the twin hells(两个地狱)-第29章
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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。
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。〃
A MISSOURI HELL
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CHAPTER XIV
THE CONVICT'S HOME
〃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。
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
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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 be 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 be felt on recovering his liberty after being in prison for
five years。
〃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 workthe 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…
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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。
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；
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and through the kindness of the warden and other prison officials； saw
everything about the institution that was noteworthy。
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 attem
