the twin hells(两个地狱)-第26章
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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。
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CHAPTER X
STOLEN HORSES
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。
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。
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？〃
His reply was； that if he had stolen one more he would have been
successful in having stolen an even two hundred。
〃What did you do with them after you had stolen them？〃
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
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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。〃
〃What did you do with your money； John？〃 I inquired。
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
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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。〃
〃How did you happen to get caught？〃
〃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。〃
〃What became of the woman？〃 I asked。
〃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。〃
〃I suppose when your time is up you will hunt her up and fit up
another suite of rooms； won't you？〃
〃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。〃
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。
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CHAPTER XI
CANDIDATE FOR THE STATE SENATE
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。
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。
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。
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
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had nothing to lose and everything to gain。 I will frankly confess that
when the thought； suppose I should not get more than a
