the twin hells(两个地狱)-第15章
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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
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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 penitentiarystealing 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。
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
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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。
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。
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CHAPTER VIII
THE PRISONERS
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。
FEMALE CONVICTS
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。
In the Kansas penitentiary； just outside the high stone wall； but
surrounded by a tight board fence some fifteen feet high； stands a stone
structurethe 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。
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…
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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。
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。
MRS。 HENRIETTA COOK
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
