The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1885-08-07
From the Argosy.
UNI Err 457."

into the convict Jail, had always stOutl
maintained bis innocence. His name wa
Thomas Stephens, but this. was not of s,
much Importance, either to himself or hi
wpfd srs, ns the fact that neat little badg,
with p. s. 10 on it, was stitched on {,
his sleeve. In fact, he had been allotted
ten years of penal scrvitude for alleged
embezzlemeut. g
A man of splendid physique, with light
and springy step, which even prison discip,
line could not subdue, his bonds CALLED him
terribly. It is not necessary here to dis.
GUS whether he SOpIly wasa guiIsy &C -shs
offenso for which he had been originally
convicted.
Many persons doubted the justice of his
sentence. 1t was certainly uncommon for
any Lowmoor prisoner to be perpctually
informing the wardcrs, chaplain, doctor and
Govcrnor-as Number 457 did-that he
was entirely innocent. The officials treated
his assertions with Indifference What did
it matter to them? They very justly felt
that they were not a court Of criminal ap-
peal. What seemed to cxaspcratc Stephens
more than anything else was the idea that
such a mean otfensc as robbinS an employer,
could be laid to his charge.
But by far the most remarkable thing
about the man, at all events from the point
Of view of the inmates of Her Majcsty's
convict establishment, was the resemblance
he bore to the prison doctor. At the time
Of which | write, many years ago, DIR.
Brand occupied this position. He was a
man who does not appear to have been liked
among the prisoners, although he was pop
ular with the wardcrs aud high officials He
had a clcar-cut tlorid face, stood about five
feet nine inches high, and was Of an ath-
lctic figure.
In all respects Stephens was his living
image, his almost exact counterpart, except
that he was about an inch taller. The
likeness between the two men was almost
ridiculous. it served as common subject
of conversation in q place where there were
few topics Of interest, where life was an
unvarying routine, and where Nature, for
quito half the year, presented an aspect Of
gloom and mountainous blcakncss not to be
surpassed in any part of the Kingdom
1t was perhaps natural that DR.. Brand
should not altogether appreciate his rcscm-
blaucc to convict Surly as his manner
was to all the prisoners, to Stephens he was
very brutal The latter knew the cause,
and he hated the doctor for dcspising him.
But he did not hate him more than he
hated most Of the prison wardcrs not half
as much as he d3tcstcd the Governor, who
scemcd-so he thought-to take great de-
light in tormcnting him.
There is no place in the world, where, if
person in authority wishes to exercise a
petty spite, he can do it with greater effect
than in a convict Jail.
Captain n, the Governor at that
date, was neither i good man, nor a good
natured one. He mcdilcd Il great deal
with prison duties which ought to have
been left to the wardcrs and the latter, iu
consequence, did not like him. He was a
martinez and man who was culpably in
dulgcnt to persons who had gained his ia
yor. The best road to this end was tho
adoption Of a crng'ng manner and passive
acuucsccncc in the wisdom and power o.
the Governor.
At a very early period of Stephens cap
tivity. soon after his transicrcncc irom
London Jail, he had reason to regard Cap
tain N with feelings of strong aversion
There was, in fact, mutual rcpulsion be
tween the two men, which is dangerous
state Of things whoro is absolutely al
the mercy Of the other.
In the wild, powerful nature of the prs
oncr, Captain n recognized spiri
which would never bow before him, whicl
he would have to break as he could no
bend it.
lie had theory of his own as to tn
best way Of tanning unruly subjects. Iii.
formula was this
If they're strong, brawny fellows, whc
ought to be ous working on the fields, pu
them to stitching in the talor's shop, an,
cicc rcr&a; there's nothing makes them S
mad as Nut
No doubt he was perfectly right. Aftc
fortnight Of being coopcd up in Il stuff,
room with fifty or sixty other convicts, al
triloring, stephens powerful frame cravc'