Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-10-05


and few dollars in money. The
PRIVILEGES TO THE PRISONERS
while here are quite numerous. Every
evening a chaplain visits their cells and
communes with them about their
moral welfare. Besides he is with them
the entire Sabbath. The convict is
also furnished each week with some
one book from the library. The books
mostly read are upon history. Then
they are supplied also with lI9rper's
Weekly and a few story papers. but
| no newspapers are e"er permitted. If
"A prisoner conducts himself in an order
lv and respectful manner. that tehds
to deduct something from his scntcnce
As provided for by statute. He also
has fifty minutes at morning, noon,
and night. besides evenings and Sun
days. 10 himself lie is not allowed
to smoke, but he can chew at the ex.
pense Of the State 10 the amount Of
one iig OF tobacco each week.
THE BILL or FARE
is about as follows: SUNDAYS, two
meals for dinner. brown bread, fish
and potatoes ; for supper, -four bread,
coffee and cheese. The supper bill is
the same throughout the week, and it
also forms the fare for breakfast.
Then on Tuesday they have Tor dinner
beef and potatoes ON Wednesday pea
or bean soup; on Thursday, fish and
potatoes; on Friday. pea or bean soup,
and on saturday, beef soup. The
prisoners rise at o'clock for break.
fast, take their dinner at l2 and sup
per at .. They always pass in By the
kitchen in single ilie, and taking their
allowance from "a slide" march on 10
their cells into which they enter, and
are fastened all at once. They have
fifty minutes for each meal. AT nine
o'clock IN the evening they are obliged
10 cxtlnguish their lights.
THE PLAN
10y which the prisoners are governed is
known as the Auburn system. which
consists OF separate and solitary con-
iinemcnt by night, on Sundays, aad
during meals. and ''congregate labor"
in the shops during working hours Of
the day. The whole number OF con-
victs now here is l6i. and the greater
portion OF these are on a sentence for
larceny. OF the entire number who
are here the verdict with over three
fourths is rum did 1t"
IHE MOST NOTED CoNVICTs.
The first one we come to is John +.
Lawrence, in cell No. OF the old
prison. He IS here on sentence of
death. and when We saw him he WAS on
the sick list. When he ls well nc WORKS
an the carriage trimming shop. He
always notice, every visitor. In com
plcNion Ae Is dark. and he wears shlu-
ing black wAIshers and moustachc. In
every respect YOU might well take hlm
for a murderer.
Next in order are the cells of Hight,
Moore and Litchtield known as the
Rocklaud bank robbers. These cells
are more noticeable than anv of the
Others since they are so nicely furnish
ed. Hight has Il nice straw carpet,
pretty covering for the stand, and the
walls are adorned with various pictures
Moore's cell has fine Brussels carpet,
an afghan robe on his cot, and is other
W Sc furnished in the most costly man
ner. Among numerous pictures hang
ing on the wall are two representing
his wife and child. Litchfeld's cell is
just below that of Moore's, and is also
furnished In an equally expensive man
ner. Tne same feature is also noticea-
BILE in his cell as in that of Moores
presenting 10 view picture of wife
and child. Visiting the workshops,
we find Hight in the harness depart
ment sitting in one corner on a high
stool. He has never been known TO
look round al = visitor since he mas
been confined here. but always keeps
steadily at his work. Moore we found
In the carriage shop and he WAS ut
work at that time On Il wagon frame in
company with another convict. He is
q thick set fellow, wears side-whiskers,
and has a most gentlenanly appear
ance. Litchfcld works in the carriage
SUPP iic ioi"tiiN htpt gtoeCiS
store in Rockland. 1t will be remcm-
bered that this party of robbers was
caught by the people Of that city on
the very next day after the robbery.
One of them was found slowed away
in Litchfields house and the other was
caught a few miles out OF the city in
the woods. Ltehiield protested his
innocence to the very last.
Cleveland, the Orrington murderer,
works in the wheelwright shop. He is
now 20 years Of age. He is the indi-
vidual who killed Warren George for
his money,
But just above in the paint shop, is
Hoswell, the second Mcfarland. He
is as fleshy AS ever, and is reported to
be one of the most orderly convicts in
the prison.
Entering the shoe shop, we found
Thorne, who killed man in Harpswell.
about twenty-nine years ago, on the
strength Of a promise of the mans wife
to marry him after he should commit
the act. 1t is needless to say that the
'A1chhAa cSasShs vas hN'NA
carried out on the other hand. Thorns
was arrested and convicted, and has
been here ever since. The woman is
| still alive, and resides in the northern
part of the State. Probably no one
man has ever excited more sympathy
in the state since incarceration in
prison than this man Thorne. Free
quent endeavors have been made to
have him pardoned, and lengthy petit
tions have been signed BY ex-Gover-
nors and ether leading men, but all
this has been of no avail.
In the blacksmith shop We saw Joel
c. Preble, Of White6eld, Who was sent
here ten years since for murdering his
wife. He is about forty y-fve years of
age, and is very tall, hard-6sted chap.
A little jealousy and much liquor was