Louisiana capitolian., 1880-09-14
CURIOsIT1Es. OF CONVICT LIFE.
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IT'S SOCIAL DISTINCTIONsA AND OTHER RE-
81 MARKABLE FEATURES.
Auburn Correspondent Syracuse Courier.

SOCiaf feiati0HS are as dlStiHct among
crim,inalsas among honest men, and it
is not Il 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-.
ti0nal class of murlercls form the upper
ten." Houscbreakers, hiyhwaymcn and
the like are rated next, while men con-
victed of rape and other depravel
crimes must walk in the lower circles.
A "high-toned" convict would not deign
to converse with meaner prisoner,
much less to associate with him. In tho
work shop and mess room, ut the servi-
ces and going to and from the cells, this
difference in station may be observed.
The aristocrat holds up his head i'll the
consciousness Of his supremacy, while
lowly one shutilcs along in detected
manner The aristocrats, strange us it
may seem, are not disliked by the hum
bier prisoners, hut, OH 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
Z.
nephew by marriage Of Henry Ward
l,ecchsr. He could rot And 1t in his
nature to place himself OH 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 All 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 use of the pen, prepared
an embellished card, bearing quota
tion from Tenny son, which was SO appli-
cable to a person shut ont from the world
that Marie Roze inquired after the man.
She was told of his position and his
offense, and evinced a deep interest in
him. She accepted the card and retur-
ned graceful expression Of sympathy.
Joe Coburn, the pugilist, is an aristo-
crat. occupies the place of of"Deputy's
WAITER part of his duties are to
apply the paddle to refractory conyicts.
Joc's physical developments enable him
to WELD the instrument of correction with
.alntary effect. Coburn looks after tho
office of the deputy agent or head keeper,
but his task is an easy one on the whole
The lawyers arc Looked upon as "great
men, by the prisoners, and words from
their lips find endless repetition among
the other prisoners. Stone, one of the
famous Canastota fire bugs" pointed
out as u prominent" convict. He is n
keen, pcrccptive man, and exerts a great
influence over the men, He is at pres
sent serving in the capacity of chap
lain's waiter. King, lawyer from New
York, Il life man, is shrew,l but deceit
full. The prisoners respect him, but at
the same time are dlstrustful Of him.
Dan Kelly, the bank robber, once escap-
ell from Anbnrn prison, and Is now
carefully watched. On account OF his
escape he is the idol Of the convicts,
although he will have nothing to Ito
with them. The lowest man that ever
entered the prison was al old negro
named Frank. He served halt-a-lozen
terms, all for rape, and was dcspised by
every man in the institution. He died
about u year ago, while serving a sen
teMce. Envy is Il rank element ofprison
life. 4tt
There are many ''tleSir;tble situations
even in prison, and the strife among
convicts to secure these places is aston
i,hing. The position of waiter is IA par
ticnlarIy good one. A walters duty con-
sists of taking care Of the shop, office,
hall or wing where employed. There i,
but little to 10. and the convict is en-
abled to read. chew tobacco and talk to
his hearts content. \ place as attendant
in the hospital is one of the best in TIN,
pris"u. The convict ba> many "pportn-
mites to secure dish Of milk or some
other dclicacy purchased for the pa
tirnts. Tie men in the hospital live like
kings, so to speak, and enjoy many ad-
vaMtases that the convicts in the shop
never know. The Kitchen is place
much sought atter,'as the men can, once
in Il while, make little dishes for them
selves, such as they would not other.
wise obtain,s There are oonvicts who
possess more Influence with the officers
than would m imagiued, and not intrc-
oa,ent)y they exercise it in securing Il
position. Gambling is carried on to Il
vreat degree. The cottvicts dO not Use