The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-01-26

OuC VI WV S<ASSHOAOuos JOCh 0OAO ~ NOA
victs Very favorable contracts for ma
terial and for machinery were made by
| Commissioner Wheeler. It is expected
that when once the shops get to running
to their full extent that the products will
far exceed those of any former period in
the history of the prison. In the cabinet
shop, in the north wing OF the building,
are some very fine articles of furniture
which have been manufactured here
elegant marble tops, chamber SEES and
parlor sets of fine patterns. The stone
shops employ large force of men, and
they are turning out fine quality of cut
stone suitable for various architectural
purposes. The material is quarried upon
the prison grounds, hence there is no out
lay in this shop except for tools. The
chair and cabinet-shops and stone cutting
COMPRISE all the branches of productive
industry at which the convicts are EN-
ployed. Many are occupied as servants,
teamsters, cooks and walters and some
are employed in making clothes and
shoes for the prisoners. 1t is not reason
able to expect as much from convict labor
outside of prison walls. In the first place,
this labor is forced, and, in the second
place, very large proportion of those
confined here have become broken down
and enfeebed by their former disolute
and vicious habits, so that they cannot
labor easily. Many OF the convicts are
too old, and some, alas too young. In
passing through the shops, one can but
admire the good order and perfect disci
| pline which marks all the workmen, and
The close attention they pay to their work
One convict said that it would prove
blessing to him being sent up here, as he
now had good trade, and " hen he gets
out he will have something to do.
VISIT TO THE CELL ROOMS
is both interesting and instructive. 1t
satisfies curiosity and gives information
and still it excites pity at the mlsfor-
tunes, if they can be so called, of our fel
low men. Entering the south cell-room,
you are III an apartment 200 feet in
length, 80 feet in width, and so feet in
height. In the center are situated the
cells in four tiers, one above the other
They are miserably ventilated, yet quite
we'll lighted. Here are over 900 men
You are in the midst of thieves, murder
ers, bigamists, incendiaries forgers, and
| u VI Oil Sl&dEo dIQ CldSSGb. III
addition to the above, was surrounded
by Legislators. In each cell, which is
about four feet wide, eight feet long and
six feet high, is cot table, chair,
a bucket, plate, knife, spoon, and cup.
The cots are not downy, nor is the furni-
ture mahogany. Every prisoner has
short hair and shaven FACET is the
prevailing fashion They are each clad
in suit of gray. The rules of the prison
do not allow visitors to converse with
the prisoners, but by special dispense
ton of the Commissioner we were al
lowed to talk freely with them The
convicts all seemed pleased to be allowed
TO talk, which they did freely when
spoken to- We passed around to the left
In cell No. 5 is a noted character is
the present and life home of the noted
Rev. DR. Duvall, sent up for life for MUIR
dering his fourth wife at GAINESVILLE
nearly two years since. The Doctor has
not that fresh and blooming air that dis
|tinguished him when | first saw him in
the furnishing practice of healing art.
His luxurlant beard has been cut off, and
his short hair attests his adoption of the
prevailing fashion of this institution.
He has been employed as an artist in
painting the rough wood work of the
machinery, and his gray suit has receiv-
ed liberal allowance of the red paint,
so that he now presents somewhat
daubed appearance. His oily tongue
still flows In bland accents beneath his |
CLASSY, devilish eye, as he protests that
he is victim and is as "innocent as q
q cherub in heaven" He is now engag
ed in writing his life, and if he would
only tell the truth, what terrible story
1t would be. Passing along, we soon
came to West, another murderer. He is
now very pious Here we pass an old
man, now boy; here is a forger, and I
there a wife murderer here an insane
man who drowned two of his children.
Now We come to a cell whose occupant
was schoolmate of ours in our boyhood
1t is years since we saw him and vet he
responds rs prompt recognition as we
speak his name, and eagerly asks con I
corning the boys and girls who were his
former schoolmates We tell HIM that
this one is married and that one is dead,
another yet has gone far from home
And so talk on for half an hour about the
days aud friends gone long ago, when life
was brighter than now. Wonder not
that the eye moistened and the lip trem-
bled that babe him good bye, and gave
him word of encouragement in regard
to the plans and prospects for his future,
when the roses of next June shall vel
come him free man again. o
Here we met an old man whose years are
nearly spent, who, in a drunken spree
killed companion We. were on the
jury that tried HIM May such duty
never fall to our lot again. There are
many who have been here for long and /
many years. and whose whitening heaus