Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-05-25
TIE FIRST STATE PRIs0aER.
BY GRANT THoRCBRN.

'
{ at the time the Park was out of town
and only some 10000 inhabitants with
Ten thousand fools, some smaller than
myself We stood watching the vibFa,
items of the rope and hook, during two
long hours. Then the sheriff stood or
the scallold and read reprieve. | con
fess | was much disappointed. expect
ed to see hanging, but no hanging wa;
there.
The man was Noah Gardner. He
kept large shoe store in New York; he
committed forgery, which, at that Iims
was death, by the laws of these United
States. The Stale prison of New York
was in course Of erection at this time;
this was the first prison erected in the
world for reform, instead Of hanging
The Society OF Friends are the chic
promoters of this humane system
One room in the prison was nearly ready
to receive criminals. The Friends pro.
cured f,om the Governor a Communication
from death 10 the Slate prison for life.
Being shoe maker by trade, they
gave him a stool, wax, lasts, and avis,
and here commenced The State prison
shoe msnufsctory. Next court, SIX vag-
sbonds were sent to keep him company
whom ne learned 10 make shoes. | Wis
lied the prison three years after this. IL
one large room sst three hundred shoe
makers-Noah was provost marshal
walking through The ranks with his cane
in bis hand, publishing evil doers and prais,
ing thesl that did well. Several year.
had passed over him, the Friends waited
on the Governor. Friend said they,
seven years ago you would have hung
this man-now here he is a reformed
member Of society,"
He received an unconditional pardon,
aud came out. The Friends found him a
store on Pearl street, found him money,
endorsed his noie., aud gave him their
custom. Immediately lie was in thriv-
ing way. He joined the Society Of
Friends, and said thee and thou with the
bes; Of them. He had a wife, and chill
dren arrived q; maturity.
His journeymen were chiefly men OF
family and wrought al their own houses.
One day he gave to a ulsn pair of boois.
Now friend said he, thee must bring
home these toois on the fourth day.
Says be, You shall have them
The boots did no, come home until the
evening Of the fifth day. Noah was wroih.
lie gave The Man long lecture on the
evil OF disappointment and want of pune :
,ua!ity. When he drew up to breathe The
man replied -
'Sir, 1 ain poor man-haye three
chlldren-the youngest forty-eight hours
old. had to ieGd 10 my wife and cook
for my children. Il vas not in my pow
er to finish the boots sooner" Noah still
continued 10 magnify the horror of disap-
Poinlment. The man grew angry; the
Scotch blood boiled in his veins; he struck
the counter with his fist ike siedge ham
mer and answered:
81 know" said he, 'il's terrible thing
TO be disappointed. remember going up
10 the Park TO see you hung and was
never 50 disappointed in my life when |
saw the reprieYe.'
Now this was q knock down argument,
as an Iriahman would say. II was case
in point, as they would say in court; a
fact beyond all controversy, as they would
say in Congress. Noah vas dumb, he
opened not his mouth. He gave The man
smother pair to make, kept him in his
employment, treated him kindly, but, as
the man said, he never heard the word
disappointment drop from his lips there
after.
Noah went out prcsPering and to pros
per. One day be borrowed various sums
Of money, and obtained a number OF en-
dorcemenls. The bills he changed for
gold; the endorsements he got shaved in
Wall street. That night he was off for
parts unknown, taking with him dear
sister, the wife Of young friend, 10
cheer him on his way. The story is true
to the letter, and being the first subject
of Stale Prison reform, the philanihropists
of the preseD, time may settle the ques-
ton, whether hanging or State Prison re-
form is tie surest way of curing con-
Summate william. His family and friends
never heard from him.