The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-04-04
THECONVlCT.

"My duties as physician to the
State Prison brought me into daily
contract with many of its inmates for
several years, and / could narrate
innumerable instances of the pride
and even nobleness of sentiment which
may often be found in the widst of
crime.
early in the spring of IS, a
young man named Bradshaw, was SEN
fenced to prison for horse-stealing. l
happened to be in the keepers room
when he was brought in to be reg
istered, and was Immediately struck
with his appearance. He was just
twenty-five years of age, with ruddy
complexion, embrowned by toll, a
clear blue eye, and robust figure;
presenting in short, one of the finest
specimens of the American farmers
that had ever met my notice. Con-
trary to the practice of condemned
felons, who are generally quite ready
to enter into details of the conspiracy
which doomed them to become in
nOcent inmates of prison. Bradshaw
refused to give any account of himself
and stood perfectly silent except
when obliged to reply to the necessary
questions of the keeper.
HE had been but short time in
prison when for some act of subordi-
nation he was sentenced to wear a
block and chain on his leg-a punish
ment usually inflicted for first OffenseS
and which also involved the necessity
of dining in Hall Eight, as it was
called, ON bread and water. He wore
his badge of disgrace one day, but
on the following morning as he passed
through the yard on his way to dinner,
he took up an AK and split the block in
two pieces. This conduct was of
course, reported to the chief
authorities of the prison. and his block
was exchanged for a fifty-six pound
weight. 1t being impossible for him
to remove this clog to his steps, he
was compelled to drag his weight of
punishment until his sullen and vim
dictive temper was aroused almost to
frenzy. He determined on some
single act of revenge which should
satisfy his angry feelings. and, as he
was at that time employed in the
weaver's shop, he soon found means
to effect his object.
Watching his opportunity he seated
himself behind the door while his
companions. together with the keeper,
passed out to the hall appropriated to
their meals. No sooner did he find
himself alone, than, seizing a knife.
he cut through every boom in the
shop. Now, if you recollect that the
boom is the frame upon which the
finished web is rolled, and that by
cutting it through every piece is
divided into bits of about half yard
in length, you will understand the
extent of the damage effected by
Bradshaw. Several hundred yards of
cloth were utterly destroyed, and.
far from attempting to conceil his
agency in the mischief, he boldly
avowed his determination to continue
such course of conduct as long as he
was detained in prison. He was
Immediately sent to the cells, where
confined in small. dimly lighted
apartment. without employment.
and with no other food than bread and
water, he continued for five months.
"After Bradshaw S punishment had
continued for so many months.
without affording any hope of his
amendment. it was finally decided
that he should be sent to Algerine
Hall. and made work. This Hall. to
which SO fanciful aname had probably
been given because it was appropriated
to men who seemed as far out of the
pale of humanity as the cruel corsairs
of Africa. was divided into number
of smalls rooms, each well lighted but
destitute of any other furniture than
a straw pallet and a work bench. In
these apartments were confined those
desperate characters who could not,
with prudence. be allowed to associate
with more polite or penitent of
tenders.
ssDuring his confinement in
Algerine Hall. the inspectors Of the