Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-08-21
An Ex.Convict's Story.

In one Of the least inviting portions
of Water street. New York, Michael
Dunn, n man who has spent nearly his
whole lifetime in England and American
prisons, has set up house of industry
and IA refuge for ex-convicts, who, like
himself, resolve TO abandon evil ways
and live by honest labor. Calling there
Herald reporter found Michael quietly
engaged in experimenting the work OF
two sad looking young men. who were
putting. the finishing touches on some
euriously wroughtsh shawls and bedquilts
Habituatcd to the customary silence in
scparable from prison life the house was
quiet rs the grave, each man performing
his work without even whisper being
heard. Dunn hiHlself il II pale faced,
thin man, about forty-tivc years old, and
having careworu lines plainly marked
on his anxious countCnanCc. lie is not
by any means devoid of intelligence.
While the writer was watching the pro
cess of shawl making Dunn remarked
We get good price for these things,
but the trouble il we are not able To sell
them fast enough. Some of our men
are travelling in New Jersey now, trying
to dispose of shawls like these you see
here
by the way, understand you have
had considerable experience in prisonsPn
1T is true. Until the past eighteen
months may say have lived in prisons
altogether since | was eight years old. |
pscnt seven years in Van Dicman's Land
ten years in Australia, five years in Glib
raltar fourteen days in Manchester
(whcre | was born). two years and four
months in Sing Sing (thc first timc),
three years in Il solitary cell Mt Moyamcn-
sing six months in the Montreal all
two years and nine months in South Bos-
ton. and four years Ohc last timc) in Sing
Sing, when | was innocent and every de
tectivc in the city knew was innocent" -"
Alcr answering several questions in
regard to the use Of the paddle "a a
mean of Furnishing refractory prisoners
Dunn continued:
And mark my words, either a, Sing
Sing, or Auburn. or Trenton. some of
these days there will be- outbreaks and
terrible murders by the conyicts. Il will
be worse than the mutiny at Norfolk Isl
and, near Australia, in 1917, when the
convict- rcyolted and murdered seventeen
prison officials. aud they would have
killed the remainder but that half a rcgi-
ment Of soldiers formed hollow square
and in that way saved them from the fury
of the Convirts"
Were you there at the timc?"
No, hut | recollcct the affair well. II
happened during the year became free.
after serving seven years in Van Dicman's
Land. For that outbreak there were sew
cntecn ConyictS hanged, includiuy the
ringleadcr. hundreds foggcd and hun
dreds Of others put in irons 4 man
known ~ Jarky-Jacky,' who had been
IA desperate bushrangcr, was the ring
leader. He harangucd the conyicts in
the mcssroom one muruingo on the upprcs-
sion and tyranny which they were un-
dcrgoing and wound up by shouting.
Those who want liberty. lot them follow
me Then the whole 1900 ,onyictg
rushed out Of the MUSHROOM and. having
armed themselves with all kinds of heavy
tools, attacked the keepers and slaughtered
them right and len until the soldiers ar-
rived. When the soldiers were drawn
up. Jacky-Jacky. went in front Of them.
tore open his shirt and barring his breast.
asked them Ia shoot him. but thcy re-
fused ~