The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-05-29
AN EXCITING INTERVIEW IN THE
AUBURN STATES PRISON.

AUBURN STATES PRISON.
GREEN, the Reformed Gambler, recent
" made an excursion through the Aubur
States Prison. He gives the lo!Iowin,
account Of his interview with murder
er.
"On nv return 10 the Prison Office
was introduced to the chaplain, Rev. O
T. Morrill,, which reverend gentleman in
formed me that u man by the name O
Wyatt, then confined in one Of the cells
for the murder of Gordon, on the 10th o
March, 10 the Auburn State Prison, haC
confessed to him that he had lived a gam
bier several years in the South and West
and he would like should call upon him
] accompanied him 10 the cell of the muir.
derer. The door was thrown open upon
its grating hinges. when the reverend gen,
tleman introduced me as an acquaintance
of his who had travelled South several
years, and thought that he (WyatD would
BE- glad 10 converse with him. Ho said
he was happy TO SET me, and asked me TO
be seated.
Alter short discourse relative TO the
different classes of men then in confne.
men,, asked him wha, he followed in
his travels through the South. He told
me, gambling. | asked him how long
he had been engaged liz that nefarious bu>
sness2 He said twelve or thirteen years.
! asked him if he knew many gamblers ?
He said he did. | asked him if he ever
knew one by tbs name Of Green} He
said he did. asked his name he an.
swered. John;' said he knew him in 1882,
8, and 5, aud saw him in 1912 in ST..
Louis. | asked him if he was intimate
with Green He said he knew him MS
one gambler knew another. asked if |
favored him9 He said il would stand
in the light he would tell me. | did so.
He said | looked like the man. I tod
him | was the nan, but that never knew
him by the name Of Wyatt. He said |
did not ; that Wyatt was no! his real
name.
He then told me another, which was
not his real name, and asked me if did
not hear Of man being murdered near
ST.. Louis in the year, l84I, and OF two
men being arrested. both tried and con-
victed, one having new trial granted
him, the other being hung, l told him
that thought | had. He said he was
the man that had The new trial granted,
and was acquitted; and said he, they
hung the wrong man: he was innocent /:
1 am the guilty man. but they hung him
and cleared me- 'Bul,' says |, you were
under different name still, at that time
He said, Yes, BY none of those names do
you know me, but my real name you are
familiar with. Your name said he, Il
knew in the year 1882; the gamblers call.
ed you John, but Jonathan is your real
name M curiosity was highly excited
o; the strange management of the murder
er. But you may imagine the increase Of
It when he told me his real name look.
ed at the murderer and could scarcely be-
lieve my own eyes; yet be stood before me
a living marvel.
have pledged secrecy as To his real
name until after his execution. interro-
gated him on his first steps in vice, and
how he became SO hardened He told me
10 remember the treatment be received
from the Lynchers' lash at vicksburg. /
did, bat ms eyes could scarcely credit re-
atty. | had known him in 1892, 3. 4, and
in the early part Of '35. as barkecper in
Vicksburg. He never was shrewd card
player, but at that time was considered an
inofensive youth. The coffee house he
kept was owned by North who with four
others were executed on the fifth of July,
1885, by Lynch law. Wyatt and three
others were taken on the morning Of the
7.h stripped, and one thousand lashes CIV
en- 10 the four, tarred and feathered, and
put into a canoe and set adrif on the Mis-
sissipp river. 1t makes my blood curdle
and my flesh culver to think Of The suffer
ing condition Of these unfortunate men, set
adrift on the morning Of the 7,h Of July,
with the broiling sun upon their mangIed
bodies.
Two died in about two hours after they
were set saoa,. Wyatt and another re-
maued with their hands and feet bound
forty hours, suffering more than tongue
can tell or pen describe. when they were
picked up by some slave negroes, who
started with the two survivors 10 their quar-
tiers. His companion died before they ar.
rived. Wyatt survives 10 tell the horrors
OF the Lynchers' lash He told me seven
murders had been occasioned by their un,
mercilul treatment 10 him, and one inno-
cent man hung know his statement
10 be true, for had known him before
1885, and his truth in PARTICULARS cannot
be denied. Ele murdered his seventh man,
for which crime he will be executed. !,
have another communication for your pa
per concerning the murderer and his pros
pect in The world 10 come.
Yours truly,
J, II, GREEN,
Auburn, April 20, 1915
.r-z-Mr Cirrena has formed q large an.