Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-11-11
IN HOUR WITH ALIFE CONVICT
BIZ NATHAN D. URNER.


which cited, as a case in point, tht
baleful influence Of prison reputa
ton upon the future of the convic'
honestly and stenuously seeking tc
resume yirtnous and honorable
life, recalled singular instance of
like nature that came under my own
observation during a visit to the
Pennsylvania Penitentiary mum.
Der Of years ago. / accompanied
uumbtr Of gentleEen-a Prison
Committee from another State-who
were desirious Of investigating the
operations of the solitary cOnfin'
ment system, which prevailed, and
still prevsiis-thOugh, | believe, in
a somewhat modified form in Penn
sylyania.
We bad visited large number Of
the prisoners, when the Warden
said to me, as we paused in the
gloomy stone gallery just opposite
the door of a cell, whose outWsrd
appesrance was even more cherries
and rspsllant than those We had
visited
"This is the cell Of the prisoner |
mentioned to yOu-Jack Dalton. ]
shall have to proceed With the gen.
iIemen of the Committee, but, if
you Sould like to converse With Dsl-
ton, / will lock you in the cell with
him, and call for you again, say in
an hour"
The door was partially opened,
and by sort of turnstile arrange
ment | was indicted alone into the
cell.
Scientific visitor for No. 1885,"
cried the warden, in a loud voice,
from the outside. Then the iron
door crashed between Us, 'thud'
went the shooting bolts, and l heard
bis ecbOiDg steps rstreatlng down
the vauIted corridors.
! The cell in which | stood wss
about ten by ff,een-larger than
the ordinary dungeOn--and was well
lighted by c small grating, high in the
wall opposite the entrance. 1t con-
tained small iron beds.ead, a small
iron table, a small iron chair, and q
young man seated on a stool, en-
gagged in peggiug shoes with such
Iapidity that it seemed his life must
depend npon completing a gigantic
task in an impOssibly short space Of
time.
But. upon my entrance, be threw
down his work with an exclamation
almost q shout. He rushed up
TO me with an extended hand, and
a wild, joyous blaze in bis eyes
(they we're fine eyes--large, grey,
Iustrous and expressive, as if ! we're
a brother, or near friend, from
whom he had long been sepa-
rated. noticed The young man
was very handsome, even IN bis
degrading prison uniform, whose
black and white tight-fit set of
bis fine, youthful proportions to
advantage. His face was smooth
and beaTdless as a woman's, his
features regular and handsome, and
the contour of bis closely cropped
head was noble aud dignifed. His
frame was 1.-THE and sinewy, bis
hands and feet small and delicatsIy
shaped; yet with all these redeem
ing points, the stamp Of The GRIM
linal was on him. His face Was one
of those strange, rarely cncoun-
tered specimens, whence, ih'ougb
the mask of good nature, is chad
owed forth an instructive air Of de.
pravity which cannot escape detec-
iiOn.
Bat | liked the intensity Of feel
ing with which be grasped my hand
whatever his inherent guilt lis
welcome vas unaffected, eager. al,
most startling.
..Take 0 CHAIR said he, pushing
up the single chair With liis foot
and sealing himself on the side OF
the iron bedstead;; 81 hope you vii
pardon my yehemence when ! say