his voice, "Glory to God in the highest + I peace on earth, good will to men!" This was too much for the discipline + of the prison. Convicts are expected to keep quiet. A couple of officers + seized him and led him back into the cell house, where he was placed in a + cell of the insane ward and was called a religious crank. He remained in + this cell for the following eighteen months. He told me afterward these + were the happiest months of his life. He would read his Bible, sing, pray, + and exhort the officers to be religious. The deputy warden would often + tell him that when he could control his religion enough to keep quiet he + should be taken out of the insane ward and sent to work again. When + eighteen months had passed he concluded he could keep quiet, and so + informed the deputy warden. He was immediately released from his place of + confinement and went to work. While at work he was honest and quiet. His + only trouble was, too much religion! Months went by. His wife came to see + him frequently. These visits were enjoyable affairs to them. On a certain + Friday his wife was to visit him. I met him the day before, and he was + overjoyed at the prospect of seeing his wife the next day. She came. They + had a joyful time. Little did either think they should see each other in + this life no more. When the hour of her departure came they separated not + to meet again until in the world of perpetual sunshine. The next day this + poor convict was taken with the prison fever, and in one short week he was + a corpse. He died trusting in his Saviour. The chaplain, speaking of this + man's death, said if officers or convicts at death go from the Kansas + penitentiary to heaven, then Frank Rhodes was among the saved; he was a + true Christian man. After death his body was sent to his former home, + Holton, where it was buried. + </p> + <p> + The following is my experience with a poor friendless colored boy who had + a six years' sentence for burglary. I took the prison fever and was sent + to the hospital. This colored convict was detailed as my nurse. He had + been sick, but was then convalescent. He was very kind to me; because of + this kindness and good care I began to like him. He seemed anxious to make + me comfortable. "Be kind to the sick and you will win their friendship." I + was quite sick for two weeks, but began to recover slowly. About this time + my nurse suffered a relapse. He grew worse and worse. The doctor gave him + up. "Bob must die," he said to the head nurse one day in my hearing. A day + or two after this, Bob, for that was the sick prisoner's name, sent for me + to come to his couch. I sat down on the edge of his bed and asked him what + he wanted. He said: "I am going to die, and want a friend. In all this + wide world," continued he, "there is not a single human being that I can + look upon as my friend." He then told me how he had lost his father and + mother when a mere child, had drifted out into the world an orphan boy, + got into bad company, into crime and into prison. As I sat there looking + into the face of that little darkey, I thought how sad his lot must be, + and my sympathies were aroused. I said, "Bob, is there anything I can do + for you? I am your friend, and will do all I can to aid you." I spoke + words of encouragement, and tried to cheer him up by saying that I thought + he would not die. In this I used a little deceit, but it was to assuage + his grief. I really thought he would die very soon. Then he told me what + he wanted. He said, "I am going to die; my angel mother came to my bedside + last night; I saw her as plainly as I see you now. She said she was coming + soon to take me out of prison and out of this world of sorrow. Yes, I am + going to die, but I am afraid to cross the dark river. When I am dying I + want you to sit by my bedside, take hold of my hand and go with me down + the vale of death as far as possible. It will do me so much good. Will you + do this for me? It is the only favor I ask." I told him I would only be + too glad to do so if it would aid him in the moment when life shrinks from + the shadow of death, but told him I thought he would not die—another + little fib on my part. However, that did no harm, for I failed to convince + him he would live. About 1 o'clock A. M. a couple of nights after this, + one of the watchers came to my cot and said Bob wanted to see me + immediately. I felt his time had come. Hastily dressing, I went to his + bedside. I found him dying. I sat down by his side and took his hand in + mine. I was going with him to the dark river. He pressed my hand and a + smile of satisfaction passed over his countenance. He said, "You are so + kind." I spoke words of hope and encouragement suitable to the time and + occasion. I sat thus for some little time; his limbs grew cold; his eyes + became glassy; the death dew was dampening his brow. It was evident he + would soon breathe his last. Poor, helpless, friendless negro! What was + your life's mission? Many similar pious thoughts flitted through my mind. + Without a friend! Among all the millions of earth he could not call one by + the endearing name of friend! Sad, sad thought! After I had remained there + some time, expecting every breath to be his last, what was my astonishment + to discover his hands and limbs growing warmer. The crisis of his disease + was passed. No dark river this time! Soon his "glassy" eyes were closed, + and in a few moments he began to snore! Disappointed, I dropped that black + "paw," and went back to my cot. That little darkey is still alive. He + often asked me after that if I wanted to take another trip down to "de + da'k ribbah!" + </p> + <p> + The prisoners who die in the penitentiary are buried in the graveyard of + the institution, unless they have friends who will pay for the removal of + the body. Just outside the prison walls is the cemetery. Its location is a + walnut grove in a deep ravine. The first graves were dug near the eastern + side of the cemetery and as near to each other as possible. As fast as + this space is filled with graves it is covered over many feet deep with + the slate and dirt taken from the coal mines, a few yards distant. Beneath + this rubbish will the prisoners sleep until the trump shall sound and the + dead arise. Prisoners dying are dressed in a neat suit of black clothes, + if the body is to be forwarded to the friends; otherwise, the burial suit + consists of a cotton shirt and a pair of drawers of the same material. The + coffin is very plain, and is made in one of the prison shops. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. ESCAPES FROM PRISON + </h2> + <p> + Occasionally there is a man shrewd enough to make his escape from prison. + When a convict has almost served out his time he is generally selected to + perform the duties of a "trusty," and allowed to go outside the prison + enclosure. By good conduct other prisoners gain the confidence of the + officials, and there are instances where these men, though they may have + several months to serve, are permitted to go beyond the walls, doing duty + for the prison. But they are rare. Generally a convict, if he has long to + serve, is not trusted to any great extent. At times these "trusties," + although they may have but a few weeks to remain, cannot successfully + resist the temptation to escape. Ordinarily the escaped convict is + overtaken and brought back. + </p> + <p> + I recollect an instance where two young fellows were thus trusted. One of + them had two months to serve, and the other but twenty-seven days. They + were given employment at the reservoir, over a mile from the prison. No + officer was guarding them. They made an attempt to get away. After being + absent a few hours they were missed from their post of duty. The alarm was + given, and officers started in pursuit. They were overtaken and caught + about five miles distant, hid in the brush. They had concealed themselves + in this place, intending to make their escape in the darkness of the + coming night. The officers in search accidentally came upon them in this + brush patch. They were taken back to prison. They were compelled to work + for thirty days with a ball and chain attached to each of their limbs, + after which they were taken to Leavenworth, to the District Court, where + they plead guilty to the charge of attempting to escape from the prison. + Each of them received a sentence of one year at hard labor in the + penitentiary for this foolishness. After their present sentence has + expired, they will have to enter immediately upon the other for trying to + escape. At this writing, both of these convicts are digging coal in the + mines. They are not trusted now. + </p> + <p> + Another prisoner, a much older man than these two whom I have described, + tried to escape; he got as far as Ohio before the officers secured him. + During the late rebellion this man was a captain in the army. He became + involved in a quarrel with some of his relatives and was sent to the + penitentiary for forgery. On account of his previous good character, on + coming to the penitentiary he was immediately set to work as a "trusty." + Some few months after he was sent to the Missouri River, over a mile from + the prison, to do some work. No officer was with him. Going down to the + banks of the river he discovered a boat tied to the shore. In a subsequent + conversation, he told me when he saw that boat it suggested the thought of + escaping. His wife and children were in the State of Ohio. They had + removed there since his conviction. "The boat," said he, "seemed to say, + 'get in and cross the river.' I thought of my family. Oh, how I longed to + be with them! I could not resist the temptation. I had some old overalls, + and I drew these on over the stripes. I got into the boat, rowed across, + and hid in the woods on the Missouri side until night. During the + night-time I walked, and during the daytime would lay by in the woods, + occasionally going out to a house begging something to eat. At last I + reached my home in Ohio. I was footsore and almost starved when I + arrived." Continuing his narrative, he informed me that he had no peace of + mind. He was in constant dread of pursuing officers. Every man he saw he + took to be a detective in search of him. At last, so great was his alarm + and uneasiness, that he telegraphed the prison officials where he was. The + warden went and brought him back, For punishment he remained in the + dungeon several days and nights, and wore the ball and chain for over a + month. This man has not been tried yet for making his escape. It will + probably be overlooked because of the change in the prison administration. + His original sentence was five years. + </p> + <p> + Another prisoner made his escape, was away for five years; was then + discovered, brought back, and is at present eight hundred feet below the + surface, digging coal. + </p> + <p> + One day a young man was brought to the penitentiary under three years' + sentence. He was handsome and had winning ways. It was not long before the + officers had learned to like him. He was a natural confidence man. It was + difficult to resist his influence. After he had been in the penitentiary a + short time he was made a "trusty." For awhile he was very dutiful and + obedient. He was no fool. He gained the confidence of the officers so that + many of them would have confided their pocketbooks to his care. He was + permitted to go beyond the prison walls to quite a distance. Finally he + walked off. That convict has never been heard of since. He was a slick + one. After his departure it was found out that he had walked away from the + Colorado prison in the same manner. + </p> + <p> + The following is an instance of the shrewdness practiced in effecting + escapes. A hog-thief was convicted and sent to the prison. He related that + while traveling through the southern part of Kansas, a mere tramp, passing + by a farmer's residence, he saw a number of hogs in a lot adjoining a + grove some distance to the rear of the house. Passing up through the + grove, unperceived, he removed one of the boards and drove the hogs out + through the woods into a small pond where they covered themselves with + mud. Then driving them around on to the main traveled road, he started + with them for town some five miles off. As he was driving along the + highway, the owner of the hogs met him and inquired where he was taking + them. He replied that he was going to market. The farmer said he was + making up a car load and would give him as much as he could get in town. + After some further conversation the parties agreed upon the price, the + farmer buying his own hogs from the tramp, who went on his way rejoicing. + An hour or two thereafter the farmer, going out into his field to see his + hogs, found they were gone, and upon examining those recently purchased, + which by this time had rubbed all the mud off, he discovered it was his + own hogs he had purchased from the tramp. He immediately set out in + pursuit of the thief, whose whereabouts were soon determined. The thief, + after receiving the money, went to town, took a train, but stopped off at + a little place nearby, and instead of secreting himself for a time, began + to drink. While dissipating he was overtaken, arrested, and held for + trial. Had he left whisky alone, he could have escaped. At the trial, + which soon followed, he was convicted of grand larceny, and on his arrival + at the prison was immediately put into the coal mines. After working there + for a week or ten days he became dissatisfied, and decided to secure a + position on the surface. One morning, as the prisoners were being let down + into the mines, apparently in a fit he fell into the arms of a prisoner; + when he landed at the bottom he was in the worst part of his spasm; the + officer in charge ordered him sent to the top as soon as he had partially + recovered, stating that it was dangerous to have a man working in the + mines who was subject to fits, as he might not only kill himself but be + the cause of the death of others with him in the cage. To make his case + more plausible, when the convict learned that the officer had ordered him + to the top, he began pleading to remain in the mines and work, stating + that he enjoyed the work and would rather do service there than on the + top. But the officer persisted; he was sent up and reported to the deputy + warden, who set him to quarrying rock. This was no better job than working + in the coal mines. Providing himself for the occasion, by putting a piece + of soap in his mouth, assuming a frenzy and frothing at the mouth, he + would almost deceive a physician as to the nature of his malady. Later, it + was decided that he was unable to do duty on the rock pile, and was placed + in the "Crank House" with the cranks. Those prisoners, who have either + lost their mind or are suffering with temporary insanity, not incurable + insane, or wholly idiotic, are classed as "cranks," and have an apartment + by themselves. As a rule this class of individuals are harmless and not + guarded very closely. Their cells are not locked up until nine o'clock at + night; the others at six o'clock. During the noon hour the officers leave + them alone, in fact, being of a supposed harmless disposition they are at + no time closely guarded. This fellow improved the opportunities afforded + by the noon hour. He would go into one of the towers and work as long as + he dared cutting the bars with a saw he had made out of a knife. He + labored in this manner until one of the bars was sawed so near off that a + little push would remove it. One afternoon he bade the other cranks + good-bye, telling them he was going to fly that night. They made sport of + him, thinking he was growing more insane. He went so far as to say + good-bye to the officer, stating that he had received a revelation from + God the previous night, and that an angel was coming to liberate him. The + officer, of course, thought he was getting more and more insane. When + night came he slipped out of his cell and secreted himself in a portion of + the cell house where it was dark, and when the officer came to lock up, + the crazy hog-thief was not missed. Along in the night he pushed aside the + bars and made his escape. This was the last the prison authorities heard + of him until they learned he was arrested at St. Joseph, Missouri, and + held there on a charge of grand larceny for the same thing that he was in + the Kansas penitentiary—stealing hogs. An officer went up there to + get and bring him back to the Kansas penitentiary, but the St. Joseph + authorities refused to give him up. He was tried there and sent to the + Missouri penitentiary. After his term expires in that place he will have + to serve out his original term in the Kansas penitentiary. "The way of the + transgressor is hard," even if he does pretend to have fits. + </p> + <p> + One of the most interesting and perilous attempts at escaping from the + penitentiary was the following: In the evening, after the day's work is + over in the mines, the convicts are all lifted to the top, as before + stated, and remain in their cells over night. One Saturday night a + convict, with a twenty years' sentence, resolved that he would remain in + the mines, and try to effect his escape. He had supplied himself with an + extra lot of bread and meat, and hid himself in the darkness of the mines + when the men were marched out in the evening at six o'clock. When the + count of the prisoners was made at the evening lock up, this man was found + missing. As he had not been seen since the prisoners were taken from the + mines, it was believed, correctly, that he had remained below. There was + nothing done about the matter that night, the officers knowing there would + be no opportunity of effecting his escape during the night-time, as they + had carefully closed the shafts at the top. They did not set any watch + until the next day. During that Saturday night this convict climbed eight + hundred feet to the top of one of the shafts. The wooden beams running + across the shaft are about five feet apart. Standing erect on one of these + beams he threw his arms over the one above his head, and would swing up to + it. In this manner he worked his way to the top of the shaft. When he + reached the surface how great was his disappointment, for instead of + finding the shaft open, as he supposed it would be, he found that the + cover was down and that he was unable to get out of the shaft, and thus + out of the coalfields into the woods adjoining. When he discovered this + there was nothing to do but descend, This was a perilous undertaking. The + cross-beams were covered with oil which, dripping down from the machinery + above, made them very slippery. A number of times he came near falling, + and if he had done so, he would have reached the bottom a mangled mass. It + required nearly the entire night for the ascent and descent. When he + reached the bottom he took a lunch of bread and meat, went to the base of + the other shaft, which is about one hundred yards distant, and began his + ascent of it, with the hope he would find it open. It was daylight when he + reached the top. Two officers had been stationed there to watch him. + Arriving at the surface and just ready to get out, they took charge of, + and marched him into the presence of the deputy warden. When the convict + related the narrow escapes from death in his efforts for liberty, the + deputy warden was so affected he refused to punish him. + </p> + <p> + Out in the world, with the blessings of liberty all around us, we do not + realize the priceless boon they are to us; but when we stand in the + presence of the perils that are undertaken in order to gain them when + deprived of their benefits, we begin to comprehend the real value of these + sacred immunities of citizenship. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. THE PRISONERS + </h2> + <p> + Thinking that it may be interesting to some of my readers, I will now + give, in brief form as possible, a history of some of the most noted + inmates of the penitentiary. + </p> + <p> + FEMALE CONVICTS + </p> + <p> + He must be of a very unsympathizing nature who does not feel for his + brother, who, though sinful and deserving, is imprisoned, and excluded + from the society of friends. While we are sad when we behold our fellowmen + in chains and bondage, how much sadder do we become when, passing through + the prisons, we behold those of the same sex with our sisters, wives and + mothers. In this land, blessed with the most exalted civilization, woman + receives our highest regard, affection and admiration. While she occupies + her true sphere of sister, wife or mother, she is the true man's ideal of + love, purity and devotion. When, overcome by temptation, she falls from + her exalted sphere, not only do men feel the keenest sorrow and regret, + but, if it is possible, the angels of God weep. + </p> + <p> + In the Kansas penitentiary, just outside the high stone wall, but + surrounded by a tight board fence some fifteen feet high, stands a stone + structure—the female prison. In this lonely place, the stone + building, shut out from society, there are thirteen female prisoners. + During the week these women spend their time in sewing, patching and + washing. But very few visitors are allowed to enter this department, so + that the occupants are permitted to see very few people. Their keepers are + a couple of Christian ladies, who endeavor to surround them with all the + sunshine possible. For these inmates the week consists of one continual + round of labor. It is wash, patch and sew from one year's end to the + other. The Sabbath is spent in reading and religious exercises. In the + afternoon the chaplain visits them and preaches a discourse. Several of + these women are here for murder. When a woman falls she generally descends + to the lowest plane. + </p> + <p> + A few days before I was discharged, there came to the prison a little old + grandmother, seventy years of age. She had lived with her husband + fifty-two years, was the mother of ten children, and had fifteen + grand-children. She and her aged husband owned a very beautiful farm and + were in good circumstances, probably worth $50,000. Her husband died very + suddenly. She was accused of administering poison. After the funeral, she + went over into Missouri to make her home with one of her married + daughters. She had not been there but a short time when her eldest son + secured a requisition, and had his aged mother brought back to Kansas and + placed on trial for murder. She was convicted. The sentence imposed, was + one year in the penitentiary, and at the end of which time she was to be + hung by the neck until dead, which in Kansas is equivalent to a life + sentence. The old woman will do well if she lives out one year in prison. + She claims that her eldest son desires her property, and that was the + motive which induced him to drag her before the tribunal of justice to + swear her life away, During her long life of three score and ten years, + this was the only charge against her character for anything whatever. She + always bore a good name and was highly esteemed in the neighborhood in + which she lived. + </p> + <p> + Another important female prisoner is Mary J. Scales. She is sixty-five + years of age, and is called Aunt Mary in the prison. She is also a + murderess. She took the life of her husband, and was sentenced to be hung + April 16, 1871. Her sentence was commuted to a life imprisonment. For + eighteen years this old woman has been an inmate of the Kansas + penitentiary. While she is very popular inside the prison, as all the + officers and their families are very fond of Aunt Mary, it seems that she + has but few, if any, friends on the outside. Several old men have been + pardoned since this old woman was put into prison, and if any more + murderers are to be set at liberty, it is my opinion that it will soon be + Aunt Mary's turn to go out into the world to be free once more. + </p> + <p> + MRS. HENRIETTA COOK + </p> + <p> + This woman was twenty-five years of age when she came to the Kansas + penitentiary to serve out a life's sentence. She was charged with having + poisoned her husband. For fifteen years she remained in close confinement, + at the end of which time she received a pardon, it being discovered that + she was innocent. When Mrs. Cook entered the prison she was young and + beautiful, but when she took her departure she had the appearance of an + old, broken-down woman. Fifteen years of imprisonment are sufficient to + bring wrinkles to the face, and change the color of the hair to gray. This + prisoner made the mistake of her life in getting married. She, a young + woman, married an old man of seventy. She was poor, he was rich. After + they had been married a short time she awoke one morning to find her aged + husband a corpse at her side. During the night he had breathed his last. + The tongue of gossip soon had it reported that the young and beautiful + wife had poisoned her husband to obtain his wealth, that she might spend + the rest of her days with a younger and handsomer man, After burial the + body was exhumed and examined. The stomach showed the presence of arsenic + in sufficient quantity to produce death. The home of the deceased was + searched and a package of the deadly poison found. She was tried, and + sufficient circumstantial evidence produced to secure her conviction, and + she was sent to prison for life. A short time before this sad event + happened, a young drug clerk took his departure from the town where the + Cook family resided, where he had been employed in a drug store, and took + up his abode in California. After fifteen years of absence he returned. + Learning of the Cook murder, he went before the board of pardons and made + affidavit that the old gentleman was in the habit of using arsenic, and + that while a clerk in the drug store he had sold him the identical package + found in the house. + </p> + <p> + Other evidence was adduced supporting this testimony, and the board of + pardons decided that the husband had died from an overdose of arsenic + taken by himself and of his own accord. The wife was immediately pardoned. + How is she ever to obtain satisfaction for her fifteen years of intense + suffering. The great State of Kansas should pension this poor woman, who + now is scarcely able to work; and juries in the future should not be so + fast in sending people to the penitentiary on flimsy, circumstantial + evidence. + </p> + <p> + The other female prisoners are nearly all in for short terms, and the + crime laid to their charge is that of stealing. + </p> + <p> + INDIANS IN THE PENITENTIARY + </p> + <p> + John Washington and Simmons Wolf are two young Indians tried and convicted + in the U. S. District Court on the charge of rape. They were sentenced to + be hung. After conviction these Indians were taken to the penitentiary to + await the day set for their execution. In the meantime an application was + made to the President to change the sentence of death to that of life + imprisonment. The change was made. These two Indians were placed in the + coal mines on their arrival, where they are at the present time getting + out their daily task of coal. They both attend the school of the prison, + and are learning very rapidly. Prior to this, Washington served out a + one-year sentence in the Detroit house of correction for stealing. He is a + bad Indian. + </p> + <p> + At present there are fourteen Indians incarcerated in the Kansas + penitentiary. The Indian pines for his liberty more than the white man or + negro. The burdens of imprisonment are therefore greater for him to bear. + One young Indian was sent to the penitentiary whose history is indeed + touching. Ten Indians had been arrested in the Territory by U. S. marshals + for horse-stealing. They were tried and convicted in the U. S. District + Court. Their sentence was one year in the State's prison. On their arrival + at the penitentiary they were sent to the mines to dig coal. This was a + different business from being supported by the government and stealing + horses as a diversion. The Indians soon wanted to go home. One of them was + unable to get out his task of coal. The officer in charge thought he was + trying to shirk his work and reported him to the deputy warden. The young + Indian was placed in the dungeon. He remained there several days and + nights. He begged piteously to get out of that hole of torture. Finally + the officers released him and sent him back to the mines. While in the + dungeon he contracted a severe cold. He had not been in the mines more + than a couple of days, after being punished, when he gave suddenly out and + was sent to the hospital, where in a few days he died. That young Indian + was murdered, either in that dungeon or in the mines. A few weeks before, + he came to the penitentiary from roaming over the prairies, a picture of + health. It did not take long for the Kansas penitentiary to "box him up" + for all time to come. He now sleeps "in the valley," as the prison + graveyard is called. + </p> + <p> + Another one of the same group did not fare quite so badly as his + associate. The one I am now describing was sent with the rest of his + companions to the bottom of the mines. He remained there during the first + day. A short time after he went down on the following morning he became + sick. He began to cry. The officer in charge sent him to the surface. He + was conducted to the cell-house officer, Mr. Elliott. I was on duty that + day in the cell house, and Mr. Elliott, on the arrival of the Indian, + ordered me to show him to the hospital. After we had started on our + journey from the cell house to the hospital building to see the doctor, + and had got out of hearing of the officer, I said, "Injun, what's the + matter with you?" This question being asked, he began to "boo-hoo" worse + than ever, and, rubbing his breast and sides with his hands, said, between + his sobs, "Me got pecce ecce." I was not Indian enough to know what "pecce + ecce" meant. In a few moments we reached the hospital building, and I + conducted my charge into the nicely furnished room of the prison + physician, and into the immediate presence of that medical gentleman. + Removing my cap, and making a low bow, as required, I said, "Dr. Nealley, + permit me to introduce a representative of the Oklahoma district, who + needs medical attention." + </p> + <p> + While I was relieving myself of this little declamation the young Indian + was standing at my side sobbing as if he had recently buried his mother. + </p> + <p> + "Reynolds, what is the matter with him?" asked the doctor. + </p> + <p> + I then turned to my charge and said, "Injun, tell the doctor what ails + you." + </p> + <p> + Mister Indian then began rubbing his sides and front, with tears rolling + down his face, and sobbing like a whipped school-boy, he exclaimed, "Me + got pecce ecce." + </p> + <p> + "There, doctor," said I, "you have it. This Indian has got that dreadful + disease known as 'pecce ecce. '" + </p> + <p> + The physician, somewhat astonished, frankly informed me that he never had + heard of such a disease before. I was in a similar boat, for I had never + heard of such words prior to this. The sick Indian was unable to talk the + language of the white man. The doctor then sent down into the mines for + another of the Indians who could speak English and had acted as an + interpreter. On entering the office, the doctor said to him, "Elihu," for + that was his name, "this Indian says he has an attack of pecce ecce. Now + what does he mean by that?" + </p> + <p> + During all this time the sick Indian kept rubbing his body and sobbing. + What was our great astonishment and amusement when the interpreter + informed us that "pecce ecce" meant nothing more nor less than + "belly-ache." The doctor administered the proper remedy for this + troublesome disease, and the Indian was sent back to the mines. He had not + dug coal more than an hour when he had another attack, and began his + crying, and was sent to the top. He kept this up until he wore out the + patience of the officers, and they finally decided to take him out of the + mines altogether and give him work at the surface. Even here, every few + minutes the Indian would have an attack of "pecce ecce," and would start + for the hospital. At last, the chaplain, taking pity on the poor outcast, + wrote to President Cleveland, and putting the case in a very strong light, + was successful in securing a pardon for the Indian. That "cheeky" red + youth was no fool. He belly-ached himself out of that penitentiary. I + trust I may never have to spend any more of my time in prison. If I do, I + think about the first day I will get a dose of "pecce ecce," and keep it + up, and see if I can't get a pardon. + </p> + <p> + MALE PRISONERS + </p> + <p> + Ed. Stanfield.—The history of this prisoner is as follows: He was + about nineteen years of age when he entered the prison, which was some + five years ago. His people reside in South Bend, Indiana. His father, + prior to his death, was a prominent judge. The family was wealthy, + influential and highly respected. It consisted of the parents and two + sons. Ed. proved to be the black lamb of the flock. At the early age of + nine years, being sent away to school, he bade all good-bye one day and + followed in the wake of a circus show which was holding forth in the town + where he was attending school, He was not heard of anymore for several + years. His parents spent vast sums of money attempting to ascertain his + whereabouts. They finally heard of him in the following accidental manner: + His father, Judge Stanfield, had been out in Nebraska looking after some + land he had recently purchased, and, on his return home, sitting in the + cars, purchased a newspaper of the newsboy as he came around. Looking over + the paper he caught the name of his prodigal son. There, before him, was + the account of his son who, having knocked down a prosecuting attorney in + broad daylight with a coupling pin, with the intention of robbery, had + been tried, convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary for ten years, and + was on that day safely lodged behind the walls. The sad father, on + reaching home, dispatched his elder son to the Kansas prison to ascertain + if it was his younger son who was a convict. The young man came on and + soon satisfied himself of the identity of the long-lost brother. He + returned home and made the report to his parents. From that day Judge + Stanfield was a broken-hearted man. He soon grieved himself to death over + the sad fate of his boy, and the disgrace he had brought upon the family. + In making his will, however, he gave Ed. an equal share in the estate with + his brother. After the death of the father, the mother began to put forth + efforts to secure a pardon for her son. His crime was so heinous and so + uncalled for that it was necessary for some time to elapse before an + application was presented. At the earliest moment possible the wheel began + to turn. The prosecuting attorney of Bourbon County, who had been knocked + down with an iron coupling pin, was soon satisfied, for the family had + wealth. It is of course unknown how much money was passed to him to make + his heart tender and his eyes weep over the erring child that had come so + near getting away with his gold watch and chain. A petition was soon in + circulation for his release, signed by many prominent citizens. An open + pocketbook will easily secure a petition for pardon, it makes but little + difference as to the "gravamen" of the crime. The convict promised not to + engage again in this pleasant pastime for filthy lucre. The mother of the + young man came on from the East and remained until she had secured a + pardon for her boy. The young man stated in our hearing that it took one + thousand big dollars to secure his pardon. A great many who are acquainted + with the facts in the case are not slow in saying that if Stanfield had + been a poor, friendless boy, he never would have received a pardon, but + would have had to serve his time out. There are more than five hundred men + in that prison whose crimes are of a less serious nature, and who are far + more deserving of executive clemency than Stanfield. It is said that + "rocks talk" in the penitentiaries as well as on the outside. The history + of this criminal will show my boy readers the future of many of those who, + in early youth, ran away from home, and go out into the world to mingle in + bad company. + </p> + <p> + Cyrenius B. Hendricks.—This man was sent from Chatauqua County. He + was twenty-seven years of age when sentenced. His crime was murder in the + first degree. The particulars are as follows: He had been down to the + Indian Territory looking after his own and his father's cattle. He was + absent on this business some little time. On his return his wife informed + him that a neighbor had been talking about her in his absence, and had + given her a bad character, and that on account of it she had become the + talk of the entire neighborhood. The enraged husband compels his wife to + go with him, and they proceed to the neighbor's house. Hendricks took his + gun with him. When they reached the neighbor's gate they halted and called + the unsuspecting man out of his home. Hendricks then asked him if the + charges were true as to his talking about Mrs. Hendricks. The neighbor + neither affirmed nor denied the statement. At this Hendricks leveled his + gun and shot him dead on the spot. He and his wife in a few hours after + were arrested, and, as it was too late to take them to the county seat + that night, they were guarded in an old log house in the neighborhood. + Hendricks was fastened to the wall with a log-chain. During the night some + one, supposed to be the brother of the murdered man, came to the window of + the house in which they were confined, and, placing the muzzle of a gun + through the window, shot Hendricks. The ball struck him near one of the + eyes, rendering him blind in that eye, but did not kill him. The next day + the two prisoners were taken to jail. They were tried, and both found + guilty of murder in the first degree. The husband was sentenced to be + hanged, while the wife received a life sentence. They were both taken to + the penitentiary. After they had been there a short time Hendricks lost + the other eye, from sympathy, as they call it. For a time the husband and + wife remained on good terms. They were allowed to visit each other once a + month. After a while she tired of him and would have nothing more to do + with him. She served four years, and received a pardon. Hendricks still + remains in prison, and is a pitiable and helpless wreck. He is totally + blind, and his nervous system entirely shattered. He can scarcely lift + food to his mouth. He is so weak that it is with difficulty he walks about + the prison park. An aged prisoner waits on him constantly to care for his + wants, and to see that he does not commit suicide. Abandoned by his wife + and friends, left to his own sad fate, totally blind and physically + helpless, he is another testimonial to the truth that "the way of the + transgressor is hard," and it also illustrates how much trouble may arise + from using that little member called the tongue in an indiscriminate + manner. Since my discharge from the prison I have learned of the death of + Hendricks. + </p> + <p> + Ed. Miner.—One of the men whose history will be interesting to the + general reader is Ed. Miner. This man is forty-nine years of age. He + served in the Missouri penitentiary two years on the charge and conviction + of assault and battery with intent to kill. After the expiration of his + sentence, drifting down the current of crime, he next embarked in stealing + horses. He was arrested, tried and convicted. He received a five years' + sentence, served his time, and went out into the world a free man. Again + falling into bad company, he tries his hand once more at the same old + trade of riding fast horses, is again caught, tried, convicted, and + received another sentence of five years in the prison, which he is now + serving out. As a prisoner, Miner is one of the very best. He never + violates a prison regulation and was never known to be punished. During + the war he served his country faithfully for four years as a member of the + 12th Illinois Infantry. At the close of the war, and just before the + troops were discharged, one day on review, the governor of the State of + Illinois being present, Miner was asked by the commanding officer to step + from the ranks, and was introduced to the governor as the bravest and most + daring man in the command. The governor gave him a hearty shake of the + hand, and afterward sent him a neat little golden medal as a token of his + esteem. Miner now wears this suspended on a small gold chain about his + neck. He is very proud of it. One of our prison officers, Mr. Elliott, was + in the army with Miner, and says there never was a braver man. It may be a + surprise to the reader that such a brave man, such a bold defender of his + country's rights, would now be filling a felon's cell. The answer to this + is easily given. It is all contained in the one word—liquor. Miner + loves strong drink, and when he is under its influence appears to have no + sense. He is then ready for the commission of any offense, ready to + participate in any kind of deviltry. Were it not for this baneful appetite + there is every reason to believe he would be a highly respected citizen. I + asked him one day what he would do when he got out. His reply was, "I + don't know; if I could not get the smell of whisky I could be a man; it + has downed me so many times that I fear my life is now a wreck; the future + looks dreary; awful dreary." With this remark Ed. went away to attend to + his duties. My eyes followed the old soldier, and, reader, do you blame me + when I say to you that from within my heart there came forth the earnest + desire that God in some way would save that man, who, away from strong + drink and the influence of wicked companions, is a good-hearted, generous + man. + </p> + <p> + Gordon Skinner.—A young man of twenty, possessed of an innocent, + boyish appearance, whom none would take for a murderer, was sent up from + Ellis County. His victim was Andrew Ericson, a respectable and worthy + citizen about thirty-seven years of age. Skinner claims the shooting was + purely accidental; that he was carelessly handling a six-shooter when it + went off, the ball striking Ericson. He claims, also, that he and his + victim were good friends, and that he never had any intention of killing + him. The other side of the story is that there lived near Hayes City a + beautiful girl, and that Skinner and Ericson were rivals for her heart and + hand. Ericson, being much older than young Skinner, possessed of some + property, and doubtless more skillful in the art of winning hearts, was + beginning to crowd his rival to the wall. Young Skinner, not being able to + endure the sight of his fair one being thus ruthlessly torn away by an old + bachelor of thirty-seven, met him one day and the two engaged in a + spirited controversy, when Skinner drew his revolver and shot him. Ericson + lived several days afterward. Just before death, Ericson begged of his + friends not to have Skinner arrested, stating he was not to blame. + Skinner, moneyless, friendless, a comparative stranger in the + neighborhood, his people all residing in Phillips County, this State, and, + with the prejudices of the Ericson people against him, was tried, + convicted and sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment. If the Board of + Pardons ever takes the trouble to investigate this case, with a view of + tempering justice with mercy, they will find it worthy. Skinner is a good + prisoner, and has ingratiated himself in the good opinion of the officers. + But the weight of a twenty years' term is heavy, and is visibly affecting + his health. Death should not be left to accomplish what the Board of + Pardons should take pleasure in doing. This delicate boy should be sent + home to his parents. + </p> + <p> + FREAKS OF JUSTICE + </p> + <p> + Robert W. Corey was sent from Wyandotte County with a sentence of three + years for stealing cattle. This is a remarkable case. Corey is a blind + man, and had been totally blind for thirteen months prior to his arrival + at the prison; he was a taxidermist, and some years ago had taken a + contract for furnishing stuffed birds for the museum of the Agricultural + College of Ames; Iowa. This business requires the use of arsenic; + carelessly handling it destroyed his eyesight. How a man, blind as he is, + and was, at the commission of the alleged offense, could drive off and + sell these cattle, is a mystery. The man who swore that he committed the + theft is now an inmate of the institution, sent here for stealing since + the arrival of blind Corey. This man now says that he is not positive that + Corey took the cattle. On the trial, however, he swore it was Corey, and + that he was positive of that fact! About the the truth of the matter is, + he was the villain that took the cattle and swore it on the blind man. + Corey has only a few months to remain in prison at this writing. It is + terrible to heap such a disgrace upon as helpless a creature as Corey. + </p> + <p> + His case calls to mind another in the penitentiary. He is a colored man + who cannot write, by the name of Thomas Green, from Fort Scott, serving + out a five years' sentence for forging a check for $1,368. He was tried, + convicted, and sentenced. Taking an appeal to the Supreme Court, the + judgment of the lower court was set aside; but at his second trial, he was + found guilty again, and is now in prison serving out his sentence. How can + one commit the crime of forgery who cannot write? Probably some "Smart + Aleck" of a district judge can explain. I admit that it is beyond my + powers of comprehension. It may be law, but there is not much COMMON SENSE + in it. + </p> + <p> + OH! RIGHTEOUS JUDGE! + </p> + <p> + Gus Arndt is the next. The history of this man will show the freaks of + whisky when enclosed in the hide of a raw Dutchman. Gus came to this + country a number of years ago, and went to work for his uncle in Wabaunsee + County. Not being able to speak English, his uncle took advantage of him, + no doubt, for he paid him only ten dollars a month for his services as a + farm hand during the summer season, and nothing but his board during the + winter. Gus remained here for some time, three or four years, working at + these wages. He had learned and could understand and speak English a + little. One day as he was pitching grain in the field an Irishman came by + who resided on a farm a few miles distant. Needing a hand and noticing + that Arndt handled himself in a satisfactory manner, he offered him twenty + dollars per month to go and work for him. Arndt accepted his proposition, + and agreed to report at the Irishman's farm the following Monday, this + being Thursday when the bargain was made. That night the German settled up + with his uncle, and received the balance of his wages, some $75. He had + been in America long enough to reach that point in our civilization that, + after working awhile, and getting a balance ahead, he must take a rest and + go on a "spree." He started for the nearest town. For a couple of days he + fared sumptuously, constantly drinking. He at length reached a point below + zero. Half crazed, he staggers off to the fence across the way where the + farmers who had come to town to do their shopping on Saturday had hitched + their teams, and, untying a horse that was hitched to a buggy, Gus thought + he would take a ride. Lumbering into the buggy, as a drunken man can, he + drove down the main street of the town in broad daylight and out into the + country. In an hour or so the owner getting ready to return, misses his + horse and buggy. Making numerous inquiries about them and getting nothing + satisfactory, he places the matter in the hands of a sheriff, who + commences a search for the missing property. Not finding it in town he + sends men out on the roads leading to the country, himself taking one. In + a very short time he overtakes the noted horse-thief. Gus was sitting in + the buggy sound asleep; the lines were hanging down over the dashboard, + and the old horse was marching along at a snail's pace. He was out some + two miles from town, and, no doubt, had traveled at this gait all the way. + He was faced about, and, assisted by the sheriff, drove back to town. He + was then placed under arrest and sent to jail, subsequently had his trial, + and for this little drive was sent to the penitentiary for five years. Of + a more unjust sentence I never heard. Gus served his time out and a better + behaved person was never behind the walls. When he regained his liberty, + instead of returning to Wabaunsee County, and to his uncle's house, he + finds his way to Marysville, Kansas. Here reside a number of prosperous + German farmers, and the ex-convict soon got work. When he applied for work + he forgot to tell his employer that he had just finished up a contract for + the State of Kansas. Some months had elapsed and Gus had worked hard and + industriously, had accumulated a neat little sum of money, and began to + feel happy once more. At this time a man passed through the country that + was acquainted with Arndt's antecedents, and being a dirty dog he thought + it was his duty to inform the farmer that his hired man was an ex-convict, + horse-thief and a desperado of the worst type. Some men are so officious + and are so anxious to do their duty when it is in their power to injure a + fellow-man who is trying to earn an honest living. Gus immediately got the + "bounce." He was informed by his employer that he did not want to make his + home a harbor for horse-thieves. Gus took his wages and clothes and + started for Marysville. He could not bear the idea of being discharged + because of his former misfortune. He again applies to the bottle for + consolation. He goes on another spree. When crazed with liquor he acted + just as he did before; he goes to a hitching post, and unties a team of + horses attached to a buggy. One of the horses had had its leg broken at + some former time, and was almost worthless, while the other one was very + old. He seemed to select the very worst team he could find. Maybe it was + the buggy he was after! He was probably very tired and wanted an easy + place to rest. He unhitched them just as if they had been his own. It was + in the afternoon. The streets were full of people. Gus crawled into the + buggy in his half drunken manner and started off down the road. When found + by the sheriff some two hours after he had gone, about half a mile from + town, the old horses were standing at one side of the road and the drunken + Dutchman was lying in the buggy sound asleep, with one bottle of whisky + uncorked, the contents of which had run out and over his clothes, and + another bottle in his pocket untouched. He had evidently gone out for a + drive. He was taken to jail, and the news soon spread that he was an + ex-convict and horse-thief. He was tried on a charge of stealing horses, + and was returned to the penitentiary for a term of two years. Here were + seven years' service for two drunks! Ancient Jacob, "how tuff!" After Gus + had completed his narration to me he wound up by saying, "Ven I shall oudt + git this time, I let von visky alones." + </p> + <p> + BOVINE TROUBLE + </p> + <p> + Woodward R. Lopeman was sent up from Neosho County for murder in the first + degree. Under his sentence he was to be hanged at the close of the first + year. This part of the sentence is never carried out in Kansas. The + particulars of his crime are as follows: He was a well-to-do farmer + residing in Neosho County, and never had any difficulty to amount to + anything before this time. He was an old soldier and served his country + faithfully and bravely for four years. For some trivial cause he and one + of his neighbors had a little difficulty, but it was thought nothing would + ever come of it, as each of them had been advised by their friends to bury + their animosity before it should lead to graver results. Lopeman seemed + willing to do this, but his irate neighbor would not meet him half way. + One day a calf of Lopeman's, worth but a few dollars, got through the + fence and over into his neighbor's pasture. Word was sent to the owner of + the calf that if he would come over and pay damages for the trouble of + penning it up he could have his property. This had a tendency to arouse a + bad feeling in the heart of Lopeman; so, placing his revolver in his + pocket, and asking his grown up son to accompany him, they went to the + house of the neighbor and directly to the lot where the calf was shut in + and commenced to lay down the bars to let it out, when the neighbor came + from the house with his son, and Lopeman was ordered to leave the bars + alone. The neighbor, who was a strong, muscular man, proceeded to chastise + Lopeman; the two sons also got ready for an encounter. Lopeman, being by + far the smaller man of the two, began to retreat slowly as his enemy + advanced brandishing a club. When almost near enough Lopeman to strike him + with the uplifted club, Lopeman, in self-defense, as he claims, drew his + revolver and shot him. He fell lifeless to the ground. The son of the + murdered man perceiving what was done, ran quickly into the house, and + getting a double-barreled shotgun, came out and fired twice at Lopeman and + his son. The shots did not take effect. Lopeman fired two shots at him. At + this the son retired into the house, and Lopeman and son taking the almost + worthless calf, which had been the cause of so much trouble, went to their + home. Lopeman then went to the county seat and gave himself up to the + authorities. As soon as the news spread over the neighborhood, excitement + ran high and there was loud talk of lynching. The murdered man was very + popular. His old neighbors smelled blood, and it was with some difficulty + that they were prevented from taking the law into their own hands. Better + judgment prevailed, however, and after six months the trial came off and + the murderer was convicted and sentenced as aforesaid. THIS MAN WAS MY + CELL MATE. He is something over sixty years of age, of medium height, and + during his younger days must have been very hard to handle. The first + evening we occupied the cell together he told me of all his troubles, and + I learned from his own lips that I was to room with a murderer. I felt I + would much rather be at home, than locked in that 4x7 cell with a man + whose hands were dyed with the blood of his neighbor. My alarm somewhat + subsided when the time came for retiring. The old man, as solemnly as the + Apostle Paul would have done, took down the Bible, read a few verses, and + then knelt down and prayed. I sat there in mute astonishment at the + proceedings of this gray haired criminal. How was it possible for a man + who was guilty of such a grave crime to be devout. He often told me that + he had no consciousness whatever of guilt, nor the fear and dread of a + murderer. I asked him if in his dreams he could not often see the face of + his victim. With a shrug of the shoulders he admitted that he could. For + six months this old man and myself occupied that small cell together, so + small that it was very difficult for us to get by each other when the + sleeping bunks were down. We never had the least trouble during the entire + time. A kinder hearted man I never met. Whenever he received any little + delicacies from home he would always divide with me, and in such a + cheerful spirit that I soon came to think a good deal of the old man. If + we had both been on the outside world I would not have desired a kinder + neighbor. His son, later on, was convicted as an accomplice, and sent up + for two years. The old man has hopes of a pardon in a few years. He has a + wife and several children who are highly respected and much beloved in the + neighborhood where they reside. They have the sympathy of all their + neighbors in this affliction and bereavement. + </p> + <p> + WHISKY AND WOMEN + </p> + <p> + Doc. Crunk.—One of the many desperadoes now behind the prison walls + of the Kansas penitentiary is this noted Texas outlaw. He is a native + Texan, now nearly fifty years of age. After years of crime he was finally + caught in the Indian Territory while introducing whisky among the Indians. + He had his trial in the U. S. District Court, was convicted and sent to + the penitentiary for three years. For a time during the war he was a + confederate soldier. Becoming dissatisfied with the profession of arms, he + deserted and entered upon the life of an outlaw. He gathered about him a + few kindred spirits with which Southern Texas was infested, and organized + a band of cattle and horse thieves. This band of banditti became so + numerous that after a time it extended along the lower line of Texas into + the Indian Territory and up into Kansas. Their ravages were also felt in + Arkansas. They had a regular organized band, and stations where they could + dispose of their stolen property. The cattle that were stolen were run to + the frontiers and sold to cattlemen who were in collusion with them, and + which latter were getting immensely rich out of the operations of these + thieves. They would steal horses, run them off and sell them to buyers who + knew they were purchasing stolen property. For years this gang flourished. + Another mode of securing stock was the following: A great many estrays + would be taken up and advertised. In every instance some member of the + Crunk gang would claim the property under oath and take it away. The + leader of these outlaws stood trial for nineteen different murders, and + was acquitted each time. He could always prove an alibi. His assistants + would come in and swear him clear every time. He was an intimate + acquaintance and on friendly terms with the James boys, and related many + trips that he had made with these noted and desperate men in their work of + "seeking revenge," as he styled it. He has no love for a colored man, and + as he works now in the prison with a number, pointing to them one day he + said to me, "I wish I had a five-dollar note for each one of them black + skunks I have killed since the wa'." He said he considered "a 'niggah' + that wouldn't vote the way decent people wanted him to should not vote at + all." Said he: "I know of a number that will not vote any mo'. I saw them + pass in their last ballot." "The most money, made the easiest and + quickest, was made by our men," said he, "as moonshiners in Montague + County. We carried on this business successfully for a long time, but + finally the U. S. marshals became too much for us, and we had to close up + shop. We had several engagements with them; men were dropped on both + sides, until finally we concluded to quit the business and return to our + old trade of stealing cattle and horses. The way our moonshiner's nest was + found out was very romantic. A young woman came into the district, and + tried to get up a school, seemingly, but failed. I guess she did not try + very hard to get scholars. At any rate she remained with a family in the + neighborhood for some time, whom she claimed were her relatives. One of my + men fell desperately in love with this young woman. He would be out riding + with her, and, as none of us suspected anything, he would at times bring + her over to our camp, and we taught her how to make whisky. She seemed + deeply interested in the business. I told the boys several times that I + was a little afraid of that 'gal,' but they laughed at me, and so I said, + 'I can stand it if the rest of you can.' She even went so far as to become + familiarly acquainted with all of us. We all got to thinking that she was + a nice young woman, and her lover simply thought he had secured the finest + prize in the world. But alas! At the proper time she fixed our camp. She + proved to be a female detective from New York city. She gave away our + fellows, and soon we were surrounded by a posse of U. S. marshals and + their deputies. Her lover was captured and is now in the Texas + penitentiary. Several of our boys were killed or wounded, and those of us + who escaped made up our minds to go back to the old cattle trade." "What + are you going to do, Doc.," said I, "when you get out of this place?" + "Going back to Texas; hunt up the boys, and see if we can't find some more + horses and cattle. One thing is certain I will never go to another + penitentiary. I will swallow a dose of cold lead first." + </p> + <p> + And, with this, the famous outlaw went off to his room in the mine to get + out his task of coal to keep from being punished. Of the nine hundred + criminals in the prison, probably there is not one of them who has seen so + much of a life of crime as the famous Doc. Crunk. + </p> + <p> + EIGHT TIMES A CONVICT + </p> + <p> + Thomas A. Currens.—One of the most unique characters to be found in + the striped ranks of the Kansas penitentiary is that of the man who is + herein described. This convict is fifty-two years of age, and a native of + Kentucky. His life, save a short time spent in the army, has been one of + crime. He was a courageous lad. Leaving his home at the early age of ten + years, thus deprived of all parental protection and restraints, he formed + bad associations, and soon his future career was in the direction of + crime. The greater part of his boyhood was spent in city and county jails + and reform schools. At the age of twenty-two years he was convicted on a + charge of horse-stealing and sent to the Frankfort, Ky., penitentiary for + six years. After serving four years he was pardoned by the Legislature. He + remained out of prison for the two following years. We next find him in + "limbo" in Indiana. He was arrested, and twenty different charges were + preferred against him. By pleading guilty to the count of stealing a + wagon, the court dismissed the other cases and gave him a sentence of + three years at hard labor. He was taken to the State's prison. Shortly + after his arrival he was put to work running an engine during the + night-time. After five months had passed away, Thomas, reaching the + conclusion that he did not enjoy watching over an engine during the lonely + hours of the night, determined to escape. Stealing an old suit of clothes + belonging to an officer, which he drew on over his suit of stripes, he + scaled the walls and was once more a free man. It was a cold winter's + night. After traveling some distance through the woods his feet were + almost frozen. Daylight was now approaching. He must find a place of + hiding during the coming day. In a few hours he would be missed at the + penitentiary. The alarm being given, the usual reward being offered, + scores would be on the lookout for him. Approaching a farmyard, he sat + down and cut up his striped pantaloons and wrapped up his almost frozen + feet. He then crawled under a hay-stack. In this place he came near being + discovered, for in a couple of hours the farmer came out to feed his + cattle, and as chance would have it took the hay from the stack under + which the convict was secreted. As he was removing the hay, several times + prongs of the fork sank deep enough to penetrate the flesh of the runaway. + He endured this pitchfork probing heroically while it lasted, and was + thankful when the cattle had received sufficient provender. Here he + remained until nightfall. He did not renew his journey until the farmer + and his family had retired and were in the land of dreams. Almost starved, + uninvited he enters the kitchen and helps himself to what he can find. His + hunger being appeased, his old habit of taking things that he should leave + alone, forced him into the bed-room of the sleeping farmer, and forced his + hand into the pocket of the aforesaid granger's pantaloons, from which he + took his pocketbook containing twenty dollars in money. He was now + prepared for traveling. Continuing his journey for several miles, becoming + very tired, he decided not to walk any longer as there was so much good + horse-flesh in the vicinity. Near the hour of midnight, this weary tramp + entered the farmyard of a wealthy old Indiana farmer, and going into the + barn led out one of his fleetest steeds. Once more astride a good horse, + Thomas felt like a free man. During the rest of the night he made good + headway, and by the morning sun was up the rider and horse were many miles + away from the place where first they met. Entering a small village, the + horse was fed and nicely groomed. At the same time Thomas partook of a + good breakfast, which he heartily enjoyed. The fates seemed to favor the + man of crime. It is an old saying: "The devil looks after his own." A + horse-buyer had arrived in the village a few days before. When the noon + train came whistling up to the station, the convict having converted his + horse into one hundred and twenty-five dollars, purchased a new suit of + clothes, a silk hat, and a pair of kid gloves, and, representing himself + to be a traveling salesman, getting aboard, soon reaches Chicago, where, + soon after his arrival, he joined a band of crooks. He was never + discovered by the Indiana prison officials. Fifteen years after his + escape, he got a "pal" to wire the authorities of the Indiana + penitentiary, and inquired of them what reward they would pay for the + return of Thomas A. Currens, a convict who had effected his escape many + years before. An answer came that if he would remain out of the State, he + would never be molested. + </p> + <p> + Wandering about several months after his escape, he arrives in Sedalia, + Missouri. Among other little articles he was accused of stealing at this + place was an eight hundred dollar barouche, the property of Judge + Ferguson, of that place. Again this noted thief was arrested and confined + in the county jail to await trial. He was not anxious for trial, for he + knew the "yawning pen" was waiting to receive him. For eleven months he + remained in this jail, having his trial continued from term to term. When + his case was called up for the first time he feigned sickness. The next + time one of the principal witnesses was absent, and thus for eleven months + his case was continued. Thomas now yearned for freedom. How to get out of + that jail was the problem. Another term of court would soon convene. He + had no grounds for further continuance. Fortune favored him. At this time + a man was arrested and placed in the same cell with Currens. The face of + the new arrival was covered over with blotches. The next morning Currens + in a confidential manner stated to the sheriff that his cell mate had the + small-pox. Being interrogated the prisoner said he had been exposed + recently, and a physician being called, on examination it was decided to + remove him to the pest-house. Currens was sent along on account of his + exposure to the contagion. An officer was placed in charge of the two + jail-birds at the pest-house. During the night following their arrival at + this out-of-the-way place, the officer was pounced upon by the two + desperate criminals, bound hand and foot, and with a large cork placed + between his teeth, was gently laid on the floor. His gold watch and chain, + and all the loose change he had with him were taken from his person, and + the two small-pox patients walked forth into the darkness and gloom of + that night unattended by any friendly official. + </p> + <p> + Thomas never believed in criminals traveling in groups, so he bade his + companion an affectionate farewell. Wending his way to the southwestern + portion of the State he was arrested for additional crimes and + misdemeanors. Knowing that the officers had not sufficient evidence + against him he bravely stood trial and was acquitted. However, as he was + going forth from his prison cell a free man, much to his surprise, an + official from Sedalia put in an appearance and took him back to the scene + of his small-pox escapade. At his trial he was convicted and received a + sentence of six and one-half years. He now took a cell in the Jefferson + City penitentiary. After four years of imprisonment this notorious + criminal makes an application for pardon, setting up an alibi as the basis + of the application, and succeeded in influencing the Governor to believe + the testimony, and was set at liberty, promising that he would leave the + State of Missouri, never to return. The conscience of the said Thomas + never troubled him over failing to keep his word with the officers of the + law. He did not leave Missouri, as he agreed, but betook himself to the + pleasant little city of Carthage. Scarcely three moths had elapsed before + he found himself again in durance vile for stealing horses. He was tried, + convicted and returned to Jefferson City penitentiary under a sentence of + six years. He took an appeal to the Supreme Court. The judgment of the + lower court was reversed. He was taken back to Carthage for another trial, + and was convicted the second time, and again received a sentence of six + years at hard labor in the penitentiary. As before, he appealed the case, + and the governor, thinking the State was getting the worst of the matter, + and that a large amount of costs were being made, pardoned the convict + under another promise that he would leave the State. Currens, now + following Greeley's advice, turns his eyes toward the setting sun. He + crosses the Big Muddy, and plants his feet upon the sacred soil of Kansas. + He makes a raid upon Lawrence, breaks into a house, and is caught in the + act of trying to carry off the household goods. A courteous policeman + takes charge of him—now deeply steeped in crime—soon landing + him behind the bars. In the presence of the court he next makes a solemn + statement that, prior to this, he had been a Sunday-school teacher; that + misfortune had overtaken him, and he was forced to enter some friend's + kitchen or starve. Those who listened to his pathetic appeal inform me + that the stern judge was moved to tears, and that while he had + contemplated giving the wayward Thomas six years, he made it three. This + was the first introduction of our hero to the principal brown stone front + of Lansing. It was not long after his arrival at the Kansas penitentiary + before he gained the confidence of the authorities, and was made a + "trusty." He had an easy place given him. + </p> + <p> + His three years' sentence soon passed away. His term was reduced three + months because of his excellent conduct while in prison. Bearing with him + the good wishes of a majority of the prison officials, and followed by the + prayers of the pious chaplain, he goes forth to engage in life's battle + again. Thomas could not fully enjoy the sweets of liberty unless on + horseback. He makes his way to the capital of Kansas, and engages at once + in the dangerous business of stealing horses. He had not continued this + course long before he was arrested, tried, convicted and returned to + Lansing for five years more. Thomas had not been in the Kansas + penitentiary the second time but a few months, when he called upon the + chaplain, and with tears rolling down his face confessed he was a great + sinner, promised to lead a different life, and urged the chaplain to pray + for him. Delighted at the prospect of snatching such a brand from the + eternal burning, the man of God took Thomas into a private room, and the + two knelt down. The chaplain offered a fervent prayer that the loving + Father would take to His embrace the returning, sinful prodigal. At the + conclusion of this prayer the chaplain called upon the "sin sick soul" to + pray for himself. This was an unexpected movement by the chaplain, and + Thomas was hardly prepared for the emergency. However, he prayed. He was + converted on the spot. At least, the chaplain thought so. Strange as it + may appear to my readers, instead of this noted convict having to remain + and serve out his five years' sentence, through the influence of this + minister he secured a pardon. At the expiration of eighteen months the + shrewd convict was a free man. That chaplain was "worked." + </p> + <p> + The fortunate Thomas next visits Atchison. A farmer came to the city one + day, driving a beautiful horse. The temptation was too great, and the man + who had been an inmate of a penitentiary seven different times followed + the unsuspecting farmer to his home, and that night rode away the coveted + prize. The Atchison County Vigilance Committee traced and soon caught the + guilty horse-thief, landing him in Atchison County's beautiful jail. + Shortly after, Thomas had an interview with the county attorney, and it + was agreed by and between them, if the horse-thief would plead guilty, he + should be let off with one year in the penitentiary. To this the grave + offender agreed, and, presenting himself before the tribunal of justice, + Hon. W. D. Gilbert presiding, plead guilty. The county attorney being + absent, the court gave Thomas, instead of twelve months, a year and a half + at hard labor. I met him in the penitentiary a few days ago, and learned + that he is putting forth an effort to secure a pardon on the ground that + had he not been promised only a one year's sentence, he would have stood + trial and been acquitted. He claims that he should be given his liberty + when his one year is up. + </p> + <p> + Thomas was out of the penitentiary long enough to go into the army and get + a bullet through his ankle, and therefor draws a pension of twenty-four + dollars per month. He takes good care of his money, and has enough on hand + to enable him to get a good start in life when he obtains his freedom. He + is a well-behaved prisoner. He is true to his pals in crime, never having + been known to turn State's evidence. He has a mania for taking things that + do not belong to him. He claims that he never would have been caught the + last time had not his housekeeper "given him away." The two had a domestic + quarrel, and in her efforts to get even, she told the authorities of his + theft. After his trial and conviction, womanlike, she repented in + sackcloth and ashes, but Thomas would have no more to do with her. Later, + she went over into Missouri, where she has since died. One of the first + things Thomas will do on regaining his liberty will be to secure another + housekeeper, and probably the the next thing will be to steal some + farmer's horse. + </p> + <p> + This convict is now serving out his eighth term in the penitentiary. It is + fearful to contemplate these human wrecks. A wasted life, golden + opportunities unimproved, a dark and dismal future will constitute the + death knell of such fallen beings. Young man, remember the life of this + convict, and shun such a course. + </p> + <p> + SKILLED LABOR + </p> + <p> + William Hurst.—Some of the narratives in this book read like the + story of Aladin's Lamp, and we have no doubt some of them so reading are + absolutely true, while for the Lamp story nothing is claimed. For many + ages men, and particularly those engaged in the literary field of thought, + have discanted on the baseness of the passion of jealousy. There is no + sense in being jealous. You are either loved or you are not, and hence the + absolute foolishness of indulging the passion. + </p> + <p> + William Hurst, whose history we now relate, is a man of rough personal + appearance, Irish descent, and his age is now about fifty-five. Coming to + Kansas at an early day, he settled in Doniphan County, and there courted + and subsequently married one of Doniphan County's pretty girls. Time went + along as usual, and in a few years there were several little cherubs that + blessed the household of Hurst. But, as sometimes happens, the husband + began to drink, love grew colder, the necessities of the family hourly + grew greater, poverty in all its hideousness came to curse the home once + so happy. The poor, distracted wife and mother did all she could, by + taking in washing and ironing, to prevent the starvation of her little + ones. The husband through his bleared eyes imagined he could see that + other men were too friendly to his wife. He charged her with + unfaithfulness to the marriage vows. She denied the charge. Only incensed + by this he would beat and mistreat her out of all reason. For protection + she had him arrested, intending to bind him over to keep the peace, but on + the advice of officers, who are so full of it, she withdrew the charge and + he was set at liberty. For a few days he was quiet, but soon the red + liquor poured down his throat, and like a mountain devil stirred all the + dark passions of his lost and ruined nature. He attempted to debauch his + own daughter, and was only prevented by the physical force of the + ever-watchful mother. The father (great God! is such a human being + entitled to the endearing term?) turned upon her, and again, as had often + happened, abused, kicked and mistreated her in a most shameful manner. She + had him arrested a second time with the intention of binding him over to + keep the peace. He pretended, while in charge of the officer, that he must + see his wife, and together they started toward the hovel where they lived. + They met the wife and mother at the outskirts of the little village, had + some words, and before the officer could prevent it, Hurst sprang upon the + woman and cut her throat from ear to ear jumped away, and made good his + escape to the woods, the officer, meanwhile, deeming it more important to + aid the woman, not knowing, for a moment, that the cutting was fatal. That + fact was very soon apparent. Others were called who took charge of the + body, and the officer struck out in hot pursuit of the murderer. He was + followed to the woods a few miles from White Cloud, in Doniphan County, + there overtaken and conducted to the county seat, tried, convicted of + murder in the first degree, sentenced to be hung, sent to the penitentiary + to await the final execution, which, in our State, never comes. He + remained in there about twenty months when he became insane, and was sent + to the asylum; was there about three and a half years, when he was + pronounced cured and returned to the penitentiary. He is now insane a + second time. You have all in your younger-days read the story of the + maniac that paced his cell, repeating "once one is two," and now comes the + queerest part of this narrative. Hurst seems anxious to talk to every one + that calls, and especially anxious to shake hands; but if you say anything + to him, or ask any question, his only answer is "skilled labor," and keeps + on repeating these words as he walks up and down his place of confinement. + </p> + <p> + Who knows but the infinite God has destroyed reason to prevent the power + of darkness over this poor, unfortunate being. Or who knows but the + demands of justice are met in the terrible conscience blows which have + staggered and shattered that which originally was in the image of God. + </p> + <p> + LIFE INSURANCE AND MURDER + </p> + <p> + McNutt and Winner.—These are two of the most noted criminals in the + penitentiary, rendered so because of the dastardly crime committed by + them, and the high social relations of the latter. They came from Wichita, + and have been in prison almost fifteen years. McNutt is a fine artist and + painter. He had his paint shop in Wichita, and was doing a very successful + business. Winner was his associate, and the two plotted and carried into + execution the following horrible crime: McNutt got his life insured for + $5,000, his wife being his beneficiary. It was a dark, stormy night when + McNutt and Winner enticed into this paint shop an unsuspecting mutual + friend. Here they murdered him in cold blood. They then set fire to the + paint shop and took to flight. After the fire was put out, the charred + remains of the murdered man were found, and supposed to be those of + McNutt, the owner of the building. The wife, cognizant of the awful deed + which her husband had committed, followed the remains of the murdered man + to the grave, dressed in her garb of mourning. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after this she applied for the insurance money on her husband's + life. Some doubts were raised as to the identity of the body. Detectives + were employed to make an investigation of the case. They made use of a + deception, and thus got the woman to confess. They told her that they had + found an accomplice who had confessed the crime, and was in jail. They + promised the wife that if she would tell the truth they would not + prosecute her. She consented. She narrated the sickening events as they + had been plotted in her presence and under her roof. Officers were now + despatched to find the murderers. McNutt was found in Missouri plowing + corn. Winner was found near Wichita. They were brought to trial, + convicted, and sent to prison for life. Winner was unmarried at the time + of his conviction. His father and only brother are very wealthy, and + living in Kansas City. I have been told they offer $20,000 for Winner's + pardon. McNutt is a very useful man in the prison. He has charge of the + painting department. He has done some fine work on the walls of the prison + chapel, covering them with paintings of the Grecian goddesses. Both of + these prisoners hope to receive pardons. Whether they will regain their + liberty is a question which the future alone can answer. + </p> + <p> + THE HOG-THIEF + </p> + <p> + In the coal mines, as before stated, the convicts are permitted to + converse with each other. I improved this opportunity of acquiring the + histories of the five hundred criminals with whom I daily worked, eight + hundred feet below the surface. I would talk with a fellow prisoner, and + get the details of his crime as we sat together in the darkness. + Understanding "short-hand," I would go to my cell in the evening and jot + down what I had learned during the day. I had no fears of any one reading + my notes, as I was the only short-hand writer about the institution. Day + after day I kept this up, until I had material sufficient of this nature + to fill a book of more than two thousand pages. My readers should also + know, that a convict will tell a fellow-prisoner the details of his crime, + when he would not think of saying a word about it to others. As a rule + they deny their crimes to those who are not, like themselves, criminals, + pleading innocence. It is not difficult for a prisoner to get the + confidence of a fellow-prisoner. In fact, criminals love to unburden their + minds to those who possess their confidence. The truth is, convicts have + related their crimes so often to me that it became tiresome. They say it + relieves them to communicate their troubles. Pinkerton, of Chicago, the + prince of detectives stated at one time that a criminal could not keep his + secret. It is true. I know it to be a fact. It has been demonstrated a + hundred times in my association with these convicts in the Kansas + penitentiary. Securing their confidence, these men have not only told me + of the crimes for which they have been sent to prison, but also of crimes + that they have committed, and, in the commission of which, they had not + been detected, which, if I should make them known, would cause a number of + them to remain in the penitentiary the rest of their lives. I am not in + the detective business, and will therefore keep what was confided to me. I + have met but few criminals in the mines that would not admit their guilt. + I have thought in many cases, convicts received sentences too severe, and + not at all commensurate with the crime committed. I have met a few men, + however, who would stubbornly deny their guilt and stoutly affirm their + innocence. I have worked upon these men day after day, and never got + anything out of them but that they were innocent. At times, in tears, they + would talk of their sufferings, and wonder if there was a just God + silently permitting the innocent to suffer for the guilty. I am satisfied + these men are innocent, and they have my sympathy. They are exceptions. + Others, while admitting their guilt on general principles, and assenting + to the justice of imprisonment, yet maintain that they were innocent of + the particular crime for which they stand convicted. I trust the reader + will not get his sympathies wrought too high, as comparatively few angels + find their way into modern prisons. I will give you a few illustrations. + These are just samples of scores of histories in my possession. + </p> + <p> + A hog-thief worked in the mines with me for a few days. His dose was five + years at hard labor. He had stolen an old sandy female swine with six + pigs. I asked him if he was really guilty of carrying on the pork + business. "Yes," said he, with a low chuckle, "I have stolen pigs all my + life, and my daddy and mammy before me were in the same business. I got + caught. They never did." He then related the details of many thefts. He + made a considerable amount of money in his wicked traffic, which he had + squandered, and was now penniless. Money secured in a criminal manner + never does the possessor any good. I asked him if he had enough of the hog + business, and if it was his intention to quit it, and when he got out of + the pen to earn an honest living. "No," he replied, "as long as there is a + hog to steal and I am a free man, I propose to steal him." Imprisonment + failed to reform this convict. Although a hog-thief he was an excellent + singer and a prominent member of the prison choir. + </p> + <p> + There are many murderers in the mines. In fact, nearly all the life men + are there. Some of them speak of their crimes with a bravado simply + astonishing, showing their utter depravity. Others, admitting their guilt, + say but little of details. The following will give the reader some idea of + the stories that greeted my ears almost daily, and led me to conclude that + the coal mines of the penitentiary are not inhabited exclusively by + Sunday-school scholars. This cruel and heartless wretch had murdered an + old man and his wife. The old people lived on a farm adjoining the one + where this criminal, who was then a hired man, worked, It was the talk of + the neighborhood that they had money. This human fiend undertook to secure + their "loose change," as he called it. He procured a shotgun and an axe, + and, in the dead hour of night, went to the house of the old people. He + forced open the kitchen door and went in. He had also brought with him a + lantern. He quietly stole to the bedside of the innocent and aged + sleepers. He had no use for his lantern as the moonlight shone through the + window opposite and fell upon the faces of the unconscious victims. + Setting his gun down by the side of the bed, so that he could have it + handy for use, if necessary, he took the axe and struck each of his + victims a blow upon the head. He said, with a demoniac chuckle, that it + was more difficult to kill a woman than a man, as it required two blows + from the axe to kill the woman, while one was sufficient for the man. He + then ransacked the house, and, between some blankets underneath the + straw-bed upon which the old folks were sleeping, he found a small bag, + which contained some gold, silver and paper money, amounting to over one + thousand dollars. In a cold-blooded manner he further stated (and as I pen + his words my blood nearly freezes in my veins), in order to search the bed + upon which his victims were lying, it became necessary for him to remove + the bodies; so he lifted them up one at a time, and placed them upon the + floor, face downward, for the reason, as he said, that their eyes bulged + out and seemed to stare at him. + </p> + <p> + After securing the money he fled and returned to the farm where he worked. + He slept in the barn, as is very often the case with farm laborers during + the summer season. Entering the barn he procured an old bucket, places his + money in it, covers the top with a piece of board, and buries it in the + earth east of the barn. He also buried the axe near the bucket. He said + there were clots of blood and hair on the axe, and he thought best to put + it out of sight. He then returned to the barn, and, strange to say, soon + fell asleep and slept sweetly until morning. He went to work the next day + as usual, and his mind was taken up more by thinking of what a good time + he would have after a little, spending that money, than in worrying over + the terrible crime he had committed. He reasoned that the money would do + the old people no good, but that he could use it to advantage. + </p> + <p> + The discovery of the murder was made the next day about noon. The alarm + was given. The whole country was aroused and excited over the commission + of such a horrible crime two innocent, helpless and highly-respected old + people murdered for their money. A couple of tramps had passed through the + neighborhood the day before, and, of course, everybody thought it must + have been the tramps that committed the murder. The object now was to find + them. They were overtaken the next day and brought back to the scene of + the murder. They both stoutly denied any knowledge of the crime. They were + separated, and each was told that the other had confessed. This was done + that a confession might be forced from them. They continued in their + affirmation of innocence. They were then taken to the woods near by and + each hung up until life was almost extinct, but they still denied the + commission of the crime. They were at length taken to the county seat, not + far distant, and, on a preliminary examination, were bound over to appear + at the next term of the District Court, and put in the county jail. The + majority of the people believed that the perpetrators of this crime had + been arrested and were now in durance vile; the excitement soon passed + away, and very little was said about it. + </p> + <p> + "It was at this time," said my informant, "that I made the mistake of my + life. I had worked hard on the farm for several months, and thought I + would take a lay off. I felt it was due me. I now made up my mind to have + a time. I went to town and soon fell in with a harlot. I got to drinking. + I am very fond of strong drink; it has been my ruin. I became intoxicated, + and during this time I must have betrayed my secret to this wicked woman. + A large reward had been offered for the murderer of these old people. This + woman who kept me company having thus obtained my secret, went to the city + marshal and made an arrangement that for half of the reward offered she + would show him the man who had committed the crime. This was agreed to. + While I was drinking and having a good time with my 'fast woman' three men + were on the road to the farm where I had been working. They found and dug + up the old bucket containing what money I had left in it, and the axe. All + this I learned at the trial. I was arrested and bound over to the District + Court on a charge of murder in the first degree. The officers had to keep + me secreted for some time, as there was strong talk of lynching. In due + time I had my trial and got a life sentence." + </p> + <p> + I asked him if he had any hope of pardon. + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," said he, "in the course of eight or ten years I will be able to + get out once more." + </p> + <p> + "What became of the tramps that came so near being compelled to suffer the + penalty of your crime?" + </p> + <p> + "They were released as soon as I was arrested, a snug little sum of money + was raised for them, a new suit of clothes purchased, and they went on + their way rejoicing, thinking themselves creatures of luck." + </p> + <p> + As we sat together in a secluded place in the mines, with the faint light + of my miner's lamp falling on his hideous face, the cool, deliberate + manner in which he related his atrocious doings, the fiendish spirit he + displayed, led me to regard him as one among the most debased and hardened + criminals I had met in the mines—a human being utterly devoid of + moral nature—a very devil in the form of man! + </p> + <p> + A NOTED COUNTERFEITER + </p> + <p> + One of my companions in the mines, and with whom I worked a couple of + weeks, lying almost side by side with him as we dug coal in the same room, + was a noted counterfeiter. He had plied his trade for many years + successfully. Whisky finally sent him to the penitentiary. If professional + criminals would only let strong drink alone not half so many of them would + get caught. They get drunk, and in this condition expose themselves. We + don't mean to use this as an argument against the prohibitory law! It is, + perhaps, proper for them to drink. This counterfeiter makes his dies out + of plaster paris. They are very simple and easy of construction. He + explained to me the manner in which they were made. I would give his + method of making these dies were it not for the fact that some smart boy + getting hold of this book and learning the method would undertake the + business, and as a result his good old mother would be going to the + penitentiary to visit him. When this counterfeiter would run short of + funds he would purchase the necessary material, go into the woods on a + dark night, and in a very short time would have plenty of bogus money. He + taught the trade to his brother and to some bosom friends, and it was not + long until they had a regular organized gang. Getting drunk one day one of + them displayed too many shining new pieces of money. He was "spotted." A + detective was put on his track. He was traced to the headquarters of the + gang, and in a few hours thereafter the entire posse were locked up in + jail on a charge of counterfeiting and passing "bogus money." They now + formed plans for their escape from jail. They adopted the plan of seizing + the jailor, as he brought in supper, thrusting him into a cell, locking + him in, and then making good their escape. They made the attempt. The + jailor was locked in the cell according to the programme, but so much + noise was made in the struggle that the sheriff put in an appearance with + a loaded revolver. The prisoners made a dash for liberty. A brother of my + informant was killed; another of the gang was wounded and dragged back + into his cell in the jail; the others got away. It was in the winter time. + The succeeding night was extremely cold. Wandering about all night in the + snow, their feet were frozen, and they were easily recaptured the next + day. They had their trial, and all were sent to the penitentiary. They got + eight years apiece, three for counterfeiting and five for breaking jail. + In this manner was broken up one of the worst counterfeit gangs of the + West. Whisky has trapped many a criminal. There are but very few that do + not "indulge." In fact, I cannot now recall a single professional criminal + but would take a drop if he could get it. They must have whisky to nerve + them for their iniquitous business. When the crime is committed they drink + again to soothe their wounded consciences. + </p> + <p> + YELLOW BACK LITERATURE + </p> + <p> + A boy was brought into the hospital one day while I was there, whose + history is worth relating, as it shows the fatal effects of bad literature + upon the human mind, and to what sad results it may lead. This youth had + become suddenly ill in the mines, and had to be assisted from his place of + work to the ward for the sick. He was very ill for several days, but began + to grow convalescent. An opportunity presenting itself, I got into + conversation with him, and he told me the history of his crime. He was an + orphan. At the death of both his parents in the East he had come to Kansas + to make his home with an uncle. This relative was very kind, and after a + time adopted the boy. He had a pleasant home, and his prospects for the + future were bright. How often is it the case that the sky of the future + becomes overcast. This young criminal was a constant reader of the Life of + Jesse James, and kindred literature, until he made up his mind to go on + the "war path" and become Jesse James No. 2. With this in view, he + provided himself with two large revolvers. One night, after all the + household had retired, he crept stealthily into the bed-room of one of the + hired men and stole seventy dollars. He goes to the barn and takes one of + his uncle's horses and starts for the Indian Territory. The uncle was + awakened an hour later on account of some unusual sound at the barn, and + going thither discovered that one of his best horses was gone, and also + that his nephew was away. He got together several of his neighbors and + started in pursuit, and the next day, about noon, the youthful thief was + overtaken and surrounded. The uncle rode up to him and began to question + him as to his strange conduct, when the boy drew one of his revolvers, + and, pointing at his uncle, shot him dead. He was going to play Jesse + James to the last. When he saw his uncle fall dead from his horse, now + realizing what he had done, the bravado spirit forsook him, and he began + to quake with fear. The neighbors closed in upon him and soon took his + firearms from him. In due time he had his trial and was sent to the + penitentiary for life. + </p> + <p> + Bad books are our worst companions. I have narrated the history of this + young murderer, and now urge my boy readers to let yellow back literature + alone. It wrecked the future of this youth, and what it did for one it may + do for another. + </p> + <p> + A YOUTHFUL MURDERER + </p> + <p> + Willie Sells.—In the prison, this convict is called the "baby + convict." When he came to the penitentiary in 1886, he was but sixteen + years of age, and in appearance much younger. One of the most sickening + murders committed in Kansas is charged to the account of this boy. His + home is in Neosho County. His father, a prosperous farmer, lived happily + with his wife and three children. Willie was the oldest of the children. + Early one morning he rushed from his home and made his way to the nearest + neighbor, about half a mile distant, and with his face and hands covered + with blood conveyed the startling intelligence that the entire family had + been murdered, and he only had escaped. Soon an excited crowd of neighbors + gathered at the home of the murdered victims, and the sight that was + presented has but few parallels in the fatal and fearful results of crime. + The victims had been murdered while asleep. In one room lay the father and + mother of the youthful murderer, on their bed of death. Their heads had + been split open with an axe that lay nearby, and the blood of one mingled + with that of the other. In an adjoining bed-room, covered with their own + life's blood, were found the little brother and sister. They had been + foully murdered with the same instrument that had caused the death of the + parents. Who was the monster that had committed this terrible and + atrocious act? A search of the premises disclosed the fact that robbery + was not the motive. No property was missing. The survivor was questioned + again and again. He said that a burly-looking tramp had effected an + entrance into the house through a window during the night; that he being + awake at the moment, and becoming alarmed, hid himself, and, unperceived, + beheld his father and mother, his brother and sister, thus foully + murdered. A thorough and extensive search was made, but no clue could be + obtained that would warrant the arrest of any one. + </p> + <p> + Finally, the surviving child was taken into custody. It was claimed that + his statements of the circumstances connected with the crime varied, and + in several instances were contradictory. The evidence introduced at his + trial was purely circumstantial. After much deliberation and hesitancy, + the jury decided on a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, and + this child criminal was sentenced to imprisonment for life. + </p> + <p> + He conducts himself well in the prison. On account of his extreme youth he + is given a great deal of liberty. It is with great reluctance that he + talks about his crime, and longs for freedom. + </p> + <p> + Is this boy guilty? This question has never been satisfactorily answered + in the affirmative. I am informed there was a grave doubt in the mind of + the judge who tried the case and imposed the sentence as to the guilt of + this alleged youthful offender. A chill of horror creeps over us as we + think of the members of this family weltering in each other's blood. + Should he be innocent, it would be awful for this boy to remain in the + Kansas Hell for a lifetime. + </p> + <p> + A MOST REMARKABLE CASE + </p> + <p> + William Baldwin furnishes the history of one of the most remarkable cases + in the criminal annals of Kansas. He was charged with the atrocious crime + of murdering his own sister. William and his sister were the only children + of a widowed but wealthy mother. It is claimed that the son had received + his portion of the estate prior to this sad occurrence, and that by taking + the life of his sister he would become the sole heir of the Baldwin + estate, which was supposed to be very large. Mary, the beautiful and + accomplished sister was discovered dead one morning lying upon her bed in + her chamber with a chloroform bottle at her side. A panel of the outside + door of the house was found removed. Immediately upon the discovery of the + murder it was supposed that the house had been burglarized, and that the + thief had committed the murder. Upon an examination of the premises by the + proper officials it was found that nothing had been taken from the house. + In looking for a motive that would prompt a person to commit such a + fiendish act, and it being known that William Baldwin, the brother, would + be the sole heir in case of the death of his sister, he was at once + suspected of having committed the crime. His arrest was prompt and + immediate. He was bound over on preliminary examination, and in due course + of time had his trial and was convicted. He was sentenced to the + penitentiary for one year, at the expiration of which he was to be hung + until dead. His case was taken on appeal to the Supreme Court of the + State. Baldwin, in the meantime, was removed to the penitentiary. Here he + was placed in the tailor shop, where he has remained since. He is a very + obedient prisoner, and is highly esteemed by the prison officials. The + judgment in his case upon hearing in the Supreme Court of the State was + affirmed. From the Supreme Court of Kansas his case was taken by appeal to + the Supreme Court of the United States; in this highest tribunal, the + judgments of the lower courts were affirmed, and the fate of William + Baldwin is forever sealed so far as the judiciary of the country is + concerned. If he is permitted again to inhale the air of freedom, it must + be through the clemency of the pardoning board and of the governor of + Kansas. During one hundred and ten years of American jurisprudence, there + had been only two similar cases taken to the Supreme Court of the United + States. But a few days before my release I was talking with Billy Baldwin + in the penitentiary, and he seemed to be very hopeful that after a time he + would secure his pardon. + </p> + <p> + His wife is one of the most highly respected ladies of Atchison; is true, + faithful and devoted to her husband. She has enlisted the sympathies of + the entire community in her behalf, because of her youth and great + bereavement. His aged mother, who has been called upon to wade through + deep waters of affliction because of the great calamity that has befallen + her son and daughter, will also exert great influence in getting signers + to a petition for his pardon. + </p> + <p> + The question has often been asked me, because of my intimate relation with + Baldwin in the penitentiary, whether I believed that he is guilty. I can + answer as to my own belief. I have watched him carefully as I have the + other fifty-five lifetime convicts, and I am free to say that I do not + believe that William Baldwin ever committed the crime of killing his + sister for the malicious desire of obtaining filthy lucre, or the estate + of his sister. He does not conduct himself as scores of other criminals + who have confessed their guilt. In conversation with him, while I was "in + stripes," he has time and again told me, with tears rolling down his + cheeks, that he was innocent of the terrible crime of which he stands + accused, and that there was no brother had greater love for his sister + than he, and that he had such faith in an overruling Providence that + eventually he would be exonerated from the crime; and that the real + perpetrator would be made known. If he is innocent and it should ever be + clearly proven, his will be one of the saddest and most mysterious events + ever recorded. There is beyond doubt an unsolved mystery hanging over this + remarkable case. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. FORTY-EIGHT HOURS IN HELL + </h2> + <p> + One of the most interesting cases of resuscitation that ever came to my + knowledge was that of George Lennox, a notorious horse-thief of Jefferson + County. He was serving his second term. Sedgwick County sent him to the + prison, the first time for a similar offense—stealing horses. + </p> + <p> + During the winter of 1887 and 1888, he worked in the coal mines. The place + where he was laboring seemed dangerous to him. He reported the fact to the + officer in charge, who made an examination, and deciding that the room was + safe, ordered Lennox back to his work. The convict, obeying, had not + continued his work more than an hour, when the roof fell in and completely + buried him. He remained in this condition fully two hours. Missed at + dinner-time, a search was instituted for the absent convict, and he was + found under this heap of rubbish. Life seemed extinct. He was taken to the + top, and on examination by the prison physician was pronounced dead. His + remains were carried to the hospital, where he was washed and dressed + preparatory for interment. His coffin was made and brought into the + hospital. The chaplain had arrived to perform the last sad rites prior to + burial. A couple of prisoners were ordered by the hospital steward to lift + the corpse from the boards and carry it across the room and place it in + the coffin. They obeyed, one at the head and the other at the feet, and + were about half way across the room when the one who was at the head + accidentally stumbled over a cuspidor, lost his balance, and dropped the + corpse. The head of the dead man struck the floor, and to the utter + surprise and astonishment of all present, a deep groan was heard. Soon the + eyes opened, and other appearances of life were manifested. The physician + was immediately sent for, and by the time he arrived, some thirty minutes, + the dead man had called for a cup of water, and was in the act of drinking + when the physician arrived. The coffin was at once removed, and later on + was used to bury another convict in. His burial robes were also taken from + him, and the prison garb substituted. On an examination he was found to + have one of his legs broken in two places, and was otherwise bruised. He + remained in the hospital some six months, and again went to work. I + learned of his peculiar experience while apparently dead, soon after, from + a fellow miner. Prompted by curiosity, I longed for an acquaintance with + Lennox to get his experience from his own lips. This opportunity was not + offered for several months. At last it came. After being removed from the + mines I was detailed to one of the prison offices to make out some annual + reports. The subject of this man's return to life was being discussed one + day, when he happened to pass by the office door and was pointed out to + me. It was not long until I had a note in his hand, and asked him to come + where I was at work. He did so, and here I got well acquainted with him, + and from his own lips received his wonderful story. He is a young man, + probably not over thirty years of age. He is not a hardened criminal; is + possessed of a very good education, and naturally very bright. + </p> + <p> + The most wonderful part of his history was that during the time he was + dead. Being a short-hand reporter I took his story from his dictation. + Said he: "I had a presentiment all the morning that something terrible was + going to happen. I was so uneasy on account of my feelings that I went to + my mining boss, Mr. Grason, and told him how I felt, and asked him if he + would not come and examine my 'coal room,' the place where I was digging + coal. He came, and seemed to make a thorough examination, and ordered me + back to work, saying, there was no danger, and that he thought I was going + 'cranky.' I returned to my work, and had been digging away for something + like an hour, when, all of a sudden, it grew very dark. Then it seemed as + if a great iron door swung open, and I passed through it. The thought then + came to my mind that I was dead and in another world. I could see no one, + nor hear sound of any kind. From some cause unknown to myself, I started + to move away from the doorway, and had traveled some distance when I came + to the banks of a broad river. It was not dark, neither was it light. + There was about as much light as on a bright star-lit night. I had not + remained on the bank of this river very long until I could hear the sound + of oars in the water, and soon a person in a boat rowed up to where I was + standing. I was speechless. He looked at me for a moment, and then said + that he had come for me, and told me to get into the boat and row across + to the other side. I obeyed. Not a word was spoken. I longed to ask him + who he was, and where I was. My tongue seemed to cling to the roof of my + mouth. I could not say a word. Finally, we reached the opposite shore. I + got out of the boat, and the boatman vanished out of sight. Thus left + alone, I knew not what to do. Looking out before me, I saw two roads which + led through a dark valley. One of these was abroad road, and seemed to be + well traveled. The other was a narrow path that led off in another + direction. I instinctively followed the well beaten road. I had not gone + far when it seemed to grow darker. Ever and anon, however, a light would + flash up from the distance, and in this manner I was lighted on my + journey. Presently I was met by a being that it is utterly impossible for + me to describe. I can only give you a faint idea of his dreadful + appearance. He resembled a man somewhat, but much larger than any human + being I ever saw. He must have been at least ten feet high. He had great + wings on his back. He was black as the coal I had been digging, and in a + perfectly nude condition. He had a large spear in his hand, the handle of + which must have been fully fifteen feet in length. His eyes shone like + balls of fire. His teeth, white as pearl, seemed fully an inch long. His + nose, if you could call it a nose, was very large, broad and flat. His + hair was very coarse, heavy and long. It hung down on his massive + shoulders. His voice sounded more like the growls of a lion in a menagerie + than anything I can recall. It was during one of these flashes of light + that I first saw him. I trembled like an aspen leaf at the sight. He had + his spear raised as if to send it flying through me. I suddenly stopped. + With that terrible voice I seem to hear yet, he bade me follow him; that + he had been sent to guide me on my journey. I followed. What else could I + do? After he had gone some distance a huge mountain appeared to rise up + before us. The part facing us seemed perpendicular, just as if a mountain + had been cut in two and one part had been taken away. On this + perpendicular wall I could distinctly see these words, 'This is Hell.' My + guide approached this perpendicular wall, and with his spear-handle gave + three loud raps. A large massive door swung back and we passed in. I was + then conducted on through what appeared to be a passage through this + mountain. For some time we traveled in Egyptian darkness. I could hear the + heavy footfalls of my guide, and thus could follow him. All along the way + I could hear deep groans, as of some one dying. Further on, these groans + increased, and I could distinctly hear the cry for water, water, water. + Coming now to another gateway, and, passing through, I could hear, it + seemed, a million voices in the distance, and the cry was for water, + water. Presently another large door opened at the knock of my guide, and I + found that we had passed through the mountain, and now a broad plain + layout before me. At this place my guide left me to direct other lost + spirits to the same destination. I remained in this open plain for a time, + when a being somewhat similar to the first one came to me; but, instead of + a spear, he had a huge sword. He came to tell me of my future doom. He + spoke with a voice that struck terror to my soul. 'Thou art in hell,' said + he; 'for thee all hope is fled. As thou passed through the mountain on thy + journey hither, thou didst hear the groans and shrieks of the lost as they + called for water to cool their parched tongues. Along that passage there + is a door that opens into the lake of fire. This is soon to be thy doom. + Before thou art conducted to this place of torment never more to emerge—for + there is no hope for those who enter there—thou shalt be permitted + to remain in this open plain, where it is granted to all the lost to + behold what they might have enjoyed, instead of what they must suffer.' + With this I was left alone. Whether the result of the terrible fright + through which I had passed I know not, but now I became stupified. A dull + languor took fall possession of my frame. My strength departed from me. My + limbs longer refused to support my body. Overcome, I now sank down a + helpless mass. Drowsiness now took control of me. Half awake, half asleep, + I seemed to dream. Far above me and in the distance I saw the beautiful + city of which we read in the Bible. How wonderfully beautiful were its + walls of jasper. Stretching out and away in the distance I saw vast plains + covered with beautiful flowers. I, too, beheld the river of life and the + sea of glass. Vast multitudes of angels would pass in and out through the + gates of the city, singing, oh, such beautiful songs. Among the number I + saw my dear old mother, who died a few years ago of a broken heart because + of my wickedness. She looked toward me, and seemed to beckon me to her but + I could not move. There appeared to be a great weight upon me that held me + down. Now a gentle breeze wafted the fragrance of those lovely flowers to + me, and I could now, more plainly than ever, hear the sweet melody of + angel voices, and I said, oh, that I could be one of them. As I was + drinking from this cup of bliss it was suddenly dashed from my lips. I was + aroused from my slumbers. I was brought back from happy dreamland by an + inmate of my dark abode, who said to me that it was now time to enter upon + my future career. He bade me follow him. Retracing my steps I again + entered the dark passage way, and followed my guide for a time, when we + came to a door that opened in the side of the passage, and, going along + this, we finally found ourselves passing through another door, and lo! I + beheld the lake of fire. Just before me I could see, as far as the eye + could reach, that literal lake of fire and brimstone. Huge billows of fire + would roll over each other, and great waves of fiery flame would dash + against each other and leap high in the air like the waves of the sea + during a violent storm. On the crest of these waves I could see human + beings rise, but soon to be carried down again to the lowest depth of this + awful lake of fire. When borne on the crest, of these awful billows for a + time their curses against a just God would be appalling, and their pitiful + cries for water would be heartrending. This vast region of fire echoed and + re-echoed with the wails of these lost spirits. Presently I turned my eyes + to the door through which I had a few moments before entered, and I read + these awful words: 'This is thy doom; Eternity never ends.' Shortly I + began to feel the earth give way beneath my feet, and I soon found myself + sinking down into the lake of fire. An indescribable thirst for water now + seized upon me. And calling for water, my eyes opened in the prison + hospital. + </p> + <p> + "I have never told this experience of mine before, for fear the prison + officials would get hold of it, think me insane, and lock me up in the + crank-house. I passed through all this, and I am as well satisfied as I am + that I live, that there is a Heaven and there is a Hell, and a regular + old-fashioned Hell, the kind the Bible tells about. But there is one thing + certain, I am never going to that place any more. As soon as I opened my + eyes in the hospital, and I found that I was alive and on earth once more, + I immediately gave my heart to God, and I am going to live and die a + Christian. While the terrible sights of Hell can never be banished from my + memory, neither can the beautiful things of Heaven I saw. I am going to + meet my dear old mother after awhile. To be permitted to sit down on the + banks of that beautiful river, to wander with those angels across the + plains, through the vales and over the hills carpeted with fragrant + flowers, the beauty of which far surpasses anything that mortal can + imagine; to listen to the songs of the saved—all this will more than + compensate me for living the life of a Christian here on earth, even if I + have to forego many sensual pleasures in which I indulged before coming to + this prison. I have abandoned my companions in crime, and am going to + associate with good people when I am once more a free man." + </p> + <p> + After he got through with this wonderful story I asked him if he was going + to tell others of his experience when he got out. His reply was that + people would not believe him, and he would keep it to himself. Should this + little book fall into his hands, and he should read of his experience + while in Hell for forty-eight hours, it will no doubt surprise him. We + give the account to the reader just as we received it from Lennox. We do + not pretend to solve the mystery. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. STOLEN HORSES + </h2> + <p> + Justice should be meted out to many who, though guilty, are shrewd enough + to evade it. From one of the most notorious horse-thieves in the Kansas + penitentiary I learned of the manner in which stolen horses were disposed + of. + </p> + <p> + This convict's name is John Watkins. He served a term of three years in + the Missouri penitentiary, and is now serving out a ten years' sentence in + the Kansas State's prison. He is the chief convict steward in the + hospital, and an able assistant of the prison physician, by whom his + services are highly appreciated. This prisoner has immediate care of all + the sick. His heart is tender as that of a woman. To listen to this man, + as he sat with tearful eye at the bedside of the dying prisoner, and spoke + words of cheer to him, one would scarcely believe him to be the most + daring and one of the shrewdest horse-thieves that ever visited our State. + In conversation with him one night as I lay on my sick bed in the + hospital, he gave me an outline of his life's history that reads much like + a romance. + </p> + <p> + I said to him, "John, tell me how many horses you have stolen during the + time you have been engaged in that line of business?" + </p> + <p> + His reply was, that if he had stolen one more he would have been + successful in having stolen an even two hundred. + </p> + <p> + "What did you do with them after you had stolen them?" + </p> + <p> + He told me his headquarters were in Kansas City; that he would go up in + the neighborhood of Omaha and Lincoln and get his horses, and tie them in + the woods until he had picked up a number of them, and then he would make + his way to the south. Horses stolen in Nebraska he would run south to + sell. Those stolen in Missouri and Kansas he would take to the north. He + told me that in Omaha, St. Joseph, Atchison, Leavenworth and Kansas City + there were dealers, usually keepers of livery stables, who would purchase + these stolen horses. He gave me the names of a number of these men, some + of whom I know personally. Little would I ever have suspected that these + men were engaged in such a wicked traffic as knowingly to deal in stolen + property. "When I had a number of horses," he continued, "and wished to + dispose of them in St. Joseph, for instance, I would ride into the suburbs + of the city and send a note to the man who usually purchased my stock. I + would never be seen about his barn. After night he would make his way to + where I was and purchase my horses, paying me about one-half what they + would really bring in the general market. I would get about fifty dollars + for an average horse. After purchasing my stolen horses he would not take + them to his livery barn, but to a private stable, usually at his + residence. When he would pay over the money for this stolen property he + would make out a bill of sale for each one, and would step into a store or + grocery, and in the presence of some business man he would say to me, we + will sign the bill of sale for that horse I bought of you, and have this + gentleman to witness the transaction. I gave you fifty dollars at the + barn, and now here is fifty dollars more, which makes the hundred, the sum + I was to pay for the animal." I would take the money, sign the bill of + sale, which would be witnessed by the business man in whose presence the + trade was consummated. We would then go to another place of business and + sign a bill of sale for another horse, and have that witnessed by another + business man, and would continue this until all the horses I had sold were + paid for. In this manner he would shift all responsibility of crime upon + me. Securing my money I would rest for a time until 'I went broke,' and + then I would make another trip. The horse merchant would sometimes keep + his horses until he had picked up a car load, and then he would ship them + out of the country to Chicago, St. Louis or some other horse market. + Sometimes the horse buyer would run stolen property out into the country + and exchange it for other property in which he would have a good title and + which he could take to his livery barn and feel safe with it there. + </p> + <p> + "What did you do with your money, John?" I inquired. + </p> + <p> + To this question he answered that in Kansas City he had a suite of rooms + fitted up in elegant style, and kept a mistress. Upon this woman he + squandered all his money, obtained honestly and dishonestly. In addition + to his horse-thieving raids he had several other sources of criminal + revenue. One of these sources he described as follows: "I kept a horse and + wagon, the wheels of which were covered with india rubber. The feet of the + horse were also encased in the same material. I could move about the + streets of the city in the late hours of the night without making any + disturbance, and would pick up anything I could lay my hands on that I + could convert into money. I have carried away many a stove and broken it + up and sold it for old iron. I would also make my way out into the country + and pillage. Often I would enter small towns and load up my noiseless + wagon with stolen goods, which I would take out of the stores. All of this + money I would foolishly spend on the woman I loved." + </p> + <p> + "How did you happen to get caught?" + </p> + <p> + "One day on the streets of Kansas City I accidentally met an ex-convict + whom I knew while in Jefferson City penitentiary. He was penniless and + somewhat shabby. He suspected me of crooked work, and wanted to go with me + on a 'horse raid.' At first I refused to take him with me, as it has + always been my rule to go alone when in the crooked business. He persisted + and urged me to let him go along. At last I yielded to his appeals, and we + started from Kansas City. I have never been back since. My 'pal' was + caught on this trip and offered to turn State's evidence if he could + regain his liberty. He was allowed to do this. I was tried and got a ten + years' sentence. He went free." + </p> + <p> + "What became of the woman?" I asked. + </p> + <p> + "When in jail at Leavenworth and in need of money to pay my lawyer, I + wrote her a letter informing her of my trouble, and begged her to send me + some money. She forgot to answer that letter, and I have never seen or + heard from her since that time." + </p> + <p> + "I suppose when your time is up you will hunt her up and fit up another + suite of rooms, won't you?" + </p> + <p> + "Never," said he. "When I get out I am going to lead an honest life and + take care of my money. It does not pay to get money by crookedness. Such + money never does one any good." + </p> + <p> + Having imparted this information he bade me good night and went over to + another part of the ward, where he took his place beside the cot of a + dying convict. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. CANDIDATE FOR THE STATE SENATE + </h2> + <p> + The author of this book has been guilty of a great many bad breaks during + the course of his earthly pilgrimage up to the present date. Making the + race for State senator from the Atchison district while an inmate of the + Kansas penitentiary, actually an occupant of a felon's cell, and robed in + the livery of disgrace, probably eclipsed anything that maybe charged to + my account in the past. + </p> + <p> + One Sunday afternoon, after the usual exercises of the day were over, I + was sitting in my little 4x7 of stone. The outside world was in + convulsions over the presidential campaign. There were no convulsions, + however, where I was. It was painfully quiet. Everywhere, all over the + broad land, except behind prison walls, politics was the all-absorbing + topic. As I sat there in my solitude the question came to my mind as to + what part of the great political play I would be engaged in were I a free + man. Some months prior to this a petition signed by 5,000 people had been + forwarded to President Cleveland for my pardon. Had I secured my liberty + it was my intention to make the race for State senator in my district for + vindication. Mr. Cleveland interfered with my plan by refusing my pardon. + </p> + <p> + Thinking over the matter in my cell that Sunday afternoon, I determined + that while the President had the power of keeping me in prison he should + not keep me from making the race for the position I coveted. Immediate + action followed my decision. Within thirty minutes I had written a letter + for publication, stating my intention of becoming an independent + candidate. But how was I to get this letter out of the prison and into the + newspapers of my district. + </p> + <p> + It is expected of the convict that during Sunday afternoon he will sit + quietly in his cell and meditate about his past misdeeds. I would be + dishonest if I did not state that my thoughts were now more taken up with + the probable outcome of the course I had adopted than of lamenting over my + past shortcomings. I reasoned that I was not only pursuing an original, + but a safe course. Original, in that no one, so far as my knowledge + extended, had ever made the race for office while a convict; safe, in that + I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. I will frankly confess that + when the thought, suppose I should not get more than a dozen votes, would + rush into my mind, I would feel as if I had better not be so fresh while + in limbo. Several times during the afternoon and evening I took up the + piece of paper, on which was written my announcement, to tear it into + shreds, and as often I would lay it down. I viewed the subject from almost + every conceivable standpoint. I reasoned as follows: Prior to this I had + decided to write a book on my penitentiary career, as well as to deliver a + lecture at various points in the State on the same subject. To be + successful in these enterprises I must be advertised. And I knew that + should I announce myself as a candidate for such an important office while + in the penitentiary I would get a good ventilation. In this I was not + mistaken. When the announcement appeared in the Leavenworth "Times" it was + quickly copied and commented upon by the newspapers all over the country. + Some of these newspapers in their comments stated that I had more "cheek" + than should be allotted to ordinary mortals. Some said "he is a nervy + cuss." Others said his back isn't broken. Now and then one could be found + that predicted my election. So the matter was discussed, pro and con, for + several weeks, not only by the newspapers of Kansas, but whole columns + would appear in the St. Louis, Chicago and Denver papers, as well as those + of other cities. I was advertised. It would have cost me thousands of + dollars to pay for the ventilation I received just for making that little + simple announcement, had I been forced to pay the regular rates of + advertising. + </p> + <p> + But to return. It was at a late hour of the night when I closed my eyes in + slumber. Before doing so I had made the final decision; I had crossed the + Rubicon; I had looked the ground over, and had my plans well matured. The + next morning, after the day's work had commenced, and the warden had come + down to his office, I asked permission of my officer to see Captain Smith. + The officer wanted to know what my business was with the warden. My reply + was, "Official and strictly private." My request was granted. I was soon + standing in the presence of the big-hearted Warden Smith, and being asked + as to what I wanted, I said, "Captain, I thought I would come in and get + your opinion as to whether I was crazy or not, and if you think I am not + beside myself I would like to make a statement to you and ask your + advice." A few days before this I had had several interviews with him as + to my pardon, and other business matters, and I suppose he thought he was + going to get something more along the same line. "Go ahead, John," he + said, "and let me know what it is." I then told him of my intentions and + plans. He made no reply until I had gone over the whole subject. Then he + said. "You are certainly on the safe side, for you can lose nothing. I + always thought," continued he, "that it was practical to engage in any + enterprise where all was gain and nothing to lose. And, furthermore, + knowing your standing at home, it would not surprise me very much if you + would receive more votes than your competitors." + </p> + <p> + This was encouraging. I then asked permission to write letters to a number + of my friends, and also to receive letters from them. He informed me he + could not do this, as it would be a violation of the rules of the prison, + but if any of my friends should come down I could send out anything by + them I wished. I then wired a personal friend, A. S. Hall, Esq., of + Atchison, who called at the prison, to whom I gave my letter of + announcement, and several letters I had written to political friends. + </p> + <p> + The news spread rapidly, and in a few days I was squarely before the + people as an independent candidate. Shortly after this announcement I + wrote an article for the papers, stating my reasons for making the + senatorial race. When writing this communication I forgot I was a + prisoner, and said some things that reflected seriously upon some of the + warden's personal friends. Here, I made a mistake. The warden, on reading + this article, became enraged, and took away my writing material. At this + juncture the senatorial outlook was rather discouraging. My friends + championed my cause. Being an independent candidate, and my name not + printed on any ticket, I received no accidental votes. An elector voting + for me had to erase the name of my competitor and insert mine. There were + four candidates in the field. While I was not elected, I was far from + coming in last in the race. I received twice as many votes as one of my + competitors. He is one of the best men in the senatorial district, one of + the old settlers, and a gentleman highly esteemed. To receive twice as + many votes as this man was highly complimentary to me, I certainly felt + flattered. When the vote was made known I received an official copy of the + returns, and forwarded it to President Cleveland. My term was then almost + ended, and I felt confident that because of the splendid vote I had + received, and consequent endorsement of the people who were personally + acquainted with me, Mr. Cleveland would certainly grant a pardon. He did + not so much as answer my communication. + </p> + <p> + No one can imagine the anxiety I felt during that campaign. Had I received + but a small vote it would have required more nerve than I possess to have + induced me to return to my old home. But when the vote was counted, and I + received the returns, I must write it down as one of the happiest hours of + my life. I had many true friends, and they demonstrated that fact by + voting for me. Although in the garb of a felon, was not the vote I + received a grand vindication? Any person of sense must answer in the + affirmative. + </p> + <p> + Looking over the past, I can now see that I made no mistake in carrying + into effect the scheme to which my mind gave birth on that Sunday + afternoon as I sat in my little-cell. + </p> + <p> + I will close this chapter by tendering my friends who voted and worked for + me at the time when I so much stood in need of their aid, my heartfelt + gratitude. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. A DARK HOUR + </h2> + <p> + It was a bright Sabbath morning. I had been detailed to assist the prison + choir in their preparation for the religious services of the day. While + engaged in this duty, the deputy warden sent for me. Meeting this + official, he said to me, "John, I have sad news for you. Governor Martin + has just telephoned from Atchison that your wife is dead, and that it was + his wish to have you sent home at once." This was a great surprise to me. + I had heard from my wife only two days before this. At that time she was + quite sick, but was thought to be improving. With a heart filled with + sadness I now prepared for my journey home. The warden was absent, and the + deputy warden said, "There was no precedent for permitting a prisoner to + go home on a visit, as such a thing had never occurred before in the + history of the State, but," continued he, "if you will give me your word + that you will return to the prison I will let you go." I told him to set + the time for my return and I would be back. Mr. Morgan, the turnkey of the + prison, was my guard. My journey from the prison was the saddest of my + life. It was a bright May morning. Everything around seemed joyful and + happy, but to me the world was gloomy. I imagined my wife lying at home a + corpse, surrounded by my weeping, motherless little ones. She had passed + away without my being at her bedside to go with her to the brink of the + dark river. Mr. Morgan, my attendant, had lost his mother but a short time + before this, and he could sympathize with me in a manner that aided me in + bearing my burdens. + </p> + <p> + After riding for a couple of hours we arrived at Atchison. The train on + reaching the city passes on some two blocks beyond the depot; then backs + down. As I thus passed by the depot I saw numerous friends who had heard + of my coming, and were there waiting to welcome me to my home. They + saluted me as I sat in the car at the window and passed on by the depot. I + thought they exhibited too much joy in receiving a friend who was coming + back to see his dead wife. I wondered at it. When the train stopped to + back down to the depot, I got off and took the nearest cut to my + residence. Walking some four blocks I reached my home. When nearing the + gate, one of my little daughters came bounding across the street, full of + joy and gladness, welcoming me home. I thought she acted rather strange + for her mother to be lying in the house a corpse. Without saying anything + I stepped to the door; it was standing ajar. Looking in, I saw my wife + lying in the adjoining room—not dead! Thank God! It seemed as if I + had stepped into another world. My wife was very sick, but still + conscious. Oh! what joy I felt at once more being able to see my wife and + to talk with her. All the way from the prison to the door of my residence + I was laboring under a false impression. I drank the cup to its very + dregs. I could have suffered no more on that journey home if she had been + dead. In fact I supposed she was. Governor Martin had made a mistake in + transmitting the message, or had been wrongly informed. + </p> + <p> + I do not know how it came that I was permitted to return home. I was a + United States' prisoner. As such, Governor Martin had no control over me. + No one had authority to send me home on such a furlough except President + Cleveland. But I care nothing about this. I did not stop to inquire about + the authority; when the prison doors came open I left for home. I was + furnished a citizen's suit of clothes. I remained at home for nearly a + week. Many friends came to see me. This to me was one of the best weeks of + my life. + </p> + <p> + A little occurrence took place, during this short stay at home, which I + will mention here. I have a legal friend at Atchison by the name of Hon. + D. C. Arnold. This man, when tested, proves himself true to those who have + gained his good will. He conceived the idea that sending me out of the + penitentiary, IN CITIZEN'S CLOTHING, was without WARRANT IN LAW OR + PRECEDENT IN FACT, and that, by releasing me in that way, they had lost + control of me. Unknown to me he had prepared an application in "habeas + corpus." The judge of the District Court, Hon. W. D. Gilbert, who was on + the bench at the time, was a personal friend of his and mine also, as I + had something to do in his election, and had the application been + presented to him, the judge would have inclined to turn me loose, and I + would have been a free man. When Mr. Arnold informed me as to what he was + doing, I told him that I had given my word of honor that I would return to + the prison, and that I would keep it. + </p> + <p> + At the expiration of a week I returned to my prison cell. A petition, + signed by nearly five thousand people, had been forwarded to President + Cleveland for my pardon. I had some hopes of securing relief. I bade my + wife good-by. I thought sure I would be sent home in a few days. My wife + hopefully entertained the same opinion. We were both deceived. When I + reached the prison, the deputy warden, Mr. Higgins, when he was informed + by the officer, Mr. Morgan, who attended me home, how I refused my chances + of liberty by means of the proceedings in "habeas corpus," contemplated by + my friends, choosing imprisonment rather than breaking my word, called me + into his office, and said that there was not one man in ten placed in my + circumstances that would have done as I did. He then said to me: + "Reynolds, I will see that you have no more hard work to do while you are + in the penitentiary; I would give you your liberty if I could, but that is + beyond my power. I will make it as agreeable for you as possible in the + prison." He got another man to take my place in the mines, and I was given + an easy task from that on. I was detailed to make out reports for the + prison officials, and was kept busy, and was, as I was informed, a very + valuable man in that capacity. This kind of work was in keeping with my + labors when on the outside, and was not hard on me like digging coal. I + was given the liberty of the prison; was allowed to converse with the + prisoners, and because of these favors shown me, I was able to secure the + material for this book. + </p> + <p> + The month following my return to the prison was the darkest, the most + desolate, and the most sorrowful portion of my earthly pilgrimage yet + experienced. My wife was at home dying! I was behind the prison walls! + During that month I was entirely unfit for any kind of work. The prison + officials, knowing my sorrows, took pity on me and did not insist upon my + performing any kind of labor. I was left alone with my grief. None but God + and the angels knew what I suffered. During the day I could think of + nothing but my dying wife; in the night-time, when the angel Sleep closes + the eyelids down to rest, none came to me; in my dreams the pale face of + my dear one at home in the agonies of death was before me. I would but + drop sometimes into a dull slumber when I fancied that I could hear her + calling for me, and thus aroused, it seemed to me that I must burst the + prison bars and go to her. Knowing how much deeper and stronger, purer and + sweeter the affections and sympathies of woman are than those of man, what + must my poor, dead wife have borne! For thirty days and nights I endured + these torments. At last the hour came when her sufferings ceased. Reader, + doubtless you have lost a loved one. If so, you were permitted to go down + to the very brink of the River of Death; you were permitted to sit at the + bedside and administer words of comfort and cheer. Not so with me. My + loved one passed away, her husband kept from her side by prison bolts and + bars. And, reader, when you buried your loved one, kind friends condoled + with you, and in some degree assuaged your grief. Not so with me. When the + news came that my wife was dead I sat down in my solitary cell and shed my + tears alone. The cup that was placed to my lips was indeed a bitter one, + and I drank to the dregs. My wife was one of earth's purest and best. We + lived together as husband and wife the fifth of a century. During those + twenty years of married life my wife never uttered a cross word to her + husband. What greater eulogy could be pronounced! In the sunshine, and as + certainly amid the storms of life, she was constant and true. Because of + her goodness of heart my home was cloudless. Many times during life have + the storms and waves swept against my trembling barque, but in that little + harbor called home no storms ever came. Oh, how much a man loses when a + good wife dies! So great was my distress that, had it not been for the + strength imparted by a pitying God, I never could have passed through that + long night of suffering. Gone, never to return. + </p> + <p> + When my prison days were over, I returned to my old home in Atchison, but + how changed it was. My wife in her grave; my motherless children among + strangers; my home desolate. As I pen these lines, surrounded by the fogs + and mists of time, the question comes to me ever and anon, when the hour + shall come for me to close my eyes to the scenes of earth, will I be + permitted to greet my sainted wife in the beautiful city above? Yes. I + have the faith that the loving Galilean—the man of sorrows, who was + acquainted with grief—will in that hour open the gates of pearl, and + let me in. Until that happy hour—until we meet in the land where + none of life's storms ever reach, my darling wife, farewell! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. FREEDOM + </h2> + <p> + To all things earthly there comes an end. Sixteen long, dreary months of + imprisonment finally passed away. The dark clouds of sadness and gloom + that for so long hung above me now parted, and folding themselves together + rolled away in the distance. The large iron doors swung upon their hinges, + and once more I breathed the air of freedom. Drowsy Nature was just being + aroused from her wintry slumber by the gentle touch of Spring, as I began + life anew. On that, to me, eventful morning the sky appeared brighter than + I had ever beheld it before. O liberty! No one can ever appreciate thy + blessings save him upon whose limbs have pressed the cruel fetters of + slavery. The sunlight of freedom falls with its greatest refulgence upon + him who has been surrounded for months and years by the baleful mists and + darkness of abject bondage. The air of liberty comes doubly surcharged + with the fragrance of the rarest flowers to him who has inhaled the feted + breath of serfdom. Grateful to God that my life had been spared; retaining + all the ambition of former years; possessed of my manhood; conscious of no + guilt, I felt that, under the guiding hand of Providence, there was for me + a bright future. With a determination to succeed, that can never be + satisfied short of success, I returned to my home. I concluded that + instead of going to some distant place, among strangers, it was best for + me to return to the locality where all knew of my misfortunes and the true + causes that led to them. On my arrival at the depot I was met by a + multitude of friends. By the reception that was given me no one, ignorant + of the facts, would have for a moment imagined that I had but a few hours + before vacated the cell of a criminal. I pen these lines three months from + the day when I began life anew, and during that time I have met with no + one so base as to "snub" a man, who, having met with misfortune, is + honestly endeavoring to regain what he lost. + </p> + <p> + Is there any hope for the ex-convict? Is it possible for him to be clothed + in the garments of respectability who once has been attired in the + habiliments of disgrace? Can he ever be a man among men who has for a time + been numbered with the debased of earth? To these questions, with all the + powers of my being, I answer, YES! I do not know how the outlook may + appear to others who have met a similar misfortune; but as for myself I + can truthfully say I was never more hopeful in my life. There may be + storms in the future, obstacles to meet and overcome, but self reliant, + and trusting in Him who observes the struggles even of the worm, I hope to + soon reach my proper place among men, and in the end reap the golden + harvest of success. The world is full of kind-hearted people who are ready + to help those who, though unfortunate, are willing to help themselves. + Scores of men annually go out from the "Kansas Hell," having paid the + penalties of their crimes, who are not so highly favored as myself, and + whose struggles will have to be greater than mine if they ever secure a + foothold of respectability in life. In behalf of these in their efforts to + become better men I appeal to the great, loving heart of the true Kansan. + HELP THE FALLEN IN HIS STRUGGLES TO RISE AGAIN. + </p> + <p> + Since my return home, several times have I visited the grave of my wife, + and often on these occasions would the hot blood go surging through my + veins, and my baser nature would demand that I avenge the death of her who + was so heartlessly sent to an untimely grave. A better judgment has + prevailed, and as I drop the tear of affection upon the grave of her who + is the mother of my children, I leave the wrongs of the past in the hands + of an avenging God. May there fall upon those who were so kind to my + sorrowing family and myself while we were passing through the deep waters, + the radiant smiles of Him who says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one + of the least of these, ye have done it unto me." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A MISSOURI HELL + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. THE CONVICT'S HOME + </h2> + <p> + "Jefferson City is the next station," called out the train man as the + Missouri Pacific rolled into the capital of the great commonwealth of + Missouri. It was two o'clock in the morning. From an easy reclining chair, + to an omnibus, and to a cozy room in the Madison House, was the work of + but a few moments. It being rather an unseasonable hour to begin the + investigation of a large penal institution, I made a brief journey to the + land of dreams, and there remained until a noisy porter knocked at my + bed-room door, and shouted, "Nine o'clock, last call for breakfast, old + man; if you want any thing to eat you had better get a move on you." Being + of the opinion this was rather a cheerful morning salutation, I arose, + dressed, and soon felt better because of a good breakfast. I am now ready + for my work—an investigation of the Missouri penitentiary. Before + leaving my home in Atchison, Kansas, I procured a letter of introduction + from Hon. B. P. Waggener, mayor of that city, to Governor Francis of + Missouri. I found my way to the capitol, and to the office of the + governor. After a brief delay I was shown into the private apartment of + the obliging executive, where I presented my letter, stated the object of + my visit, and received a letter to the warden of the prison, containing a + request that the bearer be shown every thing there was to be seen in and + about the penitentiary. + </p> + <p> + From the capitol to the prison is a walk of but a few minutes. On my way + there I met a one-legged ex-convict who was just leaving the institution. + His pale face, shoddy suit of clothes and light-colored felt hat all spoke + but too plainly of the fact that he was very recently "let loose," + Entering into conversation with him, I found that he had a few moments + before completed a term of five years at hard labor. From him I gathered a + great deal of important information as to the treatment of the prisoners, + of which he had been an eye-witness for five years. He also gave me his + own history. In a saloon brawl, he became involved in a fight with a + drunken comrade, half-crazed with drink. Pistols were drawn, and shots + were exchanged. He received a bullet in his thigh, that caused the + amputation of his limb. His antagonist was killed. On a trial for murder + he received a sentence for manslaughter. Said he, "Whisky sent me to + prison. Had I not been drunk I would never have taken the life of the man + whom I shot. He had been, for years, a good friend of mine. I will never + take another drink as long as I live. It has been my ruin." In the + conversation he informed me that he had left behind him, when sent to + prison, a wife and three children. During his confinement they had to + depend for the most part on their relatives and public charity for + support. On account of their poverty they had not been able to visit him + at any time during his imprisonment. They had continued to love him, + notwithstanding his misfortune; had been true to him during his days of + bondage; and he was now anxious to reach his home to meet them. How true + it is that the blow which falls upon the culprit, and which justice + intends for him alone, often falls with equal force and effect upon wife, + child or other helpless and dependent relative! I asked him how he felt on + recovering his liberty after being in prison for five years. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" said he, "this is the happiest day of my life thus far; I never knew + the blessings of liberty as I do now. I never saw the sun shine so + brightly before. Everything about me seems so beautiful. From this time I + will appreciate more than ever I have done, this beautiful world. It + almost pays a man to be penned up for a time to enable him to appreciate + what there is in the world for him. Behind the walls, however, banished + from the presence of loved ones, it is a veritable hell. I cannot find a + term that expresses my views of a prison life that is more suitable than + that word—hell. Those long, dreary days of monotonous work—the + same thing must be gone over, day after day; the food we eat, the + treatment to which we are subjected, our loneliness and solitude, all + combined, make prison life almost unbearable." "Do you know," I asked, "of + any prisoners who are so satisfied with their condition as to be willing + to remain in the penitentiary, did they have an opportunity of obtaining + their liberty?" "There is not a person in that institution," he replied, + "who would not hail with joy his release. Some of them are physical + wrecks, and would have to go to the almshouse to be taken care of in case + they should obtain their freedom, yet they would prefer any place to that + of a prison cell, deprived of their freedom." After spending more than an + hour in conversation with this ex-convict, and bidding him "good bye," I + proceeded on my journey to the prison. As I walked along thinking of the + poor ex-convict I had just passed, my imagination pictured for him a + rather gloomy future. He is a cripple, and has a large family to support; + he must bear with him along life's journey the heavy load of disgrace that + whisky placed upon him. An ex-convict! Who will give him work to do? Who + will lend him a helping hand in his struggle to regain a foothold in the + outside world? After a few vain efforts to regain what he has lost, will + he not yield to despair, as thousands have done before him, and, becoming + a pitiless wreck, pass on down the current of crime until he drifts over + Time's last precipice and drops into the arms of Death? To the average + ex-convict there is but little hope for success in this life. + </p> + <p> + The painful history of a majority of them is, after they have fallen into + the meshes of a criminal life, they never have the moral power to + extricate themselves. My musings are now at an end, for I have just + reached the entrance to the penitentiary—"A Missouri Hell." A prison + official on duty at the entrance conducted me into the presence of the + warden, Hon. John L. Morrison. This genial gentleman is a resident of + Howard County, where he was born and spent the greater portion of his + life. He is sixty years of age, and by occupation a farmer. For four years + he was sheriff of his county. He received his appointment as warden less + than one year ago. He is without any prison experience. The reason, no + doubt, for his being appointed warden of so great a penal institution is, + that outside from his being a man of unimpeachable integrity, he exerts no + little political influence in that portion of the State where he resides. + We have no cause for criticising the governor's selection. Perhaps he is + one of the very best men that could have been procured for the place. At + any rate, he is credited with starting out well. But it is not every + honest, upright man that makes a good warden. It requires a man with a + special fitness to be a success in handling prisoners and making a penal + institution beneficial to all interested. After Warden Morrison has been + given a fair trial, and it becomes evident that he is a successful prison + man, he should be retained many years in that responsible position. For + the longer he is kept at the head of the institution the more valuable + will his services be to the State. I remained several days, and through + the kindness of the warden and other prison officials, saw everything + about the institution that was noteworthy. + </p> + <p> + The Missouri penitentiary is located in the southern suburbs of Jefferson + City. Its entrance is from the north. It covers an area of seventeen + acres. This tract of ground is surrounded by a stone wall twenty feet high + and four feet thick. The prison enclosure is rectangular in form. At each + of the four corners, and at stated intervals, towers arise eight feet, + which are occupied by officers on duty. Occupying this elevated position, + these officers can readily observe all that occurs within the prison + walls, outside the buildings. At stated times the officers emerge from the + towers and walk along on top of the wall to see if anything unusual is + taking place about the prison. Loose stones are piled on top of portions + of the wall that surrounds the prison, to prevent the convicts from + securing a fastening for ladder hooks, should they attempt to escape. A + portion of this wall was erected fifty-four years ago, the prison having + been established in 1836. Could these towering stones speak, what scenes + of misery and wretchedness they might describe! O, ye rocks, that make up + this barrier between freedom and the worst form of human slavery, as you + have been occupying your silent position for the past half hundred years, + had your ears been unstopped, what countless groans of despair would you + have heard? Could your eyes have opened, when first you took your place in + that prison wall fifty years ago, how many indescribable scenes of anguish + would you have witnessed? A heavy iron door swings upon its creaking + hinges. Bolts fly back into their sockets. I step into a revolving iron + cage, which, manipulated by a guard, turns half way round on its axis, and + I emerge from this into the prison campus the space surrounded by the + walls. What wonderful scenes now are discovered! Many of them, indeed, are + heartrending. + </p> + <p> + I will describe what I saw and make mention of what I heard. There are + four large buildings of brick and stone; honeycombed with cells—the + homes of the prisoners. The cells, in ONE of these buildings, are large + and commodious, and contain four criminals. In dimension they are nine + feet wide and thirteen feet long. The remainder of the cells are small and + contain but one man in a cell. The large cells are objectionable, for the + reason that the men, being locked up together in such small rooms, get to + talking, and often quarrels and fights result. A number of convicts have + been almost murdered in these larger cells, where there were more than one + occupant. Again, if there be three in a cell who desire to have the fourth + one removed, they combine against him and render his existence while in + the cell unbearable. They abuse him constantly. If he reports them to the + officer the three stoutly deny all accusations, often bringing upon the + innocent one punishment which should have been meted out to the three + guilty ones. + </p> + <p> + It requires but little stretch of the imagination to enable one to see how + miserable a prisoner may be rendered in one of these cells when three + occupants of the same cell combine against him. The large cells are a + source of great annoyance to prison officials, and are now, after trial, + universally condemned. The small cells are about four feet wide, seven + feet long, and seven feet high. The doors are very low, and the prisoner + has to stoop as he enters. The low door gives to the cell a more gloomy + appearance than it would possess if the entrance was higher. On going into + one of these cells one has the same feeling as takes hold of him when he + crawls into a low, dark hole in the ground. The cells are constructed of + stone, with wooden floors. The cells of the Kansas and other + penitentiaries are higher and better ventilated. The furniture of the cell + consists of an iron rack, on which is placed a straw bed with sufficient + covering to keep the convict warm. There are also a bucket, wash-basin and + towel. The prisoner washes himself in the cell. He also has a chair to sit + on and a Holy Bible to read. This is about all the furniture to be found + in the cells. Occasionally a carpet covers the floor, but the prisoner + furnishes this out of his own means. If he has no means he has no carpet. + I was much surprised to learn that there was no way provided for the + convicts to take a plunge bath, and that many of them became very filthy + because of their not being compelled to bathe at stated times. Other + penitentiaries are supplied with bath-houses, and once each week the + inmates are required to take a bath. This certainly is conducive to good + health. The cell-houses are lighted by electric lights, and each cell is + provided with a lamp. Thus the prisoner has an opportunity of reading + during the evenings, which is a great blessing, and should be highly + appreciated. + </p> + <p> + The prison is supplied with a large library of choice books to which the + inmates have access. They also are allowed to read daily newspapers, if + they have money with which to purchase them. The managing officials of the + Kansas penitentiary are possessed of a very foolish notion in regard to + the reading of daily newspapers. They will not under any circumstances + allow a prisoner to take his home paper, or have access to any political + daily. They claim that it excites the prisoner and makes his imprisonment + more difficult to bear when he knows what is going on in the outside + world. It seems that this custom smacks of barbarism, and the prison + directors of the Kansas prison should discard it at once. Imagine the + condition of a prisoner who has been in confinement for ten years, having + no access to the daily or weekly newspapers. He would be an ignoramus of + the worst type. Our penal institutions should try and improve their + prisoners, instead of rendering them more ignorant and debased. We are + glad to note that the Missouri penitentiary is in advance of the Kansas + prison in this respect. If the prisoner can take a little pleasure in + reading, daily or weekly, what takes place at his own home, why not give + him the privilege, since it is evident that such a permission will not be + detrimental to prison discipline? There are school books to be found in + the prison library, and the prisoners, if they desire, can get these books + and study them. A great many do improve these opportunities, and a number + have made great advancement in their studies. They are also permitted to + have writing materials in their cells, a privilege which is considered + very dangerous, and which but few similar institutions grant. Many of the + convicts who could not read or write on entering the prison make + considerable progress in these studies. + </p> + <p> + The Missouri prison does not go far enough in matters of education. It + should be provided with a school. In this matter the Kansas and Iowa + penitentiaries are far in advance. They have regular graded schools, and + many convicts have acquired an education sufficient to enable them to + teach when they went out again into the free world. It is to be hoped when + the Legislature meets again the members will see to it that ample + provision is made for a first-class school at the prison, with a corps of + good teachers. The State will lose nothing by this movement. + </p> + <p> + In the Iowa prison at Ft. Madison the convicts are taught in the evening, + after the work of the day is over. In the Kansas prison, instruction is + given Sunday afternoon. These schools are accomplishing great good. The + chief object of imprisonment should be reformation. Ignorance and + reformation do not affiliate. Some will argue that if prisoners are + educated and treated so humanely they will have a desire to return to the + prison, in fact, make it their home. Experience teaches us that, treat a + human being as a prince, and deprive him of his liberty, and the greatest + burden of life is placed upon him, and he is rendered a pitiable object of + abject misery. There is no punishment to which a human being can be + subjected which it is possible to endure, that is more to be dreaded than + confinement. Those long, weary, lonely hours that the prisoner spends in + his cell are laden with the greatest of all continuous sorrows. There is + but little danger of surfeiting him with kindness and advantages, so long + as he is deprived of his freedom. If there is any hope for the reformation + of the vicious and depraved, no better place can be found to commence that + reformation than while he is an inmate of the prison. While there, he is + shut out from the society of his wicked companions; he is not subjected to + the same temptations in prison as on the outside. Save being deprived of + his freedom, he is placed in the most favorable position for reformation + that it is possible for one to occupy. If he is not reformed here it is + not likely he ever will be. It is to the highest interest of the State + that these opportunities should be improved. Every effort should be put + forth to make these men better while they are in prison. They are worth + saving. It must not be forgotten that one of the essential features in a + thorough reformation of a man, is to drive away the mists of ignorance by + which he is surrounded. Other things being equal, he is the better + prepared to wage successfully life's warfare, who is educated. He will be + better able to resist the temptations which he will meet when his days of + bondage are over. Yes, by all means, let every prison have its school. It + is of the greatest importance to the prisoner, likewise to the State. As I + was passing through these cell-houses, reading the names of the convicts, + placed above the cell door, I came to one which contained four brothers. + Five brothers were convicted of robbery and sent to the prison, but a + short time ago one of them was pardoned, and the four now remain. The + liberated one was on a visit to his brothers while I was at the prison. + Reader, is it not a sad thought that these four young men, brothers, + should spend ten of the best years of their lives in a prison? Surely the + way of the transgressor is hard. + </p> + <p> + Young man, you who have as yet never been an inmate of a prison, imagine, + if possible, the loneliness experienced as one spends his days, weeks, + months and years behind these frowning prison walls, shut up the greatest + portion of the time in these small cells that I have described in this + chapter. If you do not wish a life of this nature, shun the company of + wicked and vicious associates, and strive with all your power to resist + the tempter in whatever form he may approach you. It is not force he + employs to drag you down to the plane of the convict, but he causes the + sweet song of the syren to ring in your ear, and in this manner allures + you away from the right, and gently leads you down the pathway that ends + in a felon cell, disgrace and death. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV. THE WORK OF THE CONVICT + </h2> + <p> + It is a great blessing to the convict that he can have the privilege of + working. When prisons were first started in this country it was thought + best to keep the prisoner in solitary confinement; have him visited daily + by a spiritual teacher, place the Bible and other good books in his hands, + and in this manner reform him, and send him out into the world a better + man than he was on entering the prison. The great penal institution of + Auburn, New York, was for a time conducted in this manner. The plan, at + first thought to be a good one, had to be abandoned. The criminal could + not endure solitary confinement. HE MUST HAVE WORK. Many of them became + insane, while still others died for want of the open air, out-door + exercise, and some diversion for the mind. + </p> + <p> + In all the penitentiaries of the country, at the present time, convicts + are required to perform some kind of useful labor. That is one point of + the prison question that is, doubtless, forever settled. All prison men + agree that the convict must perform some kind of work. Labor to the + prisoners means health of body and mind. Solitary confinement means the + reverse. But what kind of labor the prisoner should perform, and what + should be done with the results of his labor, is one of the most difficult + questions to decide. + </p> + <p> + All the prisoners of the Missouri penitentiary are let out to contractors, + with the exception of those needed to do the work about the prison. The + work consists chiefly of making saddle-trees and shoes. Several large + three-story buildings are used in furnishing room for the convicts while + at labor. Those contractors who have been at the prison for some time have + grown rich. They get their men for forty-five cents a day, on an average. + They have their choice of prisoners as they come in. Those convicts + designated scrubs, do the work for the State. The contractors are charged + with controlling the prison. If one of the officials, in the discharge of + his duty, happens to do anything displeasing to the contractors, they + combine against him and have him removed. They are charged with using + their combined political influence, and even money, to carry their points. + We have been told by some of the leading men of the State that it was a + notorious fact that the penitentiary was controlled by a political ring, a + set of jobbers, and this ring was largely influenced by the contractors. + The contract system is wrong, and should not have a place in any of the + penal institutions of the country. + </p> + <p> + The contractor assigns the task. The prisoner must perform that task or be + punished. If an avaricious contractor, in his desire to make money, places + too great a task upon the prisoner, who is there to take the prisoner's + part and shield him from abuse? Fully nine-tenths of the punishments + inflicted is the result of the reports and complaints of the contractors. + See how unjust and how hard this contract system is upon many of the + prisoners! Two convicts enter the same day. In outward appearance they are + strong, healthy men. The same task is assigned them. One of them being + adapted to that line of work, and skilled, performs his task with ease; + while the other, equally industrious, cannot get through with his. He is + reported for shirking. He states his inability to do the amount of work + assigned him. The contractor or his foreman makes a different report. The + assertions of the convict amount to but little, as against the statements + of the rich and influential contractor. He is punished and returned to his + work. A second time he tries, again fails, and is reported as before. This + being the second offense the prisoner is subjected to a more severe + punishment. This brutal treatment is continued until the officer, growing + weary with inflicting punishment upon the poor wretch, concludes he is + unable to perform the task assigned him. If this contract system is to + continue in Missouri, there should be some one whose duty it is to see + that the prisoner is humanely treated, and not let a brutal officer + decide, who is in league with the contractors. I have it from the lips of + a prison official who has been connected with the prison for thirty-six + years, that the treatment some of the prisoners receive because of the + avariciousness of the contractors, is simply heartrending. + </p> + <p> + After all, is not this contract system a regular jobbing business? If + these men can employ the prisoners and pay forty-five cents a day for + them, and make money and grow rich, why cannot the State work the convicts + and save all these profits? Competent men can be secured as + superintendents to carry on this work. Some will say, that it will open up + too many avenues to jobbery; that the superintendents will get to stealing + from the State, and in the end the State will not get as much benefit as + under the present system. This seems like begging the question. If these + superintendents, after a time, become thieves, treat them as thieves, and + give them a term in the penitentiary. This kind of medicine will soon cure + all cases of jobbery. Again, prisoners should be assigned tasks according + to their ability. All men are not alike equally skilled in the same kind + of labor. All these things should be taken into account. No prisoner + should be forced to carry a burden that is oppressive, in order to fill + the coffers of avaricious contractors. Again, I ask that there be some + humane person, whose duty it is to see that these helpless men, whose lips + are sealed, are not oppressed by this damnable contract system. Let us + treat these unfortunate men humanely, and never forget that, if stern + justice was meted out to those who had the control of convicts, as + officers, guards, or contractors, many of them would be doing service for + the State, clad in a suit of stripes. The penitentiary of Missouri is + self-supporting, with the exception of the officer's pay-roll. At each + session of the Legislature, an appropriation of $140,000 is made for this + purpose. There are over one hundred officers on the pay-roll. The records + show that it requires nearly a quarter of a million dollars annually to + pay the expenses of this institution. + </p> + <p> + Crime is an expensive luxury! + </p> + <p> + During the past two years $347,000 have been paid into the treasury as the + earnings of the prison. The goods manufactured are sold chiefly in the + State of Missouri. This brings convict labor, which is very cheap, into + competition with the labor of the poor, but honest man on the outside. The + average labor value of the convict is forty-five cents a day. How is it + possible for laboring men on the outside, who have families depending upon + them, to support themselves and families on an amount, that will enable + business men, for whom they work, to engage in business and compete with + this cheap convict labor? This is the great argument against convict + labor. The convict must be given work or he will become insane. To bring + this cheap labor into conflict with the toil of honest but poor men on the + outside, is unjust and cruel. What to do with convict labor is one of the + unsolved problems. It is a subject that will furnish ample scope for the + thinking mind. + </p> + <p> + The prisoner is worked on an average of nine hours each day. He goes about + his labor in silence. It is against the regulations for him to exchange a + word or a knowing glance with a fellow-workman. When visitors pass through + the workshops he is not permitted to lift his eyes from his work to look + at them. An officer, perched upon a raised seat, who commands a view of + the entire work-room, is constantly on the watch to see that no rule or + regulation is violated. The convict cannot take a drink of water, or go + from one part of the room to another in the discharge of his duties + without permission from the officer. The prisoner is always conscious of + being watched. This feeling is no small factor in making the life of a + prisoner almost unbearable. Nearly all of the inmates work in shops, and + all the exercise they receive in the open air is what they get in going to + and from their meals and cells. It is this sameness of work, this daily + and hourly going over the same routine, this monotonous labor, this being + surrounded by hundreds of busy fellow-workmen, and not permitted to + exchange a word with any of them, that makes the life of a prisoner to be + so much dreaded. Young man, as you read these lines, it is impossible for + you to conceive the misery that accompanies this kind of a monotonous + life. + </p> + <p> + In order to know all that it means, you must pass through it, as I have + done. Things are entirely different with you. While you are at work on the + outside of prisons, you can carry on conversation with those about you and + thus pass the time in a pleasant manner. After the day's work is over, if + you so desire, you can spend an hour or so with friends. Not so with the + criminal. After his day's work, done in silence, is past, he is locked up + in his solitary cell to spend the evening as best he can. + </p> + <p> + There is no one to watch you constantly while at your daily toil, to see + that you do not violate some insignificant rule or regulation. When you + desire a holiday, and wish to take a stroll out into the woods, to look + upon the beautiful flowers or admire nature in all her loveliness, to + inhale the pure, fresh air—which is a stranger to packed workshops—to + revel in the genial sunlight, there is no one to forbid you. You are a + free man. + </p> + <p> + Oh, what a wonderful difference between the laboring man who is free, and + him who is forced to work, clad in the habiliments of disgrace! He who + penned these lines has had to toil as a convict in the coal mines of the + Kansas penitentiary, eight hundred feet below the surface, lying stretched + out on his side, and he knows what he is talking about when he says, he + would rather die and be laid away in his grave than to spend five years as + a convict. + </p> + <p> + Young man, think of these things when you are tempted to do those things + that will send you to a felon's cell. Of course, it is no intention of + yours ever to become an inmate of a prison. Permit one who has had + experience, to tell you that it is one of the easiest things in the world + to get into a prison, and that when once in, it is difficult to secure + your liberty, until Time turns the bolt and lets you out, or in other + words, until you serve out your term. May you never yield to a temptation + that will make you a prisoner. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI. THE MISSOURI PRISONERS + </h2> + <p> + The Missouri penitentiary contains 1,894 convicts. This is the most + populous penal institution in the United States. Crime is on the increase. + The number of prisoners is gradually becoming larger. Reformation is not + the success that it should be. A great many of the prisoners return a + second, third and many the fourth time. There is one old convict now an + inmate who has served nine different terms in this prison. The highest + number that was ever at any prior time in this penitentiary, was reached + on Thanksgiving Day of 1889. In 1836, fifty-four years ago, when this + prison was founded, there were eighteen prisoners received the first day. + During the year one received a pardon, leaving at the close seventeen + prisoners. At the close of 1889 there were nineteen hundred inmates. As + the population of Missouri increases, she is generous enough to contribute + her quota to the felon cells within her borders. The increase of from + seventeen at the close of the first year to that of nineteen hundred at + the close of the last year, speaks volumes. What can be done to lessen + this fearful increase of crime? It is true that the population of the + State has increased amazingly since 1836, but crime has increased too + rapidly in proportion to the increase of population. + </p> + <p> + When a man, accused of crime, is convicted and sentenced in any of the + courts of the State, a commitment is furnished the sheriff, by the clerk + of the court. This document is a writing, giving the name of the prisoner, + the crime of which he stands committed, and the term for which he is + sentenced. It is the authority given the sheriff to convey to the + penitentiary the person named therein, and to deliver him to the warden. + As soon as the warden receives the commitment he assumes control of the + prisoner, and retains it until his term of service expires, or is + liberated by pardon or some court decree. It is curious to note how + differently prisoners act on coming to the penitentiary. Some of them + quake with fear and tremble as the aspen leaf. Others weep like whipped + children. While others do not seem to mind it much. This latter class is + chiefly made up of those who have served terms before, and have had + experience. The officers try to crush the spirit of the criminal the first + day he enters. The poor culprit, already quaking with fear, is spoken to + in a cross and harsh manner, as if he was going to be struck over the head + with a club the next moment. He is locked up in the reception cell, a low, + dark dungeon. To use the expressive language of the prison, he is left in + this dungeon to "soak" for an indefinite time, often for a day and a + night. In this dreaded spot, in his loneliness and shame he has an + opportunity for meditation. I don't suppose there ever was a person who, + in this reception cell for the first time, did not heartily regret the + commission of his crime. Here he thinks of his past life. The days of his + innocent childhood come flitting before him. The faces of loved ones, many + of whom now dead, pass in review. It is here he thinks of his loving + mother, of his kind old father, of his weeping sisters and sympathizing + brothers. + </p> + <p> + He travels, time and again, the road of his past life. In his reveries of + solitude he sits once more in the old school-house of his boyhood days. It + comes to him, now with greater force than ever before, what he might have + been, had he taken a different course, Alas! it is too late. He is forever + disgraced. There is but little hope for him now in the future. Reader, + behold this unfortunate youth as he sits in his lonely dungeon, his first + day in the penitentiary. On a low chair, his elbows resting on his knees, + his face buried in his hands, he sits and tries to imagine what is in + store for him. He endeavors to peer into the future, and all is gloom. + That sweet angel we call Hope, has spread her wings, taken her flight and + left him comfortless. The cloud of despair, black as the Egyptian + midnight, settles down upon him. He wishes that he was dead. I can never + forget my first day in a felon's cell. Of all my eventful life, into which + many dark days have crowded themselves, my first day in prison was the + darkest. After the "soaking season" is over, an officer advances to the + dungeon, throws back the bolts, pulls open the door, and, in a harsh + manner, commands the broken-hearted culprit to follow. He is conducted to + an apartment, takes a bath, and dons the suit of stripes. Ye angels! did + you ever behold such a sight? Is it not a travesty on every thing that is + good to dress a human being in such a suit of clothes. A striped coat, + striped pataloons, striped shirt, striped cap, in fine everything he wears + is striped. There is nothing in this world so humiliates a person as being + compelled to wear these stripes. No language can describe the feelings of + horror that took hold upon me the first time I saw myself arrayed in these + emblems of disgrace. I passed through all the fiery ordeal of trial, + sentence, reception cell, undaunted, but when I made my first toilet in + the penitentiary, I must admit, I was "knocked out." Then I felt keenly + the sting of disgrace. The prisoner is next introduced to a convict + barber, who shaves him and "clips" his hair. By the time the barber gets + through with his part of the programme, the prisoner has but little hair + either on his face or head. The prison physician examines him and it is + decided where he is to work. He is next shown the cell he is to occupy, + and later on his place of work. Over his cell is placed his name and + number. He now enters upon that indescribable, desolate, and dreary life + of a convict. + </p> + <p> + THE TREATMENT OF THE PRISONERS + </p> + <p> + The inmates of the Missouri penitentiary are well clothed. In this + respect, this prison has no rival. All the prisoners presented the + appearance of being cleanly, so far as their clothing is concerned. All + are dressed in stripes. None are exempt. Here are nearly two thousand men + on an equality. None of them can look down upon others, and say, I am more + nicely dressed than you. I never saw a convict dude in the entire lot. The + prisoners are well fed. For breakfast, the bill of fare consists of bread, + coffee, without milk or sugar, and hash. There is no change of this bill + of fare. If the prisoner has been there for ten years, if not in the + hospital, he has feasted upon hash every morning. Boiled meat, corn bread, + potatoes and water make up the dinner, and for supper the convict has + bread, molasses and coffee. The principal objection to this diet is its + monotony. Whenever a change of diet becomes a strict necessity, the + prisoner is permitted to take a few meals in the hospital dining-room. + Here he receives a first-class meal. This is a capital idea. A great deal + of sickness is prevented by thus permitting the convict to have an + occasional change of diet. On holidays, such as Thanksgiving day, + Christmas, etc., an extra dinner is given, which is keenly relished by + all. I have before me a statement of the expenses for a Sunday breakfast + and dinner. There are only two meals given on Sunday. The hash was made up + of 612 pounds of beef, 90 pounds of bacon, and 30 bushels of potatoes. + Fifty-one pounds of coffee were used, and four and a half barrels of + flour. The entire meal cost $68.38. + </p> + <p> + For dinner, 1,585 pounds of beef, 30 bushels of potatoes, and 4 1/2 + barrels of flour, were used. This meal cost $100.61. It costs about ten + cents each a day to feed the prisoners. Some of the convicts, after they + get their daily tasks performed, do overwork. The contractors pay them + small sums for this extra labor. With this money the convict is permitted + to purchase apples from the commissary department, which he can take to + his cell and eat at his leisure. The commissary keeps these apples on hand + at all times in packages, which he sells to the prisoners at twenty cents + each. In prison, apples are the most healthful diet the inmate can have. + Should friends on the outside desire to send delicacies to any of the + prisoners, they are permitted to receive the same, and, taking them to + their cells, eat at their leisure. These luxuries are highly appreciated + by the men in stripes, whose daily food is largely made up of hash and + corn bread. The female prisoners must subsist on the same kind of food as + the males. In some penal institutions, Kansas for example, the women have + better diet than is furnished the men. Not so in this penitentiary. All + are treated alike, so far as food is concerned. + </p> + <p> + Three times each day the men march into the large dining-hall, which + accommodates 1,500, and partake of their meals. The tableware is of tin + and somewhat meager. The tables themselves present the appearance of the + modern school-desk, being long enough that twenty men may be comfortably + seated at each. No table-linen is used. When eating, the convict is not + permitted to call for anything he may wish. When a dish is empty it is + held aloft, and an officer or a convict waiter replenishes it. Ample time + is given to eat. All have a sufficiency of food such as it is. Every thing + is clean. After the meal is over, the prisoners, in ranks, return to their + workshops, or to their cells in case it is the last meal of the day. It is + a very interesting sight to witness 1,500 convicts eating at the same + time. + </p> + <p> + The officials are to be commended for the following privileges they grant + the prisoners: On all holidays, such as Fourth of July, Christmas, etc., + they are let out of their cells into a large open square, inside the + prison walls, and are allowed to converse with each other, and are given + full liberty to do as they wish. These are days of freedom. Officers, of + course, are among them to see that no fighting occurs, and also to prevent + any from effecting their escape by scaling the walls. The prisoners do + certainly enjoy these times. They shake hands with each other, run about, + shout, leap for joy, and have more real happiness than a lot of + school-boys who have been shut up in a room all day at their studies and + are in the evening turned out for play. The men are very careful not to + abuse this privilege which they prize very highly. There never have been + any disturbances, nor fights, nor attempts at escape during these + holidays. These privileges granted the prisoners demonstrate the + humaneness of the prison officials. + </p> + <p> + The question often arises, why is it there are no more riots and + insurrections in this prison. Here are nearly two thousand men huddled up + together. They are prisoners, suffering the worst kind of bondage. Why is + it they do not make a rush for liberty whenever an opportunity presents + itself? Many of them are in for life, and may never again see beyond their + prison walls. Why are they so docile? These questions can be easily + answered. Many of the men are short-time prisoners, having from one to + three years, and cannot afford to get into trouble, as their time is + short. Added to this, if the prisoner behaves himself, and obtains a good + prison record, he obtains a pardon and restoration to citizenship when + three-fourths of his time has expired. If a man is sent for ten years, by + good conduct he will be pardoned at the end of seven and a half years. + This is a great inducement to good behavior. The reason the life-men cause + but little, if any, disturbance in the prison is, that they all have a + hope sometime or other of receiving a pardon, and they know very well + that, if they do not have a good prison record, they can never obtain a + pardon. A custom also prevails at the prison, that has much to do in + causing the long-time men to behave themselves, and be obedient to the + regulations of the institution. Every Fourth of July and Christmas the + governor of the State grants pardons to two long-time men, so there are + four chances annually for a man to obtain his freedom. Before the governor + will pardon one of these men, he must be satisfied, among other things, + that the convict has a good prison record. + </p> + <p> + Any one can readily see that this is a great inducement for the prisoner + to behave himself. Missouri is the only State, so far as my knowledge + extends, that has this custom. It should become, not only a custom, but a + law, in every State. It is founded on good sense. + </p> + <p> + THE PRISONER'S SENTENCE + </p> + <p> + I believe in capital punishment. When a man falls so low as maliciously, + willfully and premeditatedly, to take the life of a human being, he should + be hung by the neck until he is dead. Before it is just to impose such a + sentence as this upon a human being he should have a fair and impartial + trial, which many persons charged with crime do not get. If poor and + unable to employ the best legal talent, the court should see that it is + furnished. Too often is it the case when a poor man, charged with crime, + makes affidavit that he is unable to procure counsel, that some young and + inexperienced attorney is selected, in order to give him a start in + practice. The consequence of this inexperience is that the man charged + with crime has to suffer for his lawyer's inability to secure for him his + rights. After the jury has brought in a verdict of guilty he should have + the privilege of taking his case to the Supreme Court, and have it + reviewed by that tribunal at the expense of the State. No human being + should be hung on circumstantial evidence, unsupported by positive + testimony. If the judgment below is confirmed, then let the murderer be + kept in close confinement in the penitentiary for one year, and, if during + that time no new evidence or mitigating circumstances arise let him be + hung by the neck until he is dead. + </p> + <p> + Let the execution take place in the prison, let it be private and + witnessed by but few persons, designated by the executive of the State. It + is better for the criminal to be hung than to be sent to the penitentiary + for life. While serving out a lifetime sentence he suffers ten thousand + deaths. Those States where the death penalty is inflicted have the least + number of brutal murders, in proportion to their population. The dread of + death is a better protection to society than a life of imprisonment. The + fiend with murder in his heart thinks "while there is life, hope remains," + and if he is sent to the penitentiary for life he may get a pardon after a + time. But if he is aware of the fact that if he strikes the fatal blow he + must atone for his crime on the gallows, he is more liable to think twice + before striking his innocent victim once. There should be no such a thing + as a life sentence. No criminal should be sent to the penitentiary for a + term longer than fifteen years. The suffering he endures during this long + sentence is enough to atone for any crime he may commit aside from a + brutal murder, and for this he should be hung. Fifteen years of + imprisonment is sufficient to break down almost any constitution. Having + spent this length of time behind prison walls a man is a physical wreck, + and, having atoned for his crime, let him have the last days of life in + the world of freedom. The greatest desire of a life man in our + penitentiaries is to die outside of prison walls. No criminal should be + sent to the penitentiary for less than five years. After giving him one + fourth off for good behavior, he has but little more than three years of + actual service. This will give him plenty of time to learn a trade, so + that when he goes out of prison he can make a living for himself and for + those depending upon him. For crimes that require lighter sentences of + imprisonment let jails or reformatories be brought into requisition. In + the eyes of the world a jail sentence is not so disgraceful as one in the + penitentiary. + </p> + <p> + The plumage of a jail-bird is not so black as that of a penitentiary bird. + The disgrace of being sent to the penitentiary for one year is as great as + being sent for five or ten years. Whether he goes for one or five years, + for all the future he is set down as an ex-convict. People do not stop to + inquire as to the length of his sentence. The main question is: Was he in + the penitentiary? If so, he wears the mark of Cain—the stamp of + disgrace. Not so, if he simply has been in jail. There are a great many + young men, while surrounded by bad company, yield to temptation and commit + crime. A dose of jail service will do them as much good as a year in the + penitentiary. After they get out they do not feel the disgrace so keenly, + and there is some hope for their reformation. Send them to the + penitentiary and it will be a miracle if they ever amount to anything in + the future. If a jail sentence of a year does not reform a young criminal, + or a man of older years, who has committed his first offense, then give a + term in the penitentiary for five years for the second offense. It is too + true that a sentence to the penitentiary for a first term is the + irretrievable ruin of the young offender. This becomes an obstacle which, + during all the future, he cannot surmount. This plan being adopted let + everything be done to reform the youthful offender while in jail. It is + much easier to carry forward the work of reformation in a jail or + reformatory than in a penitentiary. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII. THE MISSOURI PRISONERS—(Continued) + </h2> + <p> + During the years 1887 and 1888, 1,523 prisoners were received into the + Missouri penitentiary. Of this number 1,082 were white males, 398 colored + males, 17 white females, and 26 colored females. These figures show that + the women of Missouri are a great deal better than the men, or they do not + get their share of justice. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + TABLE SHOWING THE AGES OF CONVICTS + RECEIVED DURING THE YEARS 1887 AND 1888. + + From 16 to 20.................320 + " 20 to 25.................441 + " 25 to 30.................344 + " 30 to 35.................143 + " 35 to 40.................113 + " 40 to 45................. 70 + " 45 to 50................. 34 + " 50 to 55................. 31 + " 55 to 60................. 15 + " 60 to 65................. 5 + " 65 to 70................. 4 + " 70 and upward............ 5 + —— + + Total .......... 1,523 +</pre> + <p> + There is nothing that should interest the good people of Missouri more + than the foregoing table. These appalling figures I copied from the prison + records. Of the 1,523 criminals received during the past two years, more + than one-fifth of them were mere children. Would it not be better to give + these boys a term in the county jails, or in some reformatory, instead of + sending them to a penitentiary? Coming in contact with hardened and + vicious criminals, what hope is there for getting these boys into the + paths of honesty and uprightness? Then there follows the large number of + 441, representing the youthful age from twenty to twenty-five years. These + are the years most prolific of criminals. Who can say these boys are + vicious and hardened criminals? Then follow the young men of from + twenty-five to thirty. Three hundred and fourty-four of this age find a + home in felon cells. Are these boys and young men not worth saving? What + can be done to snatch them from a career of crime, and to save them from + becoming miserable wrecks? Father, if one of these boys was a son of + yours, you would think seriously over this important question. + </p> + <p> + Something should be done to save this large army of youth who are annually + finding their way into felon cells. + </p> + <p> + Is the penitentiary the proper place to send those youthful offenders? If + so, then they should not come in contact with the older and hardened + criminals. One of the most essential things to be done in a prison is the + classification of the inmates. This is not done in the Missouri + penitentiary. Here the mere youth often cells with a hardened old criminal + of the worst description. I would rather a child of mine would be boxed up + with a rattlesnake. In this institution there are nearly 2,000 criminals + huddled up together—an indiscriminate mass. The officials are not to + blame for this. They realize the terrible condition of things at the + prison. They have not sufficient room for the classification and proper + arrangement of the inmates. They know, perhaps better than anyone else, + that the prison is not what it should be. Warden Marmaduke says, in his + last report to the prison directors, "This prison is now too much crowded + and it becomes a serious question at once, as to what disposition will be + made of them in the future. If this prison is to accommodate them, another + cell building should be built at once. If another prison is to be the + solution, it should be commenced. If a reconstruction of our criminal + laws, looking to the reduction of crime, it should be done now. And in any + event, and whatever may be done, certainly our management of prisons + should be so modified or changed that the practical, not the sentimental + system of reform, should be adopted. I believe that our present system is + making criminals instead of reforming them, and I believe that it is + practicable to so classify, treat, feed, work and uniform these people, as + to make better men instead of worse men out of them. I have profound + respect for the good purposes of the benevolently disposed men and women, + and they are numerous, who are devoting themselves to the effort of + reforming criminals. Yet their efforts must be supplemented by a practical + building up and the development of the better instincts of the man, which + cannot be done under our present system. The surroundings are against it. + We are constantly developing and stimulating the very worst instincts. I + believe it practicable to institute methods for this reform, at once + creditable to the State." Who can doubt our statements on this subject + when we quote such high authority as the above. The last warden of this + great institution comes out and officially announces that awful fact that + our present system of prison treatment is constantly developing and + stimulating the very worst instincts. Constantly making men worse, and + when a young man enters the prison he is morally tainted, when he goes out + he is completely saturated, with moral pollution. After such statements + from so high an authority will the great State of Missouri, so well-known + the world over for her numerous acts of benevolence, continue to have an + institution within her borders for the complete demoralization and ruin of + multitudes of her young men. Should a youth of Missouri, surrounded by + influences and temptations which he could not resist, once fall from a + position of honor and integrity, although it is his first violation of the + law, he will be taken into custody of the State, hurled into a pit, where + for a time he will inhale the fetid breath of wickedness, then, later on, + to be released and sent out into the free world a moral leper. + </p> + <p> + The State should not provide this machine for the moral destruction of her + unfortunate youth. If this be the real and true condition of affairs, what + can be done to change them? I would suggest the erection, at once, of a + reformatory. Classify the prisoners. Let those who are in for the first + offense be separated from those who are professional and debased + criminals. Give these youthful offenders the benefit of schools, connected + with the reformatory. Let them have moral instruction, and many of these + young men will be reclaimed, However well a criminal is treated, when + behind prison walls, however good the advantages granted him, all this + will avail but little, if some provision is not made to aid him when he + leaves the prison. Many prisoners, at the time of their discharge, may be, + in heart, as pure as angels, and resolve to lead good lives, yet they are + convicts, and carry out with them the shame and disgrace of such a life. + They must live even if they are disgraced. They must have work. Who will + employ a convict? Should a man, just from the prison, come to you and + frankly inform you that he was recently discharged from a felon's cell, + that he had been convicted of horse-stealing, for instance, and wanted + employment with you on the farm, how many of you, my readers, would give + him work? You would be afraid of him. You would decline his services, and + who could blame you? But the convict must live, and it is easily seen, + how, that after applying to several for work and being refused each time + on account of his past trouble, he would, after a time, become discouraged + and return to a life of a criminal. Hunger drives him to deeds of + desperation, and more especially is this the case if he have a wife or + helpless children depending upon him. On his discharge from the prison the + State presents him, with a shoddy suit of clothes (very cheap), buys him a + ticket for the town from which he came, and then lets him shift for + himself. Disgraced, penniless, friendless, helpless, how is it possible + for anyone of them ever to secure another foothold in life. + </p> + <p> + Something should be done, to help these men to secure work for a time + after their discharge from prison. This would prevent a vast majority of + criminals from returning to the prison after their first term. That my + views on this subject may not be considered visionary, and that I may not + be regarded as standing alone in my suggestions, I will give a portion of + the report of Rev. J. Gierlow, ex-chaplain of the Missouri penitentiary. + </p> + <p> + "The increase of crime is necessarily attracting the attention of all + thinking people, and there is abundant evidence that crime-causes are + increasing, for which there seems to be no adequate prevention. It has + been said, that nearly all crime originates in the saloon, but this + statement requires discrimination. Very few professional thieves are + inebriates. That class of criminals are sober men, they could not ply + their trade without a clear head, nor do they go with those who drink, for + they talk too much. No, intemperance to a considerable extent, is only a + secondary cause of crime which must be reached by well-ordered, sanitary, + hygienic and educational measures. Diseased bodies and unbalanced minds + are largely characteristic of criminals; and these are two factors in + producing crime. + </p> + <p> + "There is a numerous class in whom crime seems to be hereditary, a taint + in the blood. In the same family there are generations of criminals. + Prison life adds another large section to the criminal class. By the + congregate system the prison becomes a school of crime, where the young + offender is both demoralized by contact with hardened criminals, and + initiated into the mysteries of professional villainy. It is a question + whether detention in prison, without remedial influences, is not more of a + loss than a gain. The critical time of a prisoner, desirous of building up + a new life, is when he crosses the threshold of the prison and goes out + into the world. He is met with distrust wherever his past is known. He is + in constant terror of exposure if he tries to keep it secret. And what + does the State do to put him on his feet or to give him a chance? It gives + him a few dollars to carry him here or there, and bids him shift for + himself. And finding every avenue of honest employment closed against him, + he is driven in desperation, however well disposed he may be, to renew his + criminal habits and associates. What, then, are the remedies, as far as + the prison system is concerned? Chiefly, classification. Let not one who + desires to reform be compelled to associate with those who are almost sure + to degrade and debase him. The neglect of discriminating classification of + offenders is a dark stain upon civilization. Then, again, I believe it to + be the duty of the State to reinstate the penitentiary man in society. + This may be secured by a conditional discharge, the finding of work for + him, and the obligation to report himself at stated periods to the proper + authority. + </p> + <p> + I have regarded it as within the province of my office to thus briefly set + forth what I have gathered from experience in my intercourse with + convicts, as well as from sober conviction, after mature deliberation. Let + the State consider and act. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + TABLE SHOWING SENTENCES OF CONVICTS + DURING THE YEARS 1887 AND 1888. + + Years. Mos. No. + + 1 2 + 1 ... 14 + 1 6 1 + 2 ... 745 + 2 3 1 + 2 6 15 + 2 8 8 + 3 ... 296 + 3 6 8 + 4 ... 86 + 4 4 1 + 4 6 1 + 5 ... 164 + 6 ... 12 + 7 ... 21 + 8 ... 6 + 10 ... 72 + 11 ... 3 + 12 ... 8 + 13 ... 1 + 14 ... 1 + 15 ... 13 + 18 ... 2 + 20 ... 10 + 21 ... 2 + 22 ... 1 + 25 ... 13 + 30 ... 2 + 35 ... 1 + 38 ... 2 + 48 ... 1 + 50 ... 2 + 99 ... 4 + Life ... 4 + —— + Total 1523 +</pre> + <p> + I have here inserted the foregoing table to show the reader about how the + sentences are. It will be observed that of the one thousand five hundred + and twenty-three prisoners admitted during the past two years, seven + hundred and forty-five of them, or nearly one-half, have but a two-years' + sentence. This shows that the crimes committed were not very "horrible in + their nature," or the sentences imposed would have been more severe. This + is probably the first offense for these offenders. By good conduct in the + prison one-fourth of their time will be deducted. This will give them but + eighteen months of actual service. What can they accomplish in so short a + time? The contractors care but little for them, since their time will + expire before they can master a trade and be of any service. Had these + youthful offenders been given a term in a county jail or reformatory, + would not justice been satisfied, and there would have been more hope for + the prisoner as to the future. HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A PENITENTIARY + CONVICT. I hope soon to see the day when the great State of Missouri will + have a reformatory institution which will receive the wayward youth of + that great commonwealth, and, after keeping and training them for a time, + will send them out into the world stronger and better men than when first + received. So far as reformation is concerned, the Missouri penitentiary is + a dismal failure. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII. PRISON DISCIPLINE + </h2> + <p> + The Missouri penitentiary ranks among the leading penal institutions of + the country in matter of discipline. The rules and regulations are placed + in the hands of the prisoner as soon as he enters. If an inmate obeys + these rules and regulations he will be let alone, and will go through his + term of service without being punished. If he becomes unruly and + disobedient he will be punished, and that, too, very severely. + </p> + <p> + Each prisoner is allowed one pound of tobacco a month for chewing and + smoking purposes. In this prison the inmate is permitted to smoke in his + cell. This is the only institution with which I am acquainted that permits + smoking. The prisoners seem to enjoy their smoke very much, and I do not + see but that it is just the thing, for if a person on the outside takes + comfort from the use of his pipe, much more will the man who sits in the + solitude of a felon's cell. If a prisoner violates a prison rule his + tobacco is taken away from him for a time. The majority of the inmates + will obey the rules of the prison through fear of having their tobacco, + taken away from them. Each prisoner also has access to the books of the + library, and another mode of punishment is to deprive the offender the use + of the library for a time. This, also, has a very salutary effect. Another + mode of punishment, is to place the unruly convict in a dungeon and feed + him nothing but bread and water. The prisoner on entering this dreary + abode must leave behind him his hat, coat and shoes, and in this condition + he is required often to spend days and weeks in solitary confinement. The + dungeon contains no furniture of any description save a night bucket. + Prisoners do not remain in these dark holes very long until they promise + obedience. It is one of the most successful modes of prison punishment. In + case of a second or third offense, and sometimes for the first, in case it + is a bad one, the offender is liable to receive a flogging. + </p> + <p> + This is one of the few penal institutions in our country where the + cat-o'-nine-tails is used. When a prisoner's conduct has been such that it + is deemed advisable to whip him, he is taken from his cell and led to a + post in the rear of one of the large buildings, out of sight of the other + convicts. His clothing is then removed, with the exception of his shoes. + These are left on his feet to catch the blood that flows down his limbs. + In this nude condition he is tightly bound to a post with chains. Standing + at the post, in a helpless condition, he receives the lash. The whip + consists of several leather straps, or thongs, at the ends of which small + pieces of steel are fastened. Every blow brings the blood. I have been + told by reliable persons that, at times, prisoners have been so severely + flogged that the blood, flowing down their limbs into their shoes would + fill them and run out over the tops. This seems barbarous in the extreme, + and my humane reader at once cries out, "It should not be tolerated." In + Missouri this flogging of human beings in prison has been going on for + more than fifty years. After the punishment is over, the prisoner, half + dead with fright and pain, is led back to his cell, where he remains for a + day or two, that he may recuperate. He throws himself down on his "bunk," + and remains there for hours, the blood still flowing from his lacerated + back. Often the blanket on which he lies, sticks to his bleeding back, and + a fellow convict is asked, often, to assist in removing it. Many a poor + fellow carries with him through life the scars which were made while a + convict in this prison. One day while I was working in the coal mines of + the Kansas penitentiary, a fellow-convict showed me his scarred back. He + had served a term in the Missouri penitentiary, and while there had been + severely whipped. His back told the story too plainly that his whipping + had been a severe and cruel one. It would seem that the day of the + whipping-post had passed away; that the doors of our advanced civilization + were shut against it. + </p> + <p> + Many of the prison officials claim that it is the most healthy mode of + inflicting punishment; that to place a convict in a dungeon and to feed + him on bread and, water is far more injurious to his health than to give + him a good "paddling," and it don't require so long to do the work. The + same results are reached more quickly. Others claim that it is impossible + to have good prison discipline without resorting to the lash. This + statement is not correct. There is no better discipline to be found in any + penal institution, than that in the Kansas penitentiary, where no prisoner + ever receives a stroke from a whip. The laws of that State forbid it. In + our humble judgment it would be the best thing that the Missouri + Legislature could do at its next session, to prohibit any further use of + the lash. Sometimes a paddle is used, with small holes bored in the end, + and every time this paddle strikes the nude flesh, blisters are raised. + Again, another instrument of punishment in use is a thick, broad, leather + strap, fastened in a wooden handle, at the end of which lateral incisions + are made that give it the appearance of a saw. There is no trouble in + raising huge blisters "with this engine of warfare." All these modes are + barbarous, and should be forbidden. Whenever severe punishment becomes + essential, let the prisoner remain in the dungeon, living on bread and + water until he promises, in good faith, to behave himself. A great deal of + useless punishment can be avoided if the officer in charge of the prison + discipline is a humane man and a good judge of human nature, and no other + should be permitted to fill this important position. We must not, however, + be too hasty in condemning prison officials for harsh treatment of those + under their charge. They have some of the most desperate men on the face + of the earth to deal with, and at times it becomes a necessity to use + harsh measures. Notwithstanding this is all true, there are but very few + human beings but what have white spots in their otherwise darkened souls, + and often a word of kindness does more than a cruel blow from a merciless + officer. + </p> + <p> + The excellent discipline of this institution is due, in the main, to + Captain Bradbury, the deputy warden. He is beyond doubt, one of the best, + and most experienced prison men in the United States. He has been + connected with the Missouri prison for thirty-three years. The warden + looks after the finances of the institution, and it belongs to Captain + Bradbury to hold in subjection the two thousand criminals that are crowded + together in that small prison enclosure. This celebrated deputy warden is + a Virginian by birth. He is sixty-two years of age. He served in the + Mexican war, and now draws a pension from the Government, because of his + services there. If a prisoner conducts himself properly, Captain Bradbury + will treat him as humanely as he can under the circumstances. If he + becomes willful and unruly, the Captain no doubt will take great pleasure + in giving the offender "a good paddling," to use his own forcible + expression. This official is a strong advocate of corporal punishment. He + claims that a "little loosening up of the hide" of an obstreperous + prisoner does the said prisoner a vast amount of good. Among the convicts + the deputy warden is austere. He is never seen sauntering about the prison + enclosure with his long arms entwined about any of "the boys in stripes." + He claims, that too great a familiarity breeds contempt. This seeming + harshness when in the presence of the prisoners is only borrowed for the + occasion, for, away from the convicts, there is not a more social + gentleman in the State of Missouri. Great credit is due to Captain + Bradbury for his excellent management of this institution, under such + unfavorable circumstances. Could he be persuaded to quit the use of the + whipping post, and use other measures less barbarous, I think the same + discipline could be secured, as now exists. The officers here do not seem + to be so exacting as in many other prisons. In the Kansas penitentiary, + when prisoners are in ranks going to and from their meals, their cells, or + workshops, they are required to fold their arms, and keep their eyes fixed + upon the back of the one's head just in front. No gazing about is + permitted, and should a prisoner speak to one in the front of him and be + detected, he would be summarily dealt with. In the Missouri prison I + noticed that the convicts while marching would gaze about wherever they + wished, and go swinging along with their arms dangling at their sides. In + many prisons the inmates are required, while in ranks, to keep their hands + on the shoulders of the man in front. This would seem to be the most + desirable way of having the prisoners march. In this prison one can detect + more of a homelike feeling, not so rigorous and exacting as in many + institutions of this nature. Captain Todd, assistant deputy warden, is + another official of long standing. He has been with this prison for + eighteen years, and is very popular. In this connection we must not fail + to mention Captain Crump, who has been connected with this prison for + thirty-six years, but who was discharged during the last administration + because of his making statements to the effect that the prison was run by + a "political ring." He is now deputy marshal of Jefferson City, and is a + faithful officer. He incurred the displeasure of the contractors because + of the grave charges he made against them, because of their inhuman + demands upon the prisoners, requiring of them more work than they were + able to perform. Because of his humaneness, and because he wanted to see + the helpless prisoner treated as he should be, after thirty-six years of + faithful service was discharged from the institution. In 1883 there was an + investigation made of many serious charges preferred against the + contractors and some of the leading officials. The committee made their + report to the governor, and some five hundred pamphlets containing this + report were printed for distribution. When the Legislature met none of + these books could be found, and the whole matter was a specimen of + whitewash. The report contained some very damaging charges, but nothing + was ever done with the matter. I visited the office of the secretary of + state and asked to see one of these books, but even his office did not + contain a copy of this State document. The Legislature should keep a + watchful eye over this penal institution, and, while there should be good + discipline maintained, the prisoners should not be treated in a barbarous + manner. + </p> + <p> + A PARDONING BOARD + </p> + <p> + The governor has the pardoning power. He extends executive clemency to a + number annually. He has not time to attend to the duties connected with + this prerogative. There are 2,000 prisoners. No doubt many of them have + excessive sentences. If a thorough investigation was made, many would be + found innocent. The governor has not the time to attend to these matters. + There should be a pardoning board appointed to investigate these cases and + advise with the governor. To show the necessity of such a board, I have + only to state that during the past year the Pardoning Board of Kansas has + advised executive clemency to fifteen criminals who received their pardons + on the grounds of innocency. One of the number being a Mrs. Henrietta + Cook, who was sentenced for life, and who had served fifteen years of + imprisonment, when, upon an investigation of her case by the Pardoning + Board, she was discharged, there being no doubt as to her innocence. The + great majority of these prisoners are poor and friendless. They have no + one on the outside to aid them in securing their rights, and unless a + pardoning board is appointed to investigate these cases, many a man and + woman entirely innocent, will have to serve out a sentence in this prison. + </p> + <p> + It is but natural for the contractors to use their influence to prevent + the men under their control from receiving pardons. If a man is sentenced + for ten years, and has been in one of the shops for two or three years, + and has learned to do his work well, the contractor will want to keep him + instead of letting him go, and will, no doubt, in an underhanded way, do + all against the poor prisoner he can. This strong influence in many cases + will have to be counteracted and overcome before the prisoner can receive + his pardon and obtain his liberty. A pardoning board, when appointed, + should be men who would not be in collusion with the contractors, but be + men who would see that the prisoner had justice. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX. NOTED CONVICTS + </h2> + <p> + At the present time there are fifty-six females who find homes in this + living tomb. Two-thirds of them are colored. The greater portion are kept + busy making underclothing for the prisoners. They are detained, during + working hours, in a room, seated at tables, with a lady guard watching + them. They are not allowed to converse with each other, only as they get + permission from this officer. They are not permitted to see the male + prisoners. In fact there is no way of entering the female prison from the + male department. The dormitory is on the third floor. The female convicts + wear striped calico dresses, the stripes running lengthwise. The female + prison is kept scrupulously clean, which reflects great credit upon those + having the management of this department. + </p> + <p> + In company with Doctor Lewellyn, the prison physician, I passed through + the dormitory. Here I found a great curiosity. It was a baby prisoner, six + months old. The little convict was born in the penitentiary. It is a + colored child—its mother being a mulatto, who was sent to prison for + fifteen years for murdering two of her children. When on the outside, she + lived with her paramour, a white man, and, as fast as children were born + to them, she would murder them in cold blood. The white man was tried also + as accessory to the murder, but, owing to her refusal to testify against + him, there was not sufficient evidence to convict him, and he was set at + liberty. He often visits her at the prison, bringing her eatables, which + are very much relished in the penitentiary. I saw also the notorious Sadie + Hayes, who was sent up from St. Louis for killing a policeman. She was + under the influence of strong drink, and, thus crazed with whisky, the + officer tried to arrest her. She drew a razor, and began to slash away at + the officer, and, in spite of his club and large, muscular frame, she soon + cut him to pieces. He expired on the sidewalk, where the engagement took + place. She was sent up for ninety-nine years, and has now been in prison + about three years. She is one of the most desperate looking women I ever + saw, and, when crazed with drink, becomes an infuriated demon. She is an + adept in the use of the razor. + </p> + <p> + The oldest female prisoner is an aged German woman by the name of + Oldstein, from Gasconade County. She has been in the penitentiary thirteen + years, and, doubtless, would get a pardon if she had any place where she + could make her home after securing her liberty. The old woman is entirely + broken down and is a physical wreck. She spends the most of her time + knitting. Aside from keeping her own bedding clean she is not required to + perform any labor. She was charged with a cold-blooded murder. She, her + husband and daughter murdered her daughter's husband. The old man was + hung, the daughter was sent up for life, and died in a few months after + entering prison. The old woman was sentenced to be hung also with her + husband, but the governor commuted her sentence to that of life + imprisonment. For thirteen long, dreary years she has lived behind these + prison walls. She longs for death, but death refuses, as yet, to claim her + as his own. Broken in health, friendless, penniless, this poor old woman + is but another proof that "the way of the transgressor is hard." I also + saw Anna Brown, another female prisoner, who, with her step-brother, + planned and carried into execution a terrible cold-blooded murder. It was + none other than the killing of her aged father. The boy was sent to prison + for life and the woman received a sentence of forty-nine years. Her + sentence might just as well have read "life imprisonment" as forty-nine + years, for she cannot live but a few years longer in confinement. Nannie + Stair is another interesting prisoner. She came from Vernon County. An old + and crippled man was driving through the country. Night coming on found + him near the house of the Stair family. He stopped and asked for a night's + lodging. His request was granted. That was the old man's last night of + earth. During the hours of the night Stair and his wife made their way + into the bed-chamber where the helpless traveler lay asleep unconscious of + his doom. It was not long until the husband sent an axe crushing through + his brain, his wife standing by, a witness to the fearful deed. During the + same night they dug his grave in the garden back of the house, and buried + him. Next day the husband drove the murdered man's team to a town not far + distant, and sold it. In a couple of weeks friends began to institute + search for the missing man. He was traced to the home of the Stair family. + The husband and wife being separated, and the officers telling the wife + that she would be let out of the scrape without much punishment in case + she would tell all she knew, she informed them of all the details of the + bloody deed, where the victim lay buried, and what disposition was made of + the murdered man's team and money. The two were arrested, tried and + convicted. The husband was hung, and the wife sent to the penitentiary for + six years. Her time will now soon be served out, and she will once more be + a free woman. The desire of this family to obtain filthy lucre was too + great. Of the fifty-six female inmates of of the Missouri penitentiary, + fifteen of them were sent for murder. Kansas City has several female + representatives. It is stated, on good authority, that the sentences + imposed by the judges of the Kansas City district are far more excessive + than in any other portion of the State. I was told that a number of these + female convicts were very desperate characters, while others of them, + driven to deeds of desperation on account of poverty, committed acts that + for a time placed them behind prison bolts and bars. Something should be + done to aid these poor women, when their terms expire, to get a start in + life. If something is not done for them, it will be but a short time when + they will drift back again into crime and prison. + </p> + <p> + The author of this book believes that it is all right to send money to + India and other remote countries to aid the heathen, but instead of + sending it all away to lands beyond the seas, he thinks a portion of it, + at least, could be well expended this side the briny deep in helping some + of these poor unfortunate convicts to get another start in life, and thus + lift them out of a life of crime. + </p> + <p> + WHISKY AND CARDS + </p> + <p> + Felix Bagan's history shows the career of many a boy, when thrown into bad + company. At an early age Felix was left an orphan. When his parents both + died he had not a relative living that cared anything for him. Taken from + the grave of his mother, who died shortly after the death and burial of + her husband, the unfortunate lad was placed in the orphan's home in St. + Louis. Here he remained for several years, and acquired all the education + that he possessed. After becoming old enough to do some work, he was given + to a farmer, who took him to his home in the country. Possessed of a + genial disposition, he soon made many friends. He was highly esteemed by + the lady and gentleman who adopted him. He was honest and industrious. It + was on election day that his down-fall took place. In company with several + young men, who resided on neighboring farms, he went to a small town near + by to pass the day. Being invited to participate in a game of cards, he + and several of his companions found their way into the back part of a + saloon, where the day was spent in drinking and gambling. Toward evening a + dispute arose about the cards, a drunken fight was the result. Bagan, half + crazed with drink, drew his knife and stabbed to the death one of his + companions. The young man whom he murdered, prior to this had been one of + his best friends. When he saw the life-blood of his companion ebb away, he + came to his senses, and was soon sober. He wept like a child when he saw + his friend sinking away into, the arms of death. The awful deed was done, + and nothing was left to the unfortunate youth but to be led away to + prison, with the blood of a human being upon his garments. In due time he + had his trial, and was sent to the penitentiary for thirty years. He was + twenty-two years of age when he received the sentence. He has now been in + the prison thirteen years. For seven years he worked in the saddle-tree + shop for Sullivan, Hayes & Co., prison contractors. At the end of that + time his health failing, he refused to work. The prison authorities + thought he was trying to shirk his work. After being severely flogged, he + was placed in the dungeon and kept there in solitary confinement for three + months. Half dead, he was taken to the hospital and left in the hands of + the prison physician. For a time it was thought he would die. After a + while he began to recover; large patches of hair fell from his scalp, + leaving his head thickly covered with bald spots. When he entered the + prison he was a fine-appearing young man, but thirteen years of + imprisonment have converted him into a broken-down old man and physical + wreck. That was a sad day for that unfortunate youth when he entered the + saloon to take part in the game of cards. He will not live to the end of + his sentence, but will die in the penitentiary, and find his last, long + home in the prison grave-yard. Young man, as you read the history of this + convict, can you not persuade yourself to let whisky and cards alone for + the future? + </p> + <p> + BILL RYAN + </p> + <p> + Passing through the cell houses, I was shown the room occupied by the + notorious Bill Ryan for seven years. He was a member of the James boys' + gang. Being convicted of highway robbery he was sent to the prison for + twenty years. After Jesse James had been killed by young Ford, and Frank's + crimes had been pardoned, Ryan's sentence was commuted to ten years, and + after serving seven he regained his liberty. + </p> + <p> + Ryan was accredited with being one of the best prisoners in the + penitentiary. On the outside, if reports be true, he was one of the most + desperate men in Missouri. His time was spent in drinking, gambling, + quarreling, fighting and killing. He is charged with killing a number of + men. He was twice tried for murder, but proving an alibi, the jury brought + in a verdict of "not guilty." The prison officials speak in the highest + terms of his conduct while an inmate of the penitentiary. He was an + obedient and hard-working convict. Now that he is once more a free man it + is to be hoped that he will show himself as good a citizen on the outside, + as he was on the inside, of prison walls. + </p> + <p> + WILLIE HILDRUM + </p> + <p> + This youthful convict is but sixteen years of age. He is the youngest + prisoner in the penitentiary. He was formerly a boot-black on the streets + of St. Louis. Getting into a fight one day with one of his boot-black + companions over a nickel that they had jointly earned "shining up" a + patron's boots, young Hildrum drew an old knife from his pocket, which he + had found a few days before, and sent the rusty blade into the heart of + the street Arab. The youthful murderer was tried and convicted of + manslaughter, and on account of his youth was given but two years in the + penitentiary. + </p> + <p> + S. D. HENSON + </p> + <p> + This convict was at one time county judge of Stoddard County, and highly + respected. He is one of the finest appearing men I ever saw. His finely + shaped head bespeaks intelligence. It is sad to see such grand looking + specimens dressed in the garb of disgrace. Judge Henson became involved in + a quarrel with one of his neighbors over some trivial matter, and killed + him. His sentence is for twenty years, which for him at this advanced age + means death in the prison. Great efforts are being put forth for his + pardon, but it is a question left entirely with the governor, and no one + can tell how he may act. + </p> + <p> + Judge Henson is not at heart a criminal. On that open countenance there is + no mark of Cain. Thinking of his sad case, more than ever am I convinced + that we are creatures of circumstances. How many of my readers, had they + in the past, been surrounded by the same circumstances, subject to the + same temptations, would not have acted in the same manner, and like judge + Henson found a home in a convict's cell. + </p> + <p> + FORTY-EIGHT YEARS A PRISONER + </p> + <p> + John Hicks is the veteran penitentiary convict of the United States. Under + an alias he served one term in the Missouri penitentiary. Most of his time + has been spent in prisons further east. He is now eighty-four years of + age, and quite recently was released from the Michigan City penitentiary. + Prison authorities have compared notes and find that he has actually + served forty-eight years of prison life. He is the oldest living criminal + in this country. He has served ten terms, the greater portion of them + being in Indiana. His first crime was committed in 1839. In some way he + learned that a man named Bearder had $360 in his house. While the family + were at church Hicks rifled the house and stole their money. A marked coin + led to his conviction, and he got a three years' sentence. He was never, + afterward, out six months at a time, and was sent up successively for + burglary, criminal assault, robbery, larceny, cattle-stealing and + horse-stealing. At the expiration of his fifth term, at Michigan City, he + made his way to the office, where the directors were in session. He begged + them to allow him to build a shanty in a part of the prison in which he + could sleep and call his home. All that he asked was that the scraps from + the table be given him for food. The board refused to allow him this, and + Hicks bade them good-by. He walked to a small town near by, where he soon + was arrested for thieving, and was taken to prison to serve what he + declared to be his last term. His head is as white as snow, and in keeping + with his long, flowing beard, and he looks like a patriarch, yet is not + stooped a particle. His desire now is to secure honest work, that will + guarantee him a home. He wishes to spend the rest of his days a free man. + Had this man been assisted just a little at the expiration of his first + term, he might have become a useful citizen, but as it was, his life was + spent behind the bars. When once the feet find themselves walking in the + pathway of crime, it is very difficult for them ever to walk in paths of + honesty and uprightness thereafter. + </p> + <p> + NINE TIMES + </p> + <p> + As I was walking through the penitentiary, in company with Deputy Warden + Bradbury, he pointed out an old convict, and said, "There is a fellow that + has seen prison life. He is here this time under the name of Gus Loman. He + is now serving his NINTH term in this prison. At the expiration of one of + his sentences he went away and was gone over a year, and when he came back + I asked him where he had been so long. His reply was, 'Simply rusticating + at Joliet, Ill., with some friends.' Every time he is sent to prison he + gives in a new and different name and, of course, no one but himself knows + what his real name is." When asked why he comes to the prison so often, he + remarked that, when once in prison it is impossible to get work to do on + the outside, and he had made up his mind to spend the rest of his days in + prison. He claimed that the fates were against him and he could not make a + living on the outside, as no one would employ him; that he had tried it + several times and failed, and now he had given up all hope. He is a bold, + bad and natural thief. As soon as his term is out he goes a little + distance from the prison, gets on a spree, gets into trouble, steals + something, and soon finds himself back again in the penitentiary. He is + now over seventy years of age, and is both a physical and moral wreck. + What an awful warning for the young is the history of such a wasted life. + </p> + <p> + DESPERADO JOHNSON + </p> + <p> + This convict is the most daring and desperate criminal in the Missouri + penitentiary. The prison authorities have had more trouble with him than + with any other man who ever found a home behind the walls of this great + institution. He was sent up from Jackson County, and was charged with + murdering two men before he was finally convicted of crime. On trial for + these two murders be was successful in proving an alibi. The last time he + was not so successful, and received a sentence of twelve years. Soon after + his arrival at the prison he was set to work in one of the shops. When he + became a little acquainted, his innate cussedness induced him to raise a + riot in the prison. It was a desperate undertaking, but he was equal to + the emergency. For days and weeks he was on the alert, and when a guard + was not on the watch he would communicate with a convict, and enlist his + services, and give him his instructions as to what part he should perform + when the signal should be given. + </p> + <p> + At last the day came when all was ready for the plans so well laid to be + carried into execution. Each of the convicts who were to act in concert + with him piled up a lot of kindling in their respective shops and + saturated it with kerosene. When the prisoners were being marched out to + supper, they threw matches into the piles of kindling-wood, and soon + several buildings were on fire. Intense excitement now prevailed among the + two thousand convicts. The ranks were quickly broken, and all was + confusion. Some of the better disposed convicts tried to assist the + officers in putting out the fires, and were in turn knocked down and + trampled upon by those who were in favor of the riot. In the midst of this + great excitement Johnson, the leader, with four of his associates, knocked + down one of the guards and stripped him of his clothing. Johnson put on + this suit of blue and started to one of the towers. Reaching the same, he + asked permission of the officer on duty to let down the ladder and allow + him to ascend and assist him in "holding the fort," as this was Captain + Bradbury's orders. Johnson's intentions were to get on top of the wall and + into the tower, where the guard opened the large gate below by the use of + a lever. The convict, once inside the tower, would knock the officer down, + seize his gun, raise the lever, throw open the large gate in the wall, and + permit the prisoners all to rush out. This was a bold scheme, and it is a + wonder, during the great excitement that prevailed, that it was not + successful. The officer on duty, when requested by the convict to allow + him to ascend the ladder, coolly drew his gun, and told him if he dared to + ascend he would send buckshot into his body. + </p> + <p> + Foiled in this, the desperado returns to where the officials are fighting + the flames, and began cutting the hose so as to stop the supply of water. + The fire raged furiously. A strong wind sprung up adding intensity to the + flames. Over $200,000 worth of property was soon swept away in this + direful storm of fire. After a fearful conflict the prisoners were + overpowered and driven into their cells. + </p> + <p> + A number of them were severely wounded. Several died of the injuries + received. The prison directors had a called meeting and investigated the + riot. The blame fell upon convict Johnson. A criminal charge was preferred + against him in the courts, for arson. He was convicted and served an + additional sentence of twelve years. This, added to his former sentence, + makes twenty-four years of imprisonment for this desperado. When he was + taken out of the penitentiary to stand trial for setting fire to the + prison, he was heavily loaded with chains, and in the custody of six + prison officials. It was feared he would make a desperate effort to escape + during this trial. On his return to the prison he was placed in a dark + dungeon, and has been kept caged up ever since, like a wild beast. When he + is given exercise he wears a ball and chain and an officer walks + immediately behind him, with a loaded Winchester, ready to shoot him down + if he makes any bad breaks. The officials are very careful when they enter + his cell for any purpose, as he is liable to kill them. Captain Bradbury, + the deputy warden, in speaking of him, says, he is the most desperate + criminal he has met during his thirty-three years of prison experience. + </p> + <p> + HENRY BUTLER, + </p> + <p> + a colored representative of Pettis County, has served the longest + consecutive term of any of the male prisoners. Henry killed his man, and + for this mistake has been doing service for the State of Missouri "without + money and without price" for the past fifteen years. The story of his + downfall is very romantic. He was a married man, and the father of an + interesting family. There lived near him a young lady of color, very + handsome and attractive, so the story goes, and for whom Henry had a great + liking. There was nothing wrong about all this, perhaps, if Henry had not + permitted his affections to go too far. Instead of admiring this dusky + maiden at a distance, as he should have done, he brought her to his home, + and cared for her there in a manner too affectionate for the tastes of his + colored neighbors. Henry was remonstrated with, but to no purpose. At the + close of church services one moonlight Sunday evening his neighbors held + an indignation meeting, and it was resolved to put a stop to Henry's + little love scheme, as it was now very evident that his wife was getting + tired of having the maiden about her so much. The meeting adjourned that + evening to have the next one the following night at Henry's front gate. + During the ensuing day he was apprised of the intentions of his callers, + and was urged to let the young lady depart from under his roof. Henry + refused, since love is blind. He got his shotgun in readiness to protect + his home and his rights. At the appointed hour some twenty-five or thirty + neighbors gathered at the place selected, and demanded of Henry that he + should give up the maiden loved, or pull hemp. At this juncture Henry + called into requisition his double-barreled shotgun and turned both + barrels loose on the excited throng. The result was a stampede, one negro + killed and two wounded. For this brave deed he was arrested, tried and + sent to prison for life. In solitude for fifteen years, Henry has had the + privilege of thinking of his illicit love, none of his former neighbors + daring to molest him or make him afraid. + </p> + <p> + The case of a prisoner who was in the Missouri prison under the name of + </p> + <p> + GEORGE ELLIS + </p> + <p> + is very remarkable. Over in Kansas a cold-blooded murder had been + committed. It seemed impossible for the authorities to discover any trace + of the murderer. Shortly after this murder had been committed, Ellis was + arrested and tried in Missouri on a charge of horse-stealing, and got a + two years' sentence. He heard of this murder having been committed in + Kansas, and, for some reason best known to himself, he went to Deputy + Warden Bradbury and confidentially told him that he had committed the + offense, and asked him to notify the authorities of Kansas. This was done + and a pardon was granted Ellis that he might be taken to Kansas and tried + for murder. No doubt, Ellis' motive in stating that he was guilty of this + offense was to get out of the penitentiary. He supposed that after getting + pardoned out of the Missouri prison, he would have no trouble in proving + an alibi in the Kansas murder case, and in this way go free. He was taken + to Kansas, tried, and failed to establish his alibi, and was found guilty + of murder and sentenced to the penitentiary for life. If Ellis was guilty + of murder, he surely would not have told on himself and exchanged a two + years' sentence in the Missouri prison for a life sentence in the Kansas + penitentiary. He is, no doubt, innocent of this crime, but should serve a + few years in the Kansas institution because of his smartness. + </p> + <p> + THE SUICIDE + </p> + <p> + A young man by the name of John Welch was sent from Stoddard County for an + heinous offense, under a sentence of ten years. His family were among the + best people of that county, and highly respected. John proved to be a + black lamb of the flock. He had not been in prison but a few weeks when he + got enough of that kind of living, and, being unable to have his + resignation accepted, he concluded to end his career by committing + suicide. It was on a beautiful Sunday morning, and the prisoners having + been to religious services, were on their way back to their cells to spend + the rest of the day in solitude. The chapel where the services were held + is in the third story of a large brick structure. An iron stairway is + attached to the wall on the outside of the building. It was down this + stairway the convicts were marching, one behind the other, when John, + stepping out of the door on to the stairway, instead of following his + comrades down and into his cell, as he had done on former occasions, + leaped out into space and fell to the ground. When he was picked up, life + was extinct. He received his pardon that day, but gave his life as the + ransom. No one can imagine how much this youth suffered before he brought + himself to that point when he decided to make that leap into eternity. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX. THE EX-CONVICT + </h2> + <p> + Heavy are the burdens which men in prison must bear. They are deprived of + liberty, separated from friends, no social intercourse, and constantly + maintaining an unnatural position. The convict's place is lower than the + most degraded menial; he must ask for permission even to get a drink of + water. No serf of earth, no slave, however wretched, has a sadder lot. + These unhappy mortals have yielded to temptation, have fallen, and are + paying the penalty of violated law. Who can think of these degraded + beings, without, to some extent, its calling forth the sympathy of the + human heart, for we must not forget that they, too, are children of one + universal Father. However deplorable the condition of these men while in + prison, is it much better when they regain their freedom? + </p> + <p> + One morning about a month after my release from prison, as I was getting + ready for breakfast, there came a knock at the door. Opening it I saw a + young man—a tramp—who begged for something to eat. I + recognized him immediately as a former fellow-convict. He had forgotten + me. It has always been a rule in my home, when any one came to my door + hungry, he should have something to eat. At times, adhering to this + practice has almost converted my home into a hotel for tramps. I invited + this young man in, and requested him to take a seat with me at the table. + He did not wait for a second invitation. He was very hungry. During the + meal I inquired as to his past history. He gave me the same old tramp + "racket." I had listened to the same story many times. After breakfast was + over I asked him if he would have a cigar. With a smile, he said, if I + would furnish the cigar, he would be pleased to indulge. I invited him + into another room, closed the door and locked it. The turning of the key + rather took him by surprise. I reached out my hand to him, and said: + "Charley D——, don't you know me? Don't you remember the man + who worked with you for a couple of weeks in the penitentiary coal mines, + room No. 3? Have you forgotten the last day we worked together, when a + large piece of slate fell upon your leg, and I had to assist you in + reaching the foot of the shaft as you were being conveyed to the + hospital?" + </p> + <p> + "My God! Reynolds, is this you?" he exclaimed. "I would never have known + you in your pleasant surroundings. Had I met you in the penitentiary coal + mines, dressed in prison stripes, your face and hands covered with coal + dust, I would have recognized you." + </p> + <p> + I gave him his much coveted cigar and invited him to a chair. I was + anxious to learn his history since he left the prison. He had regained his + liberty almost one year before I was released. + </p> + <p> + After he had reached the quiet contentment which is the inevitable result + of a well appreciated breakfast and a good cigar, I said to him: "Charley, + just drop your tramp story and tell me your true history since leaving the + prison. I am anxious to know just what an ex-convict must meet." + </p> + <p> + This young fellow was twenty-five years of age. He served five years in + the penitentiary for stealing horses. He had an inferior education, and + might be considered an average ex-convict. His narrative will show what + the great majority of these men are called upon to endure. + </p> + <p> + His story revealed the fact that when he left the penitentiary he had + thirteen dollars in money and a suit of inferior clothes, such as is + furnished the prisoner when discharged. Having been closely confined for + five years, without even a newspaper to read, with but few visitors, he + was entirely ignorant of what had occurred during his period of + incarceration. His parents had been dead for several years, and he had no + friends to whom he could apply for aid. The large iron doors swung upon + their hinges, and he went forth a free but bewildered man. He had liberty, + it is true, but liberty replete with such trials as awaited this young man + is certainly little better than prison confinement. Passing under the big + stone archway, and out beyond the prison enclosure, he paused for a few + moments upon the little eminence on which the prison stands, and viewed + the surrounding country, not knowing what to do or where to go. Finally he + takes the principal road that leads across the country, and in a half + hour's walk reaches a farm house. He asks for work. The farmer needs a + hand, but asks the applicant for whom he worked last. + </p> + <p> + "I am just out of prison," was the reply. + </p> + <p> + "I thought so," said the farmer, "for I have seen so many of these men + coming out of that place wearing clothes similar to those you have on. How + long were you in prison, and what was your offense?" + </p> + <p> + "I served five years, and my crime was horse-stealing." + </p> + <p> + At this frank confession the farmer slightly coughed, and stated that a + man called the day before, and he had partially promised the place to him, + and he did not feel like employing any one until he heard from him. Had + the farmer been as frank as the convict he would have said, "I don't want + a penitentiary-bird about me, and particularly one that has been a + horse-thief." + </p> + <p> + Finding no employment he moved on. For two weeks this friendless + ex-convict walked about the country, going from one farm house to another, + seeking employment. He practiced great economy, but at the expiration of + this time his thirteen dollars were gone. He was now penniless, friendless + and almost hopeless. For two weeks he had told the truth, and frankly + confessed he was an ex-convict. He had a desire to do right. He felt that + the first step down the hill toward the penitentiary was lying. But two + weeks squandered in trudging about the country seeking employment and + finding none, convinced him that it was impossible to obtain work and tell + the truth as to his past history, so he imagined nothing was left but to + practice deception, steal or starve. Reader, what would you have done? He + did what you probably would, surrounded by the same circumstances—he + made up his mind to lie. On making further inquiries for work, he learns + of a farmer living several miles away, who desired hired help. He + immediately set out for that place. This farmer, like all the rest, put + the question, "For whom did you last work?" Instead of imparting the + information that he was an ex-convict, he invented a little story to the + effect that he had worked for a farmer living some miles distant, with + whom he had become quite well acquainted, having spent a Sunday at his + home, and whose name he gave his inquisitor. He received employment. A + bargain was made, and our now happy ex-convict went to work. Three weeks + passed away. The employer and the employee were mutually satisfied. The + prisoner worked hard. He felt that at last the clouds which had so long + obscured his sky were about to break away, and the sunshine of prosperity + would soon be his. + </p> + <p> + But how mistaken we sometimes are when forecasting the future! One + afternoon, at the end of three weeks, the old farmer rode up for whom the + ex-convict had stated that he worked. The ex-criminal was recognized. The + old farmer had some business with the employer of the prisoner, and in the + evening before leaving for his home, thinking to do humanity a great + favor, confidentially informed his neighbor that he had an ex-penitentiary + convict on his farm at work, and that he was an old, hardened horse-thief, + and beyond all hope of redemption. That evening, after supper, the + prisoner got the "grand bounce." The small amount of money he received for + his three weeks' services on the farm was expended in paying his expenses + while continuing his search for work. + </p> + <p> + He at length arrives at Kansas City, with but a few cents, and completely + discouraged about securing work. At this place he met a criminal, a former + acquaintance. He, too, was without money. They talked over their + misfortunes, and after duly considering the matter, came to the conclusion + that out of crime there was no chance to get another start. They planned a + burglary for the following night. A residence some distance from the + central portion of the city was entered. They obtained ten dollars and a + silver watch, and concluded to continue their criminal efforts the next + evening. During the day, however, the "pal" was arrested on another + charge, and locked up in the city prison. He thought it about time to fly, + and so took his departure. + </p> + <p> + He spent the rest of his time in Kansas, tramping about and stealing. When + he had money he would live well; when his pocketbook was empty he would + beg and steal. There was one crime he committed for which he could not be + much blamed. The old farmer that went to so much trouble to convey the + intelligence to his brother granger that the hero of our story was an + ex-convict, was the sufferer. The ex-convict, to get "even," one dark + night entered the barn, rode away a beautiful riding pony, sold him for + fifty dollars in cash, and forgot to mention the fact to the farmer. In + stealing, tramping and begging the time had been chiefly taken up from the + day he had left the prison, to the morning he came to my house for + something to eat. He will doubtless continue this course until caught in + some criminal act, which will result in another term in the penitentiary. + </p> + <p> + The great majority of the criminals in the penitentiary are young men. One + dose of prison life is all they desire. Did they but have the least + opportunity of living useful lives, and becoming respectable citizens when + out of prison, they would improve it, instead of committing crime and + being returned to hard labor without compensation. I am now pleading for + hundreds of young men who are in prison for the first time, and have all + the punishment along this line they desire, who would like to reform and + become useful citizens. But how can they accomplish this? Unaided they + will come out of the prison, drift about awhile, and then the current of + sin and crime will bear them back again to a felon's cell. In an unguarded + hour they succumbed to the tempter's power, and fell. The dark mantle of + disgrace has enveloped them. And if there were some kind friend to lend a + helping hand, how quickly would they tear it off and put on the robe of + useful citizenship. Will not the great State of Missouri adopt some plan + to afford aid to these men who would like to be extricated from this + dangerous quagmire into which they have fallen? + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1318 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |