Morris tribune., 1880-10-28
CURIOsITIEs OF CONVICT LIFE
Its Social Distinction and Other Remarkable
Phases,

tie amusing as well as interesting to note
the severity with which the lines are
drawn. Forgers, bond.robbers, bank
burglars, "false- pretense men," and an
exceptional class of murderers for the
''upper ten." House-breakers, highway
men, and the like are rated next, while
men convicted of rape and other de-
praved crimes must walk in the lower
circles. A "high-toned" convict would
not converse with meaner prisoner,
much less associate with him. In the
workshop and mess-room, at service and
going to and from the cells this differ
ence In station may be observed. The
aristocrat holds up his head in the con-
sciousness of his supremacy, while the
lowly one shuff1es along in q detected
manner. The aristocrats, strange as it may
seem, are not dlsllked by the humber
prisoners, but on the contrary are re-
spected. Perhaps the most aristocratic
convict that ever wore the prison garb
was William G. Gilman, the insurance
script-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 trom
them. One afternoon the writer entered
the Office of the State Agent for Dis
charged Convicts, where Gilman was en-
ployed as clerk. The man seemed glad
of an opportunity to converse with some
one from the outside world, and talked
long and earnestly. When Marie Roze
sang to the convicts in the Prison Chapel,
Gilman, who was an adept in the uses Of
the pen, prepared an embellished card,
bearing a quotation from Tennyson,
which was so applicable to person shut
out from the world that Marie Roze in
quired tor the man. She was told of
his prison position and offense. and
evlnced deep interest in HIM. She ac-
cepted the card and returned graceful
expression of sympathy.
ONE WATERS DUTY.
Joe Coburn, the pugilist, ls an aristo-
crat. He occupies the place of "Dep-
uty's waiter" A part of his duties is to
apply the paddle to refractory convicts.
Joes physical developments enable HIM
to WELD the instrument of correction
with salutary effect. Coburn looks after
the Office of the 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 repe-
tition among the other prisoners. Stone,
one of the famous Canastota ''fire- bugs"
is pointed out as "prominent" convict.
Hc Is keen, perceptive man and exerts
great influence over the men. He is at
present serving in the capacity of Chap
lain's waiter. King, a lawyer from New
York, ''llte man." is shrewd but deceit
full. The prisoners respect him, but at
the same time are dlstrustful of him.
"Dan" Kelly, the bank robber, once es-
capped from Auburn Prison and Is now
carefully watched. On account OF his
escape he is the idol of the convicts, al
though he will have nothing to do with
them. The lowest man that ever entered
the prison was an old negro named
Frank He served half dozen terms,
all for rape, and was despised by every
man in the institution. He died about q
year ago while serving sentence. En-
Wy is a rank element of prison-lite.
DESIRABLE SITUATIONS
There are many "desirable situations,
even in a prison, and the strife among
convicts to secure these places is aston
ishing. The position OF waiter is partic-
ularly good one. A walters duty con-
sists in taking care of the shop, office,
hall or wing where employed. There is
but little to do, and the convict is ena-
| bled to read, chew tobacco and talk to
his hearts content. A place as attend
ant in the hospital is one of the best in
the prison. The convict has many op-
portunities to secure dish of milk OF
some delicacy purchased tor the patients.
The men IN the hospital live like kings,
SO to speak, and enjoy many advantages
that the convicts in the shops never
know. The kitchen is a place much
sought after, as the men can once in q
while make little dishes for themselves,
such as they would not otherwise obtain
There are corvicts who possess more IN
fuence with the officers than would be
imagined, and not infreQuently they ex'
ercise it in securing a position. Gam.
bling is carried on to great degree
The eonvicts do not use cards, as one
would suppose-those are too liable tc
detection. They bet on events, changes
in the weather, the time of day, and every
thing of that character. They also "odd
and even, ""fiip, ,mmatch, ""roll, '"throw
for the crack and the like. Convict.
are not supposed to carry money, but
they do all the same, and sometimes con
siderable sums. As they are carefully
searched and their clothing taken from
them, the men cannot take money int
the prison with them. They obtain thei
money usually from friends who visl
them.
MoNEYED MEN.
They sew their money up in thei
clothing, and it il seldom that it is dis
covered. Occasionally a man will b.
found with $40 or $50 in coins in hi
coat collar, Or other parts of his clothing
There are pawn brokers and money lend
ers. The criminal Shylocks are more ex
acting than the "uncles.. of the street
The ccnvicts "put up" some trinkets
which they mostly all have, or pledg'
something else to get few dimes or pen
MES. Gambling is the great evil, but i
is the only exciting pastime the convict
have. If keeper or guard can b
''DOuSuG' tu0 COuNlClS Will pay u1u
good salary right along to perform ser
vices for them, such as bringing in pa
pers, tobacco and edibles and taking GU
letters. Some convicts keep up regu
lar correspondence with friends outside
The letters pass through "the under
ground" as the officers term it. A convic
prevails upon the foreman of his shol
who is always an outsider, as there al
many OF them employed in the fine wor
in the the prison, to carry out his le
tiers and bring back the answer. Thu
letters 60 in and out. The Ne
York morning papers reach Auburn I
four o'clock in the afternoon, and th
same evening the convict may be foun
reading the news Of the day ION the sly,
s in their cells. How the prisoners secul
the newspapers is q mystery to man.
The foreman of the shops, or perhaps th
officers, bring them in. The convict
will give q great deal for New York ps
pers, and they will have them at an
price. The prisoners keep well poste
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