The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-11-05
CURIosITIEs OF CONVICT LIFE.
Its Social Distinctions and Other Re
markable Phases.

Its Social Distinctions and Other Re-
markable Phases.
Auburn Cor. Syracuse Courier.
The aristocracy of crime is one of the
phases of humanity, and in Auburn pris-
on il finds striking illustration So
cial relations are as distinct among
criminals rs among Honest men, and il
is not little amusing as we'll as inter-
esting TO note the severity with which
the lines are drawn. Forgers, bond rob
bers, bank burglars, false pretense men"
and an exceptional class of murder
crs, form the upper ten." House break
ers, high waymcn and the like are rated
next, while men convicted of rape and
other depraycd crimes must walk in the
lowest circles. A high toned" convict
would not deign to converse with
meaner prisoner, much less associate
with him. In the workshop and
to and from the cells this diff
erence in station may be observed.
The aristocrat holds up his head in the
consciousness of his supremacy, while
The lowly one shuffies along in a defect
ed manner. The aristocrats strange as
it may seem, are not disliked by hum
bier prisoners, but on the contrary are
respected. Perhaps the most aristocrat-
&c convict that ever wore the garb was
William G. Gilman, the insurance scrip
raiser from New York, the nephew by
marriage of Ifenry Ward Beecher He
could not find 1t 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. The man seemed
glad of an opportunity 10 converse with
some one from the outside world, and
talked long and earnestly. When Marie
RoZe sang TO the cOHyicts in the prison
chapel. Gilman, who was an adept in the
use of the pen, prepared AN embellished
card, bearing a quotation from Tenny-
son, which was so applicable TO a person
shut out from the world, that Marie RoZe
inquired for the man. She was told his
prison position and offense, and evinced
a deep interest in him. She accepted the
card and returned grateful expression
of sympathy.
ONE WALTERS DUTY
Joe COburn, the pugilisl is an aristo-
crat. He occupies the place of ''de-
puty's WAITER A part of his duties is
To apply the paddle to refractory con-
victs. JOe's physical Developments en-
able him to WELD the instrument of cor
rection with st.lutary effect. Coburn
looks after the office of the deputy agent
or herd 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 pris-
oners. Stone, one of the famous CaDas-
toga ''fire-bug5," is pointed out as a
appointment convict" He is a keen, per.
ceptive man and eXerts great influence
over the men. He is at present serving
in the capacity of chaplain's waiter.
King, a lawyer from New York, a "life
man, is shrewd, but deceitful The
prisoners respect him. but at the same
time are distrustful of him, dan"
Kelly, the bank robber, once escaped
from Auburn prison, and is now care
fully watched. On account of his es-
cape he il the idol of the convicts, al
though he will have nothing To do with
them The lowest man that ever enter
ed 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 year
ago while serving sentence Envy is
a rank element of prison life.
DESIRABLE SITUATIONS
There are many desirable situations"
even in prison, and the strife among
convicts To secure those places is aston
ishing. The position of waiter Is pc
cuiiaTiy good one. A walters duty con-
sists Of taking care of The shop, Office,
hall OF wing where employed. There is
but little TO do and tic convict is enc
abIed 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 OPP
PortuBities to secure a dish of milk or
some delieacy purchased for the patients
The men in the hospita. live like kings,
so to speak, and enjoy many advantages
that the conyicts in the shops never
know. The kitchen is a place
much sought after. as the men
can once in while make little dishes
for themselves, such as they would
not Otherwise obtain. There are con-
yicts who possess more influence with
the officers than would be imagined. and
moi unfrequently they exercise lin secuf-
ing q position. Gambling is carried on
to great degree The eenvicts do not
use cards. as one would suppose; these
are too liable TO detection They bet on
events, changes IN the weather, time of
day, and everything OF that character
They also "odd and even,p flip"
match, :, .sroIl. y throw for crackr and
the like. Convicts are not supposed TO
carry money, but they DO just the same,
and sometimes considerable sums. As
they are carefully searched and their
clothing taken from them. the men can
not take money in the prison with
them. They obtain their money
usually from friends who visit them.
AoEEYED MEX.
They sew their money up in their
clothing, and il is seldom that il is dis
covered. Occasionally a man will be
found with $40 or $50 in coins IL his
coat collar, or other parts Of his CLOTH