The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-10-17
For the Democrat.
TRIP SKETCHES.
LETTER NO. ".
Editor-of Democrat:

Agreeable to the promise made in
last letter, / shall attempt a
description of the Penitentia-
y and Asylum for convicts who be-
,ame insane during their imprison-
nent. The asylum is quite a large
md comfortable building built and
arranged after the plan o other Asy
lums in the United States, for it
must be confessed that there is a
great uniformity in this class of
in regard to structure, in
arrangements and manage
ment, those recently constructed hav-
ing the advantage of modern improve
ments in ventilation, lighting, heat
ing and cooking conveniences. This
Asylum contains one hundred and
twenty five patients and is under the
charge of DR.. Mcdonald, a native of
the State of Ohio, and from The. fact
of his owning a large farm in it mays
be supposed that he intends some
day returning to it. The dicipline
in this institution is very similar to
that enforced in other asylums for
the care and treatment of insane per-
sons. The DR.. is a social and intel
ligent gentleman, making no preten-
tions to what is termed style, digni-
ty or what may be properly termed
sef-consequence. We were cordial
ly received by him and every facility
was afforded our party for ascertain
ing the workings of this institution.
The prison adjoins the Asylum
grounds, and as | had read in form
er years SO much Of the cruelty, tor
turc and inhumanity, practiced upon
the unfortunate prisoners confined
here, l am free to confess that my
entrance within its walls was not en-
Itirely devoid of interest, as well as
curiosity to see a place SO renowned
for stories of cruelty, torture and
fiendish inhumanity practiced on the
seemingly God-fossaken creatures
confined within its walls. 1t was in
this prison that E. S. Stokes, (noted
for the murder of Jim Fiske, served
the greater part of his sentence, hay
ing been transferred from Sing Sing
where he had first been sent. Here
in this prison too that poor u%pfortu-
nate and much to be pitied young
man Walworth, "a grandson of Col.
Harding of Illinois, who fell early in.
the Mexican War, and whose memo
|ry is so sacredly cherished in the
grateful hearts of his coantrymen,)
served part of his life-sentence, hay.
ing been transferred to this prison
from Sing Sing in company with the
notorious Stokes. The crime for
which young Walworth vas senten-
ced was the murder of his own faith
er, and created quite a sensation in
New York city as well as elsewhere
throughout our land at the time of
the confession of the murder, owing
to the peculiar circumstances attend
ing or surrounding his unnatural
crime. The elder Walworth was
connected with one of tue most noted
and influential families in the State
of New York, and was distinguished
for his literary tastes and acquire
ments, having been a contributor to
the New York Ledger for many
years. At the time OF his murder a
story of his was in course of publica-
ton in that paper. He had been
married in early life to a beautiful,
refined and intellectual lady, who
was the daughter of Col. John Hard
ing and mother of the unfortunate
youth to whom / have alluded. The
marriage proved an unfortunate one
from the,fact of the husband becom-
ing a dissipated profigate, spending
his time in the company Of loose and
abandoned females and Seeking no
toriety as a perfect roue whose grace
full manners, enchanting, infatuating
and devlish ways yer sure to be-
guile and destroy almost every weak
aud guileless female who was unfor-
~tunate enough to be thrown into his
society. This course of life soon led
to a rupture between himself and the
beautiful and accomplished wife, who
had ever proved a devoted, fond and
loving mother to her children, who
had suffered neglect, contumely and
contempt at the hands of their TN
natural father. Matters continuing
to grow worse between the parties
an application for a divorce was
made to the courts, but by which
one of the parties it was made l an
unable to state, but this fact | recol
! lect well, that the fight ragged hot be
! tween them and the feud became 81
, bitter that many of our most notet
families throughout our land BEGAN,
| involved in it. Walworth in hi
/ madness endeavored to blacken thu
character of his wife, who was a
pure, virtuous and intelligent as an,
lady in our land, and said some 0
, the mean low and vulgar thing
about her that a depraved and vitiat
ed mind could utter, and which wer
as false and vile as his bestial AM
corrupted mind could invent and hi
serpent like and imaginative pow
ets of mind could portray. Youn!
Walworth stung TO the quick by tn
grief and sadness of his mother caus
ed by an ~unfeeling and RELENTLESS
husband and father, determined t
r ayenge a devoted and faithful mott
er's wrongs, and in accordance wit
q this determination he sought an in
terview with his father, and dur;n
the course Of it he shot him, thu
taking vengeance on the defamer {
his devoted mothers character an
t the Infamous destroyer of her happ'
ness. Having deeply sympathise
with this noble youth in his misfol
> tune and honoring the motives tha
prompted him to commit such an III
natural crime, and feeling a gres
Jo,;ro IN -caa him or of loact loar