The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-06-21
The State Prison what the writer
saw and heard while there

nual Visit TO the state Prison on MONDAY oil
last week, occupying most of that week in re-
viewing that interesting and important insti
tuition. The good people of Rockland, with
whom the party tarried when not engaged at
Thomaston with the affairs of the prison, made |
great efforts to render the visit agreeable, and
TO do honor to their guests. Their hospitali-
ties were unlimited and risk nothing in say
ing that the occasion will long be remembered
with pleasure by all parties interested in II.
A few citizens took the lead in the matter
and to Capt. Joseph Farwell, Francis Cobb.
VIM. Wilson. Mr.. Chase, N. A. Farwell, Esqrs,
and their accomplished ladies, Col. Spear and
several others. the party are under great obi
cations, and the citizens also; for the hospital
ity and courtesy Of the city was abundantly
sustained and without stint for the entire week.
The writer had the honor OF accompanying
the expedition, and what he heard and saw
there, was, much Of it Of thrilling interest.
Sufficient indeed for many articles. l will es-
feels in such variations.
The affairs OF the prison. as Is evident to ev-
cry visitor, are in very excellent condition.
They have not been in so satisfactory way for
long time. The evidence now tends to es-
tablishing the fact that the prison will soon be
made to pay its expenses, and leave surplus
In the treasury. After so tedious hoping and
waiting for this desirable result, its confrma-
ton will be hailed with great JOY by the peo-
pie of this State. The Warden-Mr. RICE
has laid his plans well and works his materials
to good advantage, and l look with great con-
fdence to new order of things financial, in
that gloomy abode.
| The number Of prisoners is smaller than for
/ many years. l trust 1t may long continue So
Turbulent spirits have found vent in other d.
rections, and the inmates pine in vain for fresh
/ importations from the ranks OF crime without
the prison walls.
During the four days that the officials we're
occupied in looking into the various interests
Of the prison, had large opportunities TO roam
about and observe the condition and bearing
OF these bad men, who have been "retire" from
! society for the peace and safety Of the COM
munity at large.
The centre Of attraction is Spencer, the
murderer Of Mr.. Tinker while Warden Of the
/ prison. This happened about year since,
and most of your readers are familiar with the
case. He killed him in cold blood by severing
his jugular vein, in the carriage shop, where
Spencer was at work. The year Of solitary
prescribed by the law has been passed. The
wretched man has been chained to the floor
for four hundred days--an eternity Of time to
active, liberty loving man His gallows is
ready. II Is to be set up about the middle Of
the week, to try its workings-to see that It's
not out Of joint 1t is the same monstrtns
machine from which the mutineers were swung
of in Auburn. Through my mental ear al
ready hear its creaking in the wind! ! see its
platform fall-a miserable offender sways to
and fro, and justice is satisfied. On Friday
next, as the sun shall have reached meridian,
and all nature is revealing 10 its glorious
June attire, and crowned with beauty, this
terrible man will come forth from his lonely
( cell, where for thirteen months he has lived In
/ solitude and wretchedness, and expiate his
fearful deed by fearful death! No crime
stands on the catalogue that more deserves the
/ extremity OF the law than his. The murder
I of that kind old man. that never did him hurt,
but rather with his family strove to ameliorate
his condition, is an anomoly in atrocity. The
drops will never fall upon case, in which the
mass OF the community will more readily say,
amen. The protection of society aud prison
discipline demand it. Humanity weeps while
justice does its painful duty.
have said Spencer was the centre Of at
traction. There are many visitors to the pris-
on. All ask for Spencer! II is wonder in
human curiosity to love to look on misery!
And as he rises at the command OF the Keep
i. er,-and with his fierce and hardened gaze
looks you full in the eye, you feel instinclively
to shrink back astep as he advances the length
of his chain toward you.
talked with Spencer some time. lie says
he Is resigned to his fate, and Is often porting
I over his bible. When the certainty that he
would die on the gaIlows was announced to
/ him, he denied all knowledge Of the crime, and
said he had had no trial He pretended he
/ had forgotten all about the case. He was ask
ed If he would not see a minister, and be pre-
pared for the solemn event. He said yes, and
selected Catholic. Why, he was asked? Be-
cause they are about as good as ans Of them.
So Catholic priest came. He vas bsptised,
| the sacrament administered, good advice aud
counsel given him, and now he says he is re-
signed and ready; his sins have been forgiven
him, and he submits to his fate.
He will expiate his crime between twelve
be erected on the spot in the yard where his
victim fell, fainting from loss of blood, and ex-
PRED. The prisoners will be locked up at
twelve to their dinners, II appetites they can
have with such tragedy enacting so near
them. A few witnesses will be called in. A
company OF soldiers will patrol the walls or
guard the gallows. All opportunities for a
rise among the prisoners will Le carefully
shut off--and when the bell shall ring the
convicts back to work at one O'Clock, there
will be dangling in the air a lifeless form,
whose cold-blooded crime has met the uni
versal execration OF all to whose ears 1t ha.
come. Ten or twelve murderers will hear
the drop fall with the fact well assured, that
there are some murders so atrocious as to
merit death, even In the State Of Maine!
The approaching execution is a matter OF
great interest to the prisoners. They seem
to have their minds upon it almost exclusive
ly. Some doubt If 1t will occur. Being too
much engaged one afternoon to go to the viii
lage to get shaved, told Woodbine that he
might perform that service for me. Wood
bine 10 q powerful negro, who in Bangor
threw that community in a terrible fear by
his nocturnal adventures in the way OF rob-
bling houses. He was at last detected, and
sent to State Prison for life. SO dangerous
was he thought, that Bennett, the warden,
kept him in close confinement for several