The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1876-05-03

y
his life, we are informed, was spent in South
ern servitude. He was buried yesterday.
Bobby as he was called, had iiiany
friends and his funeral was largely attended.
EB- The Doylestown HteHigencsr speaks
in a very complimentary maniier Of the vigil
ance of the ex-oflicials of the Jail. 1t says |:
1.-THE powers that overlook our prisoners, and
guard and feed them, and who have custody
of the Jail, have changed. Ex-Sherif Purdy,
who SO yiglantly watched the inmates of the
Fort, has formally handed the keys over into
the possession of Sheriff Rcnhart and Mosie
Wilson, Purdy's jailof and general right-hand
man about the institution, steps out, and is
superseded by man from Doylestown town
ship; Reuben Ott The record of the outgo-
ing officers is fair they have faithfully per-
formed their duties, SO far as the "dilapidat-
ed condition of the Jail would allow" When
placed in Purdy's care it had been battered
and patched at times and in places without
number almost every cell had been attacked
by inmates of more or less skill and many
successful attempts TO escape had at different
times been made. The reports of the sever
al grand inquests, so far HIS they extended,
were true but none has ever fairly exhibited
the actually wretched and insecure condition
of the premises. The best way to get at tile
facts is to visit the place, and to inspect it per-
sonally. Mosie Wilson was good mau for
his position. He was constantly ON the watch,
both with ear and eye. During the inter-
views between prisoners and their friends he
was always present, and everything passing
between the parties had To pass the ordeal of
his inspection. Ii clean handkerchief was
to be transferred, II went through Mosie's
hands, and was .aken by one corner and care
fully shaken. Mosie tells a story about wo-
man whose husband was in prison. She be-
came very religious. and was much concerned
about his spiritual welfare. Obtaining per-
mission TO purchase Bible for him, she
brought 1t to the jail 1t was large and
handsome volume, elaborately bound. 1t
was taken from her hands, and promise
given that he should have It.. Immediately
an order was sent to a publishing house
for q precisely similar volume. which
was received and given to the prisoner. The
copy brought by the woman was then torn up,
And inside the back, put up in the material of
which the binding was made, balf-dozen
finely-wrought steel saws were found, resemb-
ling ribbons in their delicate finish. 1t Is a
work, this watching of prisoners, which never
ends. When unrily characters are in custody
the task becomes still moro difficult One or
two troublesome fellows will demofalize twen-
by prisoners, who, without their society would
be quiet and submissive, and set every indi-
vidual IN confinement to planning means Of
escape. Within the last year those who have
given Keeper Wilson most trouble have bee,
the mer Nixon and Lewis, and the c5lored
man Green. Numerous were the attempts to
escape, and several of them were almost suc-
cessful. The cell in which Lewis and Nixon
were for time coniped, the Teufel CELL was
one that had once contained prisoner who