The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-04

n CUIItHpuuucul VI lHu NllltluHhtl
Commercial writes from Indianapolis:
Within the last three years man has
been in the State Prison, South, of In
diana, who improved the opportunity
by writing book with the above title.
It has Just been published, Among the
horrible instances quoted in Prison Life
may cite that Of poor, one-legged
soldier, upward OF fifty years of age,
and shaking with the palsy For some
minor offence he had been sent from
Park County to prison for two years.
Upon his arrival he was assigned to the
collar shop, and required to do the
regular days work. He had hardly re-
covered from the operation on his leg,
and was very feeble. In addition to his
other ailments he was subject to severe
attacks OF heart disease,
On the morning of which We write he
was in deplorable condition. The diet
and work Ind reduced him to almost
nothing, and the painful stump of his
wounded leg was raw and bleeding.
"Come, move on" said the brutal
steward, showing him with his foot.
The old man hobbled oil to his shop
and lay down on bunch Of straw. Soon
the guard came along:
"Wcll, sir, didn't make it, eh ?"
Meaning that he had failed to be excused
by the doctor. "Get out Of that, now,
and go to your work.
"1 am sick, and my leg is sore and
bleeding. can't work.
"CmI you Doctor sent you to the
shop, and you must work. Get out Of
that, now, or I'll take you to the Office
and have you skinned all over" This
was favorite threat among the guards
at that time.
The old man crawled ont Of the straw
and worked for an hour or so, when he
accosted the guard in despair
"I cannot stand" said he; for
Gods sake, just let me lio down on the
floor perhaps will get better"
"No sir, keep at work. You can't
play of on me !'
He worked for few moments more,
and sank down completely exhausted,
when his shopmates lifted him over on
the straw again. At night he was just
able to get to his cell.
81 am dying, said tho man can't
you leave my cell door open p
"Die and be d-dl" exclaimed the
guard, slamming the door in his face,
and throwing the bolt.
No one knows how he died.
In character with THIS Is the horrible
story of man who was crazy, and chain
ed, and bagged, and starved to death.
This furnishes subject for four of the
most graphic illustrations: " In the
Straight jacket" BRUTAL Guards, +" the
prisoner fellcd to the floor; "Tnrget
Practice" his futile effort to escape and
Chained to an Anvil" in the cell house,
where, because he moved rcstlessly from
sideto side like the poor wild beast he
had become, he was scwed up in a bag
and starved. Sometimes for two days
he would have nothing but water then
some bits Of corn bread would be thrown
him as to wild animal, and like n
famished beast he would grapple up the
fragments and eat them. II was strange
how long he lasted. There he would
stand at his cell door, his skinny fingers
grasping the bars, and his hungry eyes
glittering like cold steel. He grew to
be a mere skeleton. "Nothing but skin
and bones," the boys would say rs they
passed and glanced at him.
One morning, about seven weeks after
they locked him up, the night guard
noticed that Pat lay very still and stiff,
and peeping into tho cell, he shouted at
him. No grean came from the still
breast. His eyes did not grow wild any
more-only a CLASSY stare. Pat Maher
MnS denl.