Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-03-09

a
with increased sorrow every day. Theil
ex-kitchen maid did not seem to share theil
grief; she made the accustomed response
humbly and calmly, as if certain that the
requisite amount of contrition would come
in good time; and | could not help think
ing it sort of Jewish penance which made
her take to the scrubbing and securing OF
her out-of-the-way cell more resolutely after
every visit.
Things had been going on in that fashion
for some time. 1t was mid-winter, and, be.
sides being unusually cold season of pc.
cullar concern to us matr0nS and assistants
Whoever has had to do with female convict
establishments will be aware that, in the
dark December, or rather the Christmas
and New-Year times, there is always dis.
position to small riots among the inhabit-
ants of the cells. Whether it arises from
the remembrance of former festivities, con-
trasting with the monotopy of prison-life,
or to some occult influence of the season
acting on the spirits and tempers of those
difficult subjects, | cannot say but certain
| am, from woeful experience, that more
windows are then broken, more blankets
and sheets are torn up, more fierce battles
fought, and more women carried off scream
ing to the dark cells, than at any other per-
iod of the year. We had nothing of the
kind as yet, and were hoping to get over
the troublesome time in comparative quiet
but increased watchfulness was neverthe-
less considered necessary, and those who
did the night-duty were enioined to make
the round of the wards more frequently
than usual. A dreary business it was for
the asslstant-matrons to whom the work
| generally fell to pace about all the long
winter night through those gloomy stone
! passages, wrapped in a cloak, and with a
lantern in hand, listening for every sound,
| looking in at the inspection-hole above
every cell-door, and anxiously wishing for
| the six O'Clock bell, which would relieve
their watch
| was on that duty one night about the
middle of December | had made the stip-
ulated rounds, and found every thing quiet,
when it occurred to me, about three o'clock
in the morning, the weariest hour in the
whole watch, that all night long had not
looked into or even approached No. 40. The
cell, as | have said, was out of the way
there was a sort of bend or angle in the
passage which led to its door, and might
| have suited its ancient use-namely the
|
had never given any trouble, and was GER
tainly not breaking-out subject. | felt it
no neglect of duty to leave her alone from
hour to hour while all the rest of the wards
were duly inspected; bnt for regulations
sake, felt that ought to see the door of
| No. 49, as this was almost my last round
Back | went in its direction, and let me re
mark that had or pair of list-slippers,
which were thought perfect treasures to a
matrOn on the night-watch for their noise
lessness but judge of my amazement and
confusion when, on softly approaching the
cell of my model prisoner, | caught low
raspng sound, as if something were being
| done with a file of chisel. There was a
faint light, too ! shaded my lantern, and
looked through the inspeGtion-hole. The
| gas was burning very low, and crouGhed Ill
the corner, with her face close to the floor,
| but working with both hands, and small
bit of iron, as if to widen a crevice she had
made between it and the wall, | saw the
hitherto quiet and most manageable Jacobs.
| She had not heard and couldn't see me
and, great as my surprise was, my curios-
! ity to know what she could be about, or in
tend by making that creyiGe, was still great
| er. | stood for minute or two watching
| her work. and soon perceived that the OBJ
,lect was to get her fingers in to get some
! thing out The effort seemed desperate for
her hands were scratched and bleeding in
many places by coming i'll contact with the
sharp edges of the stone and the broken
| bit of iron but at length she succeeded in
getting two fingers into the crevice, and
out with them came a string of beads so
brilliant that they flashed like 50 many drops
OF fire in the faint gasight.
What Oh earth are you doing, JacObsY'
said !, speaking out of my own astonish-
ment ; and the Jewess turned round with a
| far less amazed look than mine must have
| been.
You have caught me, MISS" she said in
her customary low and humble tone. :" /
knew you would but you won't be hard
on me 4; you are merciful lady; the JOS
ephs will make you any present you like ;
and maybe you would be good enough to
take this" she continued, coming close to
the locked door, and presenting to me,
through the inspectionhole, small but
very brilliant pin.
q No, Jacobs" said |, al will not take
any bribe from you, and / want nothing
from the Josephs but | want to know
what you have been doing up at this hour
in your cell and what was that you took
out of the crevice between the wall and the
| floor ?N
"Fll tell you all, miss, ,and leave my case
to your charity" said Jacobs thank my
stars, the women are too far off to hear a
word" ! knew that was correct and it
made me stand at the inspection-hole to
hear her tell, in the dead silence of the win
ter night, one Of the most singular tales OF
device and endurance that | ever heard.
The string of brilliant beads was an old
/ fashioned diamond necklace, valued at |
forget how many thousands. 1t had been
sold or pawned-Jacobs would not decid-
edly say which, but ] believe the latter--to
a grand-uncle of the Josephs Some init.
nation of the diamonds and their wherea-
bouts reached noted gang of burglars,
for they made an attack on his premises
one night, and carried off, among other
spoiIs of less value, the precious necklace
: The grand-uncle had pursued them with all
the force of law, and with all the power of
riches. Many of the gang were tai zen, and
among them the leader, in whose possession
the diamonds were believed to remain. But
no bribe, no promise that the Jewish attor'
ney employed for the purpose could offer,