The Republican journal., 1877-02-08
NUMBER 32
on, just nine years from the day Of his COZ

vlctlon. Sims conceals his real name.
) Edward Mcguire, the Youngest of Tx
robbers, IS OF slight stature, weighing bu
one hundred and twenty three pounds
lie complains CT suffering from lung com.
plant, and that he has ~ constant strup.
gle to keep above water lie atfirnls his
innocence in the most emphatic terms
he was never seen in COMPANY with Bart.
lett and Sims. Detectives had been put on
his track night and dav, and even stopped
at his sisters house in New York. where
he lived, hut not a particle Of evidence
had been obtained against him. He was
in New York at the time OF the robbery.
and the only thing that convicted him at
tue trial was the testimony OF Mrs butter
| field who swore that his voice sounded
IKE the one she heard in her room.
| he universal testimony Of the prisoners
IS that they are well treated but few VIII
admit they are Justly held for punishment
| Believe the story they tell. the Judges and
lIrieS have either been deluded or uniust
| and cruel, and the prison doors should
SWING outward to let these persecutcd
men forth to freedom. home and friends
but before having Your feelings very
much excited IN that direction, You must
pear ~ Mlnd that 'ai men are tlalS, " and
| especlally To state fri'ou conVIctS. Many
graduates from ialIs-the breeding place
OF rtlintuaIS - and tfC m reform schools
come to the prison, III one time there
were inrty who had been III the Maine Re-
form school. kum, the great DESTROYER
was the direct cause Or tWo.thirQs Of the
CONVICTIONS Cruel step mothers and moth
GRIN laws were also bitter ingredients IN
the cup OF Woe
he instruction department il in CHARGE
ol MIR u. j. Starrett OF lhomastOn, an
accomplished and devoted teacher, who
Tor three Years has given a portion Of his
time, at u meagre salary, to the GOOD oE
the PRISONERS, nstructing them evenings
and Sundays giving two hours each even
ing ana all OF the Sabbath Mi Starrett
should have a tair salary. and all of his
time required at the prison. 1t would re-
Snlt III good to the State and to the pris-
nn"rs. No sooner are the evening lamps
lighted than seyenty-tiye or more of the
prisoners are bending over their books
reading, writing. arithmetic geography.
grammar. spelling Many WHO entered
the prison entirely ignorant ui each of
these branches, tre now reading with |
ease, performing examples in fractions. |
'>iiN'
home. Nearly fifty who could not write |
when they came. are corresponding with |
their friends ut home, to the infinite pleas |
ure of these friends and to their own great |
satisfaction. Old men are busy with the |
elementary studies that ought to have |
employed their attention at the primary |
schools Butat that time they were picking |
up their education in the streets and at the |
saloons, and that's how they came here
They now have an opportunity for repent
ence and are endeavoring to make up for
time that was triHed away in youth. One |
young man said to Us, II wouldn't take
two thousand dollars for what | have
learned since | came here" Another said.
Il don't think lWould sell out any at price"
and stjll another, The satisfaction of be-
ing able to write to my mother, more
than repays for all the punishment have
had to endure" And thus the good testi-
mony might be continued Not one of the
scholars that has been taught by the even
ing lamp in those narrow cells behind the
grates-the pupil inside, the teacher stand
ing outside by the door-has committed a
crime that has led to his Return. The
great need now is for school books and
Bibles, twenty-five Of the inmates being
without books TO study. 1t seems us though
ing the word ol GOD TO tnOSc VINO are
lor the bread Of life and thirst
ing tor the sweet waters of salvation.
We cannot close the already extended
article without 4 word Of commentator
OF the Warlen Hon w. W. Rice, who has
had charge of the institution the past
fourteen years. lie does not perform his
duties mechanically and stolidly, but IN