the twin hells(两个地狱)-第4章
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medical cross…examination。
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
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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。
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 antecedentsa 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
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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 lessonself 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。
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
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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
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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 indicate
