Louisiana capitolian., 1880-09-18
oURIos1TIBs OF CONVICT LIFE.
IT'S SOCIAL DISTINCTIONS AND OTHER RE-
MARkABLE FEATURES.
Auburn Correspondent Syracuse Courier.

Auburn Correspondent Syracuse Courier.
Social relations are as distinct among
criminals Us among honest men, ana it
is not a little amusing, as well as inter-
esting, to note the severity with which
the.lines are drawn in the Auburn prison.
FOrgers, bond robbers, bank burglars,
.'false pretense men," and an excep.
tional class of murtlerers form the "upper
ten" Housebreakers, highwaymen and
the like are rated next, while men con-
yicted Of rape and other depraved
crimes must walk in the lower circles
A "hiph.toneC" convict would not dcign
60 converse with meaner prisoner,
much less to associate with him. In the
work shop and mess room, at the servi-
ces and going to and from thescells this
difference in station may be observed.
The aristocrat holds up his head i'll the
consciousness Of his supremacy, while
lowly one shutfles along in a. detected
manner. The aristocrats, strange as 1t
may seem, are not disliked by the hum
bier prisoners, hut, on the contrary, are
respected. Perhaps the most aristo-
cratic convict that ever wore the prison
garb was William c. Gilman, the insu-
rance scrip raiser, from New York, the
nephew by marriage Of Henry Ward
Beecher. He could not find it in his
nature to place himself on level with
the beings about him and held himself
strictly aloof from them. One afternoon
the writer entered the office of the State
agent for discharged convicts, where
Gilman was employed as clerk. Ebe
man seemed glad Of an opportunityfo
converse with some one from the outside
world, and talked long and earnestly.
When Marie Roze sang to the colivicts
in the prison chapel, Gilman, who was
an adept in th0lse of the pen, prepared
an embellished card, bearing a quota
tion from Tennyson, which was SO appli-
cable to a person shut out from the world
that Marie Roze inquired after the man.
She was told of his position and his
offcnse, and evinced deep interest, in
him. She accepted the card and retur-
ned a graceful expression of sympathy.
Joe Cobuvn, the pugilist, is an ,arlsto-
crat. Hcoccupies Replace Of of"Depntys
waiter" part of his duties are to
apply the paddle to refractory convlcts.
joss physical developments enable him
to WELD the instrument of ofcorectlon with
salntary effect. Coburn looks after the
office ofthe deputy agent or head keeper,
but his task is an easy one on the whole.
The lawyers are looked upon as great
men, by the prisoners and words from
their lips find endless repetition among
the other prisoners. Stone, one Of tn,
famous Canastota "tire-bugs,' ispolntec
out as a prominent convict. He is &
keen, pcrceptive man, and cxerts great
influence over the men. He is AT pres
sent serving in the capacity OF chap
lain's waiter. King, lawyer from New
York. u life man, is shrewd but deceit
full The prisoners respect him, but a
the same time are dlstrusttul of him
Dan Kelly, the bank robbcr, once escap
ell from Auburn prison, and is nov
carefully watched. On account of hi
escape he is the idol of the convicts
although he will have nothing to d
with them. The lowest man that eve
entered the prison was an old negr
named Frank. He served halt-a-doze
terms, all fol rape, and was desplsed b
every man in the institution. He die
about year ago, while serving ser
tcnre. Envy is rank element otpriso
life.
There are many "lesirable situations
even in prison, and the strife anon
convicts to secure these places IS astoi
ishing. The position OF waiter is pa
ticnIarjy good onc. y walters duty COZ
sis.s of taking care OF tie shop, Office
hall or wing where employed. There
but little to do, and the convict is cl
abed to read, chew tobacco and talk
his hearts content. A place as attendal
in the hospital is one of the best in ii
prison. The convict has many opport
mites to secure dish of milk or son
other delicacy purchased for the p
ticnts. The men in the hospital live Iii
kings so to speak, and enjoy many a
vantages that the convicts in the sh'
never know. The kitchen is a pla
much sought after, as the men can, on
in while, make little dishes for thel
selves. such as they would not otEt
wise obtain There are convicts W
possess more influence with the office
than would be imagined, and not inf