the twin hells(两个地狱)-第16章
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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
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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。
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。
The other female prisoners are nearly all in for short terms； and the
crime laid to their charge is that of stealing。
INDIANS IN THE PENITENTIARY
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
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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。
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。
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
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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。〃
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。
〃Reynolds； what is the matter with him？〃 asked the doctor。
I then turned to my charge and said； 〃Injun； tell the doctor what ails
you。〃
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。〃
〃There； doctor；〃 said I； 〃you have it。 This Indian has got that dreadful
disease known as 'pecce ecce。 '〃
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
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was his name； 〃this Indian says he has an attack of pecce ecce。 Now what
does he mean by that？〃
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。
MALE PRISONERS
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 t
