Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1867-06-26
TEE FIRST STATE PRISONER.
BY GRANT THORBURN.

landed in New York, June, 1874, by
trade a rough nail maker, in the 22d
year of my age. In October following.
[ went up to the Park, to see a man hang
ed (at that time the Park was out OF
town, and the population was only So
000) viii ten thousand fools. some
bigger and same smaller than myself,
we stood watching the vibrations Of the
rope and the iron, hook for two long
hours. Then the sheriff stood upon the
scaffold and read reprieve. I confess
I was very much disappointed , I ex-
pected to see hanging, but no hanging
was there.
The man was Noah Gardner. He kept
large shoe store in New York. He
committed forgery, which at that time
was death by the laws of these United
States. The State prison in New York
was building at this time this was the
first prison erected in the world for re-
form instead of hanging. The society
of Friends we're the chief prompters of
this humane system. One room in the
prison was now ready to receive criminals.
The Friends procured from the Govern
OF Communication from death to prison
for lite.
Being a shoemaker by trade, they
gave him a stool, wax, lasts and avis and
here commenced the State Prison manu-
facture. Next court, six 7agabonds
were sent to keep him company; them
lie taught to make shoes. | visited the
prison three years after this. In ore
large room sat three hundred shoema-
kers. Noah was provost marshal, walk
ing through the ranks with cane in hand
Furnishing evil doers and praising those
that did we'll. Seven years having pass
ed over him, the Friends waited on the
Governor. Friend, said they, seven
years ago you would have hung a man
now he is a reformed member saved to
society.
He received an unconditional pardon,
and came out. The Friends found him
a store on Pearl Street, found him money,
endorsed his notes and gave him their
custom. Imme liately he was in a thriv-
ing way. He joined the Society ofFriends,
and said thee and thou with, the best
of them. He had a wife, and his child
rem had arrived at the age of maturity.
His journeymen were chiefly men of |
families, and wrought in their own homes. !
One day he gave a man pair of boots.
Now, friend, said he, thee must bring
home these boots on fourth day evening.
Says the man you shall have them. =
The boots did not come home till fifth /
day evening. Noah was wroth. He
gave the man long lecture on the evils .
Of disappointment and want of punctual-
.ty. When he drew up to breathe, the
man replied:
Sir, I'm poor man; I have a wife |
and three children, the youngest only
'Orty-e CHI hours old. I had to tend my
wife and cook for my children. 1t was
not in my power to finish the boots soon
er.' Noah still continued to magnify
lororrs of disappointment. The man
grew angry; his Scotch blood boiled in
MS veins he struck the counter with
lis fist like a sledge- hammer. L know
aid he, its terrible to be disappointed.
remember going Up to the Park to see
you hanged, and I never was so disap-
pointed in my life as when I saw the re-
yrieve'
Now this was knock down argument
IS an Irishman would say. 1t was a
ase in point, as they say in court and I
fact beyond all controversy, as they say
n Congress. Noah was dumb he open
d not his mouth. He gave the man !
mother pair to make, kept him in en-
,loyment, and treated him kindly, but
5 the man said, he never heard the
rord disappointment come from his lips &
hereafter.
Noah went on prospering on to pros {
Gr. One day he borrowed various sums /
f money and obtained a number of en- t
easements. The bills he changed for
old, the endorsement he got shaved in
Vail street. That night he was off for {
arts unknown, taking with him a dear !
ister, the wife OF a young Friend, to :
hcer him on the way. This story Is !
rue to the letter, and being the first sub t
act of State Prison reform, the day q
reamcrs Of the present time may settle s
he question whether hanging or State u
'rison be the surest way Of Touring CON j
ummate villain. His family and friends
ever heard from him.
TIE wcevil is destroying the wheat I
ear Richmond, Virginia. The Exam /
rcr remarks that this is the first visit of $
he weevil to that part Of the country S
t is supposed to have been brought from