The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1880-10-30

A. from the weayer's hand,
The pattern Of the years
Which God Himself has planned.
CURIOSITIEs OF CONVICT LIFE
Its Social Distinction and Other Remarkable
Phases.
lAuburn Cor. Syracuse Courier.l
The arlstocracy of crime is one of the
phases of humanity, and in Auburn Pris-
on it finds striking illustration. Social
relations are as distinct among criminals
as among honest men, and it is not a lit
tie amusing as we'll 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
supper 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
rot 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 shuffies along in 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
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 Dis
charged Convlcts. 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 quotation from Tennyson,
which was SO app licable to a person shut
out from the world that Marie Roze in
quired tor the man. She was told OF
his prison position and offensc. and
evlnced deep interest in HIM. She ac-
cepted the card and returned a graceful
expression of sympathy.
ONE WATERS DUTY.
Joe Coburn, the pugilist, Is 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.
Joe's 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 "grea, men, by the prisoners, and
words from their lips find endless repe-
tition among the other prisoners. Stone,
| one of the famous Canastota stire-bugs,
is pointed out as 'prominent' convict.
He is keen, perceptiye man and exerts
great influence over the men. He is at
| present serving in the capacity of Chap
lain's waiter. King, lawyer from New
York, a "llte man,, is shrewd but deceit
ful. The prisoners respect him, but at
the same time are dlstrustful Of him
eDan" 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
Prank He served half dozen terms
all for rape, and was despised by every
man in the institution. He died about {
year ago while serving sentence. En-
w is rank element OF prlson-llte.
"DEsIRABLE SITUATIONS.
There are many s'desirable situations,
even in prison, and the strife among
convicts to secure these places is aston
ishing. The position OF waiter is a 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
blel to read, chew tobacco and talk tc
his hearts content. A place as attend
ant in the hospital is one Of the best II
the prison. The convict has many op
portunities to secure dish Of milk OF
some delicacv 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 place much