St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-10-12
Notes and Incidents at the State
Prison.

is left in his cell, where he spends his
whole time.
w. H. Whitney, who was sent from
Caledonia county, has been very lame,
and there were fears that he would lose
leg; but under good care he is i'm
proving, although he still goes with
crutches. The superintendent says
Whitney is one of his best men.
Hayden, the wife murderer from Der
by Line, is hopeful that his counsel will
secure him a new trial, and continues
to reiterate his story that he remembers
nothing about the murder.
Miles, the Barre bank robber, evil
IDENTIFY chafes under confinement. 1t is
not generally known that he has made
one OF two bold attempts to escape. A
few months ago, suit of clothes, a
false face, two pistols, and very choice
lot of saws and burglars tools, were
found between the walls of the store
room, placed there through the grating
of window which communicated out
side the prison. This was discovered
by Intercepted letters from friends in
New York. This store room is accessi-
BILE to Miles, and the outfit was intend
ed for his especial use. In case this
failed, the prison officers learned that
it was the intention of Miles cOnfeder-
ates outside to throw nitro glycerine in
between these walls, through this same
grated window, with the expectation of
blowing down the wall, and in the con-
fusion that followed, Miles was to
escape, with what further aid they
could render him. As large number
of workmen are employed in this build
ing, such a scheme, if successful, would
undoubtedly have resulted in the loss
of many lives. 1t is recorded that that
window was bricked up at once, and
also that the state has on its hands a
very nice set of burglars tools.
While the party were visiting the
prison on Tuesday, the keepers sur
prised one of the men attempting to dig
out under the wall. He was put in SOL
itary confinement in one of the dun
geons before described. This man was
one of their well behaved inmates, and
the keepers had put him at work i'll the
wash room, with two others. This
room is remote from the other work
IL
While pretending to do work here, this
man had, on opportunity, for two weeks
past slipped out into a shed near by,
and used odd moments in digging I'M
der the wall. When captured, he had
dug down two or three feet, and then
under the wall, and was working mp
through on the outside. While in this
position he was pounced upon by the
keeper and marched off to SOLITARY" a
disappointed man. Although the keep
er knew this work was going on, he
let the man work away until he nearly
got out, not knowing but he had accom-
plices which time would develop but
none appeared. The man disposed Of
his surplus dirt by throwing a part in
the privy vault and part in with the
ashes. He covered up the excavation
by setting over it some barrels which
were standing near. His digging in
strument was long piece of wood with
an elbow like "grub hoe" with a
long wide file for point. This same
man dug out of prison once before, and
was gone fourteen gears, when he was
recognized and arrested again. He was
returned to prison some time during
the last year.
The directors of the prison have, al
considerable expense, brought an abun.
dant flow of good spring water to the
institution. They have also built a sew.
er to the river; but the mill owners be-
low caused an injunction to be issued
restraining them from connecting theil
sewer with the river. 1t is expected
the injunction will be removed, and tina
this prime necessity to the health of the
institution will be completed.
Inmates are frequently being dis
charged, their sentences having expired
Nine go out in October. The distrust
with which the world looks upon a mar
who has been imprisoned, is the hard
est thing the discharged prisoner has to
overcome. Before his time is out, the
superintendent does his best to find hin
employment. In this he has sometimes
been eminently successful. One of hil
former pupils is now at work in large
manufacturing town at SO day.
The parti-colored dress is abolished
in the prison, and the men are not de-
graded in their own eyes by being
marked with the old style prison stripe
When discharged, each man is pro-
vided with a new suit of substantial
grey clothes, paying for the cloth, the
suit being made in the tailor shop con
nected with the institution.
One cannot but be impressed with the
youth of the inmates. There are but
few elderly men, but great number