Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-01-25
NEWS AND MISCELLANY.
Lae CenxIsts LA the Massachusetts STATE
IrHa


The Oldest inmate of the prison, says
the Newton Journal, is man named
Hunnewell. OF Cambridge, who has
lived within its walls for full twenty
wears, half lifetime. In MS youth he
was of Incorporate. habits, which ter
minated in his imprisonment in the
House of Correction, at the instigation
of his mother. Upon his release he
set his parental home on fire, resulting
in the burning to death of hls brother,
for which he was to be hanged, which
sentence was afterwards commuted to
life Imprisonment.
Passing into the hospital of the pris-
ON with the Warden, we stood by the
bedside of a, convict evidently in the
last stages of consumption. Near him
sat a fellow-convict in attendance upon
his wants. The Warden addressed
him kindly, Offering any comfort that
might be desired. The sick man asked
for some refreshing article, which was
at once sent for. He was asked also If
he wanted to send word to his parents;
but he declined, stating that ms father
and mother lived long way of IN
western New York, that they were poor
and unable to bear the expense OF visit
ing him. His story is sad one. Six
or seven years ago, Ia western
Massachusetts, this convict fell in
love with young woman
The attachment was mutual, aud
friends opposing, the infatuated couple
eloped together. The relatives of the
lady pursued, and overtaking them at
The hotel, were about to carry the
Young woman off to her home, when
her companion begged the favor CT
brief interview. This was granted,
when, as he asserts, they agreed to end
their troubles by committing suicide
together. At the last moment, how
ever, her courage failed her. and she
called upon him, as he says, to do the
deed for her; he then cut her throat
and his own. She died, he recovered,
and was tried and convicted OF murder,
but was saved from the gallows by q
communication oil his sentence TO imprfs
onment for life. Six years have clap
sed, and now he also Is about TO pass
away, cDntrite and penitent for the
crime which he committed.
Another convict, who has a strange
history, is an Engllshman named Will
son. Twelve years or more ago, he
was on the point OF being discharged,
his sentence having expired, when on
the morning of the day of his release,
out of revenge for some imaginary
wrong, he murdered fellow convict.
He was tried, convicted and sentenced
to be hung. The gallows was erected
in the yard of the Charles street Jail,
the Sheriff aud his posse were present,
and the condemned man was about to
undergo the sentence OF the law, when
an order was received from Governor
Gardner, staying the execution for
week. Before the expiration of that pc
riod, his sentence was committed TO life
imprisonment, at the CharlestOWn state
prison, and for twelve years he has
been sole inhabitanG of a cell, with the
exception of an hone each day allowed
for exercise IN the prison yard. His
health is failing, however.
Another inmate for lie is John Moran,
the young man who killed his. sweet
heart ia Roxbury, year or two since,
aud was sentenced 10 be hung, but had
the penalty committed 10 Imprisonment
for life.~ lie has behaved we'll since his
commitment TO prison Piummer, the
whaleship Inutiuter and murderer, who
was saved from death by the exertions
OF the late Ex-Governor Andrew, and
sent to this institution for life, seems
to be in rather poor state of health.