The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-03
An Inspection of the County
Prison.
A Talk with Some OF the
More Notable Inmates,
Twitchell, Eaton, Champion, Alex.
ander, Farragan, Dickson,
and Ford.


the County Prison, rambled through the spa
cious corridors, inspected the different depart
ments, looked in upon the most noteworthy
criminals, and with several of them entered into
a general conversation. Mr. William j. Mullen,
the State Prison Agent, accompanied us on our
tour and detailed at length the surroundings of
each of the notorietieS 10 whom he introduced
US. The first cell into which we were Intro
duced was that now occupied by
Edward Ford,
the negro man who Tor nearly nineteen years
has been awaiting the signing of his death
warrant by the Governor. He appears TO be
man of about 40 years of age, his full crisp
beard being slightly tinged with grey. The chief
diversion of this man Ford, when a score of
years younger than he noWis, appears to have
been the systematic ,asuse of his harmless wife.
The latter is still living at Kingsessiug the scene
OF the tragedy in which her husband figured,
and is represented by her neighbors as being a
respectable and industrious persohage. Certainly
she has Jared much better since her lawful
spouse has been cared for by the county than
she did before the county kindly relieved her of
his vexatious companionshlp. Ol one occasion
when Ford, according to his custom, was
abusing the woman whom he had pledged HIM
self to cherish and protect, one Allen Ricket,
her halfbrother, entered upon the scene and
attempted to pacfy the irasCible husband. This
interference the latter resented, and the result
of the wrangle which ensued was the death OF
Rieket at the hands OF Ford Tried, convicted,
aud sentenced to be hanged, the cui-
prlt has been, for nearly nineteen
years. awaiting the action of the
Governor of the Common wealth upon the war
rant OF death. Governor Johnston was in
power at the time, but for some reason he
neglected to fix the day of the execution. So
the case of Ford was bequeathed 10 the future
| Governors of the State, and each in turn has
| declined to touch 1t. 1t is sail that one
| Of our recent Governors, TO whom petition
| for the pardon Of Ford was addressed, paid
visit to The prisoner in his cell. The latter was
not aware of the high honor of which he was
| being made the recipient, and so demeaned
himself before his Excellency as to impress that
official with the idea that the safety of the COM
munity would be better consulted by permitting
| Ford to remain in durance vile.
| Aud there he still remains. Periodically, the
subject OF his pardon is agitated, at times be-
coming quite popular; but good reason is
always submitted, by those who know the man
and his instincts, why he should not again be
let loose upon the world. From all that we
it would appear that mercy would triumph at
the expense of justice by his unconditional
release. 1t is said that he tondly nourishes a
hatred of his wife and of brother-in.law still
living, as well as q spiteful feeling against some
| of the witnesses by whose testimony he was
convicted. The strongest argument against his
pardcn is the jeopardy in which the lives of
these persons would be placed thereby. But
there would appear to be no rea-
sonsble excuse for hanging him
| after the long respite which he
has enjoyed, SO that, in all human proba-
bility, he will drag out the remainder of his
| days within the walls of Moyamensing. Saving
| a ceHan assumption of an air of Independent
| pertuess, his general department is described as
| unobiectonable. Now and then, however, he
| lapses into a refractory mood. aud a touch of
! harshDess is required to break him in. On
notable occasion, about six months ago, he had
the audaclty to assail some Of the keepers while
in his cell, and in, return for this indscretiou
he was transported to a cell upon higher door,
| less cozy and comfortable than the one he had
previously teuauted.
On the occasion of our visit we found him
attiTed in costume that defea utterly all the
notions concerning elegance in dress which
| prevail in the outer world The most noticeable
portion OF his wardrobe was u grotesquely
| twisted cloth cap, which eat so jsuntlly upon
his head that it could not fail to provoke "a
smile. He was in his most amiable mood, out-
! spoken, earnest, aud facetious.
chow long have you been here, Ford?" we
inquired on entering his cell.
Eighteen years and a few II" was the
answer.
"Thars a.loug time 10 be locked uq," We
continued,
II should think ii was " he exclaimed, scarcely
waiting for our Words-a characteristic of his
conversation throughout the interview.
"Have you been in this cell all that time?'
"Might as well have been; they brought me
! up here about six months ago."
"How old are your" we again quered.
| al don't know. Nobody knows how old he Isl
| you don't know yourself"
1--WE all know what our mothers have told us
! about it," we ventured TO assert
| Ford was not disposed to question this asser-
| ton, but he answered by rafting off little
story, scarcely it Tor ears and eyes polite, about
quondam Eiend of his who assumed more
| knowledge on the point in question than the
| generality of mankind; and then giving his
| head toss to one side as If he fully appreciated
the force of his o Wn humor, he exclaimed
| "The Bible says that men are born like jack
| asses but it's great mistake.h
After short pause, observing our inability
to appreciate his point, he gave his mead another
/ Wag, and remarked