The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-21
PRISON LIFE.
Its Amenities in an Indiana Penitcntiary-
Murderers Allowed to Go Fishing and Les
ser COnvicts Dine with the Warden.

ser COnVIcIs DIne WIN tne warden.
A correspondent OF the Chicago Republican writes
from Indianapolis under date of May 10:-
"Convicts in the State Penitentiary of Indiana
very quickly detect weakness in an officer and os
quickly avail themselves of whatever advantage it
may be to them. 1t took them but a short time to
discover that indecison held the reins of govern
ment, and as the discipline relaxed have gradu-
ally set the rules OF the prison at naught, until they
now hold the upper hand. When reported
by guard for misconduct, they sent
back with gentle reprmand or good advice, and as
soon as they are out OF the warden's sight laugh at
his weakness and jeer at the guard for his pains.
Open violation Of the rules goes unpunished and
party OF convcts were actually taken by the warden
to his house and took tea with him and his family.
Two OF that party shortly afterwards made their
escape by scaling the walls, and, when recaptured,
gave as reason Ior running away that the guard
back to their places unpunished, while the guard
was reprmanded for speaking harshly to the little
innocent dearS.
"Those of the guards who still adhere to the old
fashioned notions of discipline, and think that Obedi
ence should be eXacted from the convcts are now
threatened with dismissal, and will be dismissed
less they mind their ways, and stop acerating the
feelings Of those pet lambs. few days, or at fur
thest few weeks, VIII show whether this Is correct
or not ar =. -,-,-.--. ......,... .,.,o 49,,
female, are daily allowed TO run at large, without
restraint and II really seems as If the worst charac
ters in the prison had been selected TO have the
favor conferred on them. Four at least OF them are
murderers, Burglars and highway robbers help to
swell the list. Parties Of them are allowed TO go
fishing at the falls, mile from the prison vi hne
afternoon the females dressed In full citizens cos
tune, promenade the streets or take long walks on
the commons, while some Of the men play ball or
cut circus capers and perform gymnastlc feats Tor
the delectatiOn Of invited guests The women are
not alone in the matter Of dress some OF them sport
articles OF citizens clothing and make use Of their
liberty and spare change by patronzlnS the little
dOggery near the prison. And further as II den-
ance of decency and of the city laws, convict drives
milk wagon from the prison, and sells mix right
under the of the people who pay the taxes that
support this buTlesque on the name OF Pententlary
|Mrs LOngnecker, Salle Hubbard Jane Williams
and Mrs Clem four women Of the prison, are there
for life terms Mrs. Longnecker is woman VINO
poisoned her husband i'm Indianapolis some nve OF
six years ago. Old Aunt Sallie Hubbard is woman
sixty years OF age. She and her husband murdered
family Of en-father mother and five chlldreI-
in Wabash county, thirteen years ago, because sne
and her husband wanted about forty-iye dollars
worth Of furniture that was in the house in which
the two families lived. After they had muir
dered the family of seven, they buried
the dead bodies under the house, ana gave
out that the missing family had removed
from the neighborhood. They lived six months
above the murdered family, and might have nVed
there yet had not some awkward accident disclosed
the presence OF the dead bodies. Then she and her
husband were arrested, tried, and convicted. lie
was hanged, and she was sent to the penitentlary
for lite We We're astOnished when the warden SAID,
she Is an excellent, good old woman. ana nave
all the confidence in the world in her. She Is allowed
perfect freedom about the place, and she consiuers
this her home"