The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-17

A Curious Crank.

~ GgrtOUS OroDAs
NE WANTS TO Oct IN THE RICHMOND CITY
JAIL 10 REDCcE HIS FLESH.
A short time ago very large, fat man
came to the Jail and had talk with the
taller. Yesterday the following letter,
which explains itself, was received, to-
rcfher with a stamped envelope addressed
20 j. r. POTTS, Providence, X. l..
FEBRUARY II, 1884.
TO the Jailev or Keeper Of jail at Rich
mond. Va.
Dear Sir,-You viii doubtless remember
the Yankee soldier who was talking Win
Won about beng committed TO your jail Tor
thirty or sixty days for the purpose OF re-
Aucjag flesh.
III i was TO be committed to your care
should want to be kept on short ratfons as
noexjble. and Ms hard work and as much OF
Z as could do each day, with certain
punishment at any signs OF Sinking, grum-
bling. or disobedience, and no let-up from
date OF commitment TO date OF discharge,
no matter how sick might be Of IL.
AZ 1 should be on short rations, any
signs of iuziness In work or disobedience
Of rules would require other punishment,
and as don't fancy your dungeon, I
should qrcatlv prefer .fOgging, or strap
ming, as they can It at your State penten-
iiary; and Il would be good opportunity
for YOU to give good, wholesome discipline
20 a Yankee soldier who invaded your
State IN 1923 and did what he could to
capture your city and State, whip you (the
rebs), and free your slaves.
IL was committed TO your Jail for sixty
days i should be myself slave Tor that
time, with rebel master, presume; and
I could find no fault at the treatment L
should receive, as j know about IL before
20 there, and give my consent TO IT.; and II
4 am willing to live on short Iatlons, and
have more work assigned me than can DO
without great effort, with certain penalty
of being whipped II the work is not done
inside the time required-I say II | am
satisfied. no one else should find fault.
could easily say or DO something when
first committed that would give you rea-
son for being extra severe, and then have
no let-up to the end.
One Of the officers at the penitentiary
told Inc that they punished prisoners who
did not dothe required amount OF work, or
dIsobeyed rules, by strapping or spanking
them. and that IL was one OF the rules OF
che penitentiary, and that the law allowed
them TO punish prisoners in such manner
a. they chose.
II they can do that at the penitentlary at
Richmond, l don't see why you can't do the
same thing at the city Jail at Richmond;
and II il should be inflicted on me / should
bc the one who should feel it, and it would
he a stimuiant TO get the work done, and
so avoid 1t.
II You have not got work to do, it is
easy 10 make work, il nothing but carry
ins knapsack filed with sand, marking
tine (ali day. at quick-step, as the soldiers
do in drill, or turn a grindstone, or some
other like work.
4 write You this in strict confidence, and
do not expect you TO show it 10 other eyes
than your own, or talk about 1t, as 1t Is
strictly confidential, and IL L was In your
case should expect II to be kept quiet as
possible, and the reason for going to Rich
mond would be to get among strangers,
where nobody who ever knew me would
be likely TO see me, and also hoping that
as Yankee soldier, who did what he
could 10 whip you in 1851 and 1862 and
1868, YOU would return the compliment
now, and give me all the discipline that
time and circumstances allow IL ON ever
in your keeping us prisoner, and II
come all the way to Richmond for that
purpose you might find 1t agreeable to ac-
q mmo late me, as you would have good
reason to think wanted il.
You may think this strange letter. but
j nave reasons that are. think. good for
wishing to be subjected to the discipline L
refer to above, and would consider 1t IA
vor II you would write me II could be
subjected TO them IL ] was in your keep
ing, with no ESCAPE even II should wish
to get away before the time was out.
do not care to give You my name and
address yet. but any letter sent 10 me In
the name on the envelope enclosed will be
forwarded to me. Yours, &c.
A YANKEE.