Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-05

BROOKLYN. anu the excitcment WAS %
great that In spite Of the preponderance
Of evidence that the killing was done IN
self.defence. feeling was so great against
German, who is an Irishman, that il Is
charged the jury convicted him more
to suit the public opinion than in ac-
cordance with the evidence. Oliver
Cotter. who was one Of the jurors,
Joins in the petition for Germans par
don, and he is very pronounced in his
opinion that the prisoner has been pun
ished more than be ought to for his
crime. The warden and principal
keeper speak in the highest terms OF
German, and say that he is the bsst
and quietest man in the prison he has
never had a complaint made against
him since he was FIRST brought there,
and they add that he is just as anxious
to secure his liberty as man who had
one month TO serve.
The most noted prisoner there is ex-
Police-Sergeant Crowley. He is at
work in the foundry, and never scarcely
looks at nor speaks TO any ofhis fellow
convicts. II is evident that he fully
realizes his terrible position, and there
is general feeling that he will never
leave the prison alive, as he is rapidly
breaking down. There is not a
convict in the prison but who
deeply sympathizes with Crowley,
and seems to think that his conviction
and sentence was brought about through
malice and politics. He is an object Of
pity, and everybody endeavors TO spare
his feelings and tighten his heavy load
by leaving him to his own thoughts.
The shaving off OF his moustache has
created great difference in his appear
ance, and he could not be recognized
unless first pointed out.
Johnny Hope, who was convicted of
the Manhattan-Bank burglary, is in ex-
tremely good health, and with his ge-
NAL face and disposition makes every
thing pleasant about him. In answer
to a question he said: I" / am here do
ing time for a crime never committed,
and those who sent me here know that
l am innocent. | am making the best
of my position, although it is pretty
hard. My friends are making an ef-
fort to have my sentence commuted
to ten years, and | feel sanguine
that they will succeed" Steve Ray
mond, the noted forger, who is serving
alife-sentence, is an exemplary prisoner,
and is trying to earn the goodwill Of
everybody, in hopes that in few years
the Judge that sentenced him will keep
his word and intercede for his pardon.
He is employed in the tobacco depart
ment. There are over sixty prisoners
doing life-termS, and in nearly every in
stance they have become reconciled to
their fate. Their lot is made as light as
possible.
The workings in the different shops
are wonderful, and some Of the men
become skilful and efficient mechanics.
Norly 1000 convicts are engaged in
making stoves, and about 300 stoves Of
all kinds are turned out every day. The
laundry is an important feature in the
Jail, and affords pretty sight to see $50
men at work ironing new shirts. Two
hundred dozen shirts are washed,
starched, and ironed in a day,
and they are done in such man
ner that it would bring the blush to
the check Of a great many capable
laundresses and Chinese washee-
washees." The shoe department isan
other place where the work done would
astonish the uninitiated. The machinery
in operation is perfect, and here 300
men turn out $500 pairs Of shoes per
day. 1t is really astonishing how in
such short time men can be made so
proficient in their labors. The health
Of the convicts is so good that there
are only four men in the hospital. The
prisoners arise at 5:45 in the morn
ing, and after washing, dressing, and
eating their breakfast, they begin
work at 7 o'clock. They have an
hour for dinner beginning at noontime.
Their daily labors cease at $3.50 p. NJ,
and after washing and eating their
suppers they are put in their cells at
5:l5, and they are allowed to read I'M
til 0 O'Clock, when all lights are ordered
extinguished. Principal-Keeper Con-
naughton knows every man in theprison,
and can pick out any Of them at a
glance. There are eighty-fve officials
connected with the prison, forty-hve of
whom are keepers under the supervision
of the principal keeper, who has held
an official position in the Jail for thir-
teen years. The watch and the guards
about the prison precincts are so per-
fectly systematized that it is very sell
dom convict attempts to escape, and
when he does he takes desperate
chance with his life.
The food furnished the prisoners is
very good and consists Of roast meats
of all kinds, potatoes, turnips and other
vegetables, eggs, hash, tea, coffee, and
good, wholesome homemade bread
soup is served nearly every day and
fish twice day. The warden is sincere
when he says that he wants to feed the
men with good eatables and give them
all they can eat. 1t is safe to presume
that the remark Of Hungry Joe, who is
at work in the foundry, that IS per
cent. Of the convicts are better off in
the jail than they would be if they
were at liberty, certainly has an ap-
pearance Of truth.
Caught and Drowned by an octopus.
[San Diego (Cal.) SUM-
In our harbor lie a number Of Chi
nese junks preparing for another fish
ing trip to the coast Of Lower Califor-
MIA. The Chinese who sail from this
port fishing are quite different from the
Mongols who run launlries Sun-burnt
they are, and look almost as bronzed
as Modoc Indians. A Sun representa-
tive had talk with one Of them re-
Gently, named Hoy Kee, who seemed
to be intelligent and speaks Eng
lish rather fairly, and elected the
news that on their last trip
they lost one man. 1t occurred
down at Ballenas bay, below Abre-
Jos Point, on the coast Of Lower Cali
fornia, about 400 miles south of San
| n..-1 Thav mara annaOad IN har-