Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-03-03
The First State Prisoner.
BY GRANT THORBURY.


landed in New York, June 1874. by
trade rough nailmaker. in the 22d year
of my age. In October following. lat that
time the Park was out of town, and only
$4,000 inhahitants,) with ten thousand
fools, some bigger and some smaller than
myself, we stood watching the vibrations
OF the rope and iron hook, during two
hours. Then the sheriff stood on the
scahold and read reprieve. | confess [
was much disappointed. | expected to
see hanging, but no hanging was there:
The man was Noah Gardener. He
kept large shoe store in New York he
committed forgery, which. at that time,
was death, by the law of these United
States. The State prison Of New York
was In the course Of erection at this time:
this was the first prison erected in the
world for reform. instead Of hanging
Ihe Soci'ty of Friends were the chief
promoters Of this humane system. One
room In the prison was near ready to re-
ceIVe criminals. The Friends procured
from the Governor a commutation from
death to the State prison for life.
Being shoemaker by trade. they gave
him stool, wax, lasts and avis. and hero
commenced the state prison shoe manu-.
factory. Next court, six vagahonds were
sent to keep him company, them he learn
cd to make shoes, | visited the prison
three years after this. In Que large room
sat three hundred shoemakers Noah
was provost marshal, walking through
the ranks, with cane in hand, Furnishing
evil doors and praising them that did well.
Seven years having passed over him, the
Friends waited on the Governor
" Friend" said they, "seven years ago
you would have hung this man now here
is reformed member saved to society"
He received an unconditional pardon,
aud came OUT. Inc Friends found him q
store on Pearl street, found him money,
endorsed his notes, aud gave him their
custom. Immediately he was in thriv-
ing way. He joined the Society of
Friends, and said thee and thou with the
best Of them. He had a wife, and chill.
dren arrived at maturity.
His journeymen were Chiefly men Of
families, and wrought at their own houses.
One day he gave man pair of boots.
Now friend" said he, thee must bring
Says he, you shall have them" The
boots did not come home till the fifth day
evening. Noah was wroth. He gave the
man long lecture on the evils of disap-
pointment and want of punctuality.
When he drew up to breathe the man re-
piled
Sir, I am a poor man have three
children, the youngest forty eight hours
old. | had to tend to my wife and cook
for my children. 1t was not in my power
to finish the boots sooner" Noah still
continued to magnify the horrors of dis
appointment. The man grew angry; the
Scotch blood boiled in his veins he
struck the counter with his fist like a
sledge hammer, 81 know" said he, 8 It's
q terrible thing to be disappointed |
remember going up to the PAX to sec
you hung and never was so disappoint.,
ed in my life as when saw the repricye."
Now this was knock down argument
as an Irishman would say. 1t was case.
in point, as they say in court and fact
beyond all controversy, as they say in
Congress. Noah was dumb he oFeffed
not his mouth. He gave the man another
pair to make, Kept him III hl' empioymenti
treated him kindly, but as the man said
he never heard the word Disappointment
drop from his lips thereafter,
Noah went on prospecting and to pros
per. One day he borrowed various sums
of money, and obtained number of Gu:
dorsements. The bills he changed for
gold the endorsements he got shaved in
Wall street. This night he was IF for
parts unknown, taking with him deaf
sister, the wife of a young friend to cheer
him on the way. The story is true to tho
letter, andsbcing the first subject Of state
prison reform, the day dreamors OF tho
present time may settle the questions
whether hanging or state prison tetoriti'
is the surest way of curing a consuiiir1atc
villain. His family and friends teFtf
heard from him.
Loarftif,il Hird )