The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-02
FERD WARD AT SING SING.

FERD WARD AT SING SING.
Arrayed in a Suit of Striped Clothing and
Given Job at Grinding Castings.
New York Special.
At half past this afternoon the train bearing
Ward started for Sing Sing The prisoner,
guarded by Sheriff Davidson and Warden Kier-
nan, smoked, laughed and chatted pleasantly
with his companions, and occasionally took
dip into one of the evening papers that was
| handed to him. He was about the last man on
the train that would have been taken for a felon
on his way to prison Ward lighted fresh
cigar after the train had got out of the tunnels,
and handed one to Sheriff Davidson, ''They
ought to be pretty good he remarked, II paid
| forty cents apiece for them"
When the brakeman, in a loud drawing voice
cried out, 1.-The next stop is Sizing String"
the bnancier heaved a little sigh. and let the
coal OF fire on the end of his cigar die away and
go out between bis fingers, while his eyes rested
gloomily upon the distant hills over the water.
The journey the railroad was soon
now, and as the train swept by the grim walls
| OF the prison. Ward and his companions got up,
and stood in the aisle ready to Jump off as
quickly possible Ward went quickly with
| his attendants to carriage that stood in wait
| ing. and the carriage drove rapidly off, followed
| closely by another that loaded down with
| reporters. Ward had little to say on the way to
| prison, and when he got out of the carriage he
| was taken directly down the stone steps to the
heavy iron grating through which he was ush-
| cred. He was then in the presence of Gate
| keeper j. W. Tompkins, a stern faced man, with
a wary eye and peremptory voice, not unkindly,
| but with an information of authority. Tompkins
| told Ward to fold his and face the wall.
| This Ward did, standing with his nose about six
! inches from the woodwork over the solid ma
| sorry. In this position he was kept for some
| i've minutes, until the formaty of his transfer
| to the prison authorities had been gone through
| with.
| He was taken to the reception-room. where
| ma of hofo %ah1 <hn &c tLa
room, with big book resting open before him.
| Fold your arms and stand with your face to
| the wall" was his first greeting to Ward. This
/ looked little monotonOus, but Ward meekly
obeyed, and for ten minutes or more stood in
| spectng the paint a board at the close range
| OF about half foot. Then he was called to the
| table, where convict Smith, WHO'S in twenty
years sentence for burglary, formed his
| quaintance and conducted him to another part of
| the wall. and slid a mark down until it pressed
| upon Wards thick, brown hair. The mark re-
vealed that he measured five feet eight and one
| half inches, and the scales by told his
weight to be just 1919 hounds. He was then con-
Quoted to the table again. ard, with folded
hands. told his name and age. anA that he was
| born in Genesee. By occupation he was a
| banker and broker.
Have you anthing in your pockets"
Ward had and proceeded to empty upon the
table roll of bills and some coins, gold match
! box. two blue neck-ties. bunch of keys, soft
| felt hat. and pair of eyeglasses. He was al
lowed to retain the eyeglasses.
How much money is there hereg he was
| asked.
Il don't know" he replied. 81 think about
$780,"
There is 1884 ST." said the official. 1T will
| be deposited for you"
Ward then said he used tobacco, drank in mod
GRAFTON, went to Sunday school when he was a
| boy, and was Protestant. These last two
| answers were made in response to questions by
| the chaplain. He then told to sit down on
| h1vn a. T. u 49,.
! was placed beside him. 1t his prison garb.
With this under his arm. and in the charge of a
| keeper, he was marched across the wide yard to
take his bath and be shaved.
| During his absence Chief Keeper Connough-
ton, who has kind face and gentlemanly ad-
| dress, told the reporters that Ward would be
put to work on the stove contract, which
900 convicts are employed. He will go to
mounting Stoves" said Mr.. Connouehton, that
is, grinding the castings and putting them to-
gether. think he will make good one. He
| Will have to have roommate for a time The
| room mates name is Ulrich. He was sent up in
1883 for eight years for assault. Next to him, in
Cell 928, is Mcdonald who was sent up in 1882 for
| life, for murder, or rather manslaughter in the
! first degree. His other neighbor, in No. 1926. is
| William Wright. sent up for three years. for
| burglary. He will be in gang of forty five"
man in convict garb, accompanied by
keeper, was now seen coming across the yard.
| He had bundle of clothing in his hand, and
dropped articles from time to time. STOPPING awk-
| wardly to pick them up 1t was Ward, of course,
| in brand new suit of stripes, with the creases
standing out firmly down the legs OF the trous-
| ers where they had been folded. The clothing
fitted him somewhat better than the pepper and
salt suit and was not unbecomiug. He looked
| at distance like some of the Genesta yachtsmen
in their yachting suits. His little mustache
| was gone, but it was 80 small and light that it's
! absence did not materially change the expression
of his face. His hair was not cut. That is not
done except in case of very long hair. Ward
lkpH w and
freshed by his bath
He was taken to DR.. II. Barber, the prison
physician. Here he was put through more ques-
tioning and his lungs sounded. The Doc
tors report was: Low vitality and only fair
health. No organic trouble"
Then his head was infinitely inspected for
| what might be found. 1t was as to scars and
marks that the investigation was made Ward
| pointed out a big on his neck. The gangs
| of prisoners were shutting past to their cells
their days work over By the door way was a
long table loaded down with big slices of the
prison bread Each prisoner helped himself to
| as much as he wanted as he passed. They have
coffee and bread for their supper, and they eat it
in their cells. Wards gang had gone in when he
was ready, so he did not have the advantage of
experiment. with the lock STEP But burglar
Smith was ordered to take him in charge.
He was now back in the chief keepers room
Ward started up to follow, with his bundle of
bed clothing in his arms, and put on his prison
cap. Take off yourca said the keeper. sternly;
and Ward oheyed, walking bareheaded to the
door, when he told he might put on his cap
Now put your hand on that mans shoulder" he
wac ordered. Ward placed the tips of his fingers
on burglar Smiths broad shoulder, and, walking
at arms length behind him, disappeared within
the gloomy doorway that leads to the cell GAL
leries. Wards cell is on the fourth tier from
the floor
To morrow morning he will get up at half-past
and 60 housekeeping with his gang to break
fast. and at o'clock he will go in the same way
| to church: and thus ends Napoeonic finance
| A Fight Must Be Made.
| Boston Journal
1t Is clear that if the right of suffrage is to
retain any meaning a most determined stand
must be made against such crimes as have been