The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-07-26

happy woman took Marshal Frey's arr
and walked down to the gate, withou
betraying the least emotion. Both sh
and her daughter were dressed In blacI
aud wore mourning wells. DR.. Nugen
(Mrs. Wbarton's brother) and Professo
: Richard McSherry were in the house
but neither Of them accompanied tn
party to the gate.
The ladies' were handed into the frs
carriage. and Sheriff Albert took sea
beside Miss Wharton, drew the curtain
Of the carriage, and was about telliu'
; the driver to "go ahead" when Mrs
Wharton expressed desire to ride ii
the other carriage The ladies wer'
promptly handed out of the one carriage
into the other, the last carriage being
much the handsomer. Sheriff Alber
again took his seat beside Miss Whar-
ton, facing the mother, aud the carriage
moved of in the direction Of the city
Ijail. Marshals Gray and Frey, Mr
Roseman, and Mr.. Nelson followed il
the other carriage.
WITHIN THE PRISON WALLS.
On the way to the Jail there was ne
conversation except of the most COM
monplace character. The party alighted
at the main gate, aud Mrs. Wharton
walked up through the yard without
showing the least weakness OF fatigue
She asceuded the fight Of stone step:
resolutely, and took aseat in the re-
ception room with as much composure
as if she were calling on an intimate
friend The daughter showed sadness
IN her face, but she was perfectly self
possessed, aud acted through the whole
painful scene with fortitude born Of
nigh culture and great self control
There we're first some arrangements
to make about furniture for :he cell to
which she was assigned, and some con.
sultation with the authorities as to wha:
luxuries would be allowed outside the
regular fare. A memorandum of neces.
sary articles Of furniture was made out
and messenger despatched to bring
them.
CELL NO. ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY
SEVEN.
While these preliminary arrange
ments were going on the reporters,
through the courtesy Of Mr.. VIM. II.
Perkins, President of the Board OF
Visitors, and Mr.. Irwin, Warden Of the
jail, we're permitted to see the "narrov
house" assigned to Mrs. Warton, "Cell
No I67" in the Jail register. It is on
the first tier of the north wing, facing
west. 1t has been recently scrubbed
and white washed, and all the furniture
removed, there not being even a chair
or bench to relieve the cold severity
Of the walls. A floor seven and half
feet by ten with an arched ceiling nine
feet from the floor at it's highest point.
Through the grated window the stee-
pie of the Third German Reformed
Church Calvert street, can be seen,
and the square tower of Emanuel
Church Gn which Mrs. Wharton vas
wont to Worship in the distance. The
afternoon sunshine comes streaming in
through the outer windows and the
evening shadows play along the iron
galleries. A green tree in the yard has
pushed up its topmost branches until
they can be seen from the first tier C
cells across the open intervening space,
as they sway back and forth aud lightly
brush against the window panes. What
visions they must bring to the poor
prisoner Of tie happiness and beauty
and freedom without.
A STRANGE COINCIDENCE.
In the cell under the one occupied BY
Mrs. Wharton is the poor, stupid
colored girl lately sentenced to be
hanged fox the murder of her newly
born 10 aut. What mighty leveller is
even the suspicion of crime! Here is a
woman who, before the dark shadows
fell upon her, represented whatever oil
grace and beauty and culture aud worth
there can be found in that region known
as high life" and right under her, in
a cell in every respect similar to hers, is
a wretched girl whose mind is q perfect
blank, who is almost w.thou, moral con
sciousuess. and TO whom affection and
love aud purity and virtue are unmesn-
ing words which she cannot Comprehend.
What strange fate has brought these
Two women together who in the outer
world were seperatel as vide as the
poles by moral aud social zone through
which it was known that the one could
never rise, and i. vac never dreamed
bat the other could sink. And here
they are together.
A DELICATE QUESTION.
Upon the first entrance Of Mrs
Wharton into the Jail the Board of
Visitors had tc decide most delicate
question. Mrs. Nellie Wharton, out
of her beautiful devotion to her unhappy
mother, was most anxious to remain
With her and share her imprisonment.
Mrs. Wharton is subject to epileptic
Its, and her daughter knows best how
10 treat her, and vbat remedies to use
when the spell comes on her. Letters
we're submitted from DR.. r. McShetry. |