The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-11-26
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AT the State Prison.

of it, for there no one but wishes the friends of
their youth to think well of them, and no one can
ever Know how great check they are to their mad
impulses until it is too Late
AT the State Prison.
| On Friday last journal representative, while at
Thomaston, was shown through the prison by courte-
| sy of Deputy Warden Hinkey. The party, ac-
companied by guard consisted of sheriff Wads-
WORTH Mr.. W. GrinnelI and DR.. Davis, of Searsport
and the writer The neatness of the prison first
attracts the visitor The walls are whitewashed a
snowy white, and the stone floor is as free from
dirt as well kept kitchen. 1t was interesting to
| look into the prisoners cells, the doors standing
ajar while their occupants at work in the sew
eral departments. The decorations show the differ
ent tastes of the prisoners. Some have pictures on
the walls, books and papers the tables, and fancy
| trimmings cut from paper. The guard notified us
not to speak to or recognize the prisoners In the
| prison kitchen we saw Oscar Blaney, the son.in-
law of Mrs Barrows, the woman now under sent
| ance for the murder of her husband, and who will
be hanged next month unless her sentence is com
| muted to Imprisonment for life, which matter is
now before the Governor and Council. The only
ground upon which this hearing is asked is that she
! is woman, but she was guilty of cold blooded,
premeditated murder and her sex ought not t. save
her Wilkinson paid the penalty for a less cruel
murder. Blaney makes bread for the prisoners,
and seemed to take pleasure is showing his work,
displaying loaves of both white and brown. The
| former was very light and in rising had broken
| open in manner pleasing to the maker Very few
/ bakers can produce better bread than that Oscar
| Blaney makes for the prisoners at Thomaston. He
Is young, innocent looking fellow, and not in the
| least like person one would associate with such a
deliberate murder that for which he is serving
| life sentence We also saw in the kitchen James
Morse, of Montville, confined for perjury in a
| liquor case at Watervile. 1t is said Morse had
poor counsel and ought not to have been convicted
| In the hospital were two prisoners, both of whom
are serving life sentences for murder The son
of one is also serving a life sentence in the same
| prison. In the blacksmith shop we saw Samuel
| Briggs, of Freedom, convicted last month in this
city, for shooting with intent to kill Ephraim Drag
don Briggs is a striker and helper to the murder
er Prescott, the man who hauled the dead body of
his victim in a cart through the streets of Portland.
Both We're engaged in filing sleigh irons when we
saw them. Another prisoner in this room was Mer-
rill, the iend who killed his mother, chopped no
her body and attempted to burn it. The trunk
was placed in a cart underneath a load of potatoes,
! and hauled to Augusta. Smith, the Bucksport muir
derer was observed as ne slowly blew the below 5
| at forge at the opposite end of the room. Over
the blacksmith shop is the chapel where the prison
! ers attend divine worship on Sunday. The room is
furnished with neat seats, desk and an organ. All
are oDllSed to attend services. The carriage shop
| was next inspected. Thomas Phinnev, of this city,
has charge of this room. 1t was here that Wilkin-
son labored until lie was placed in solitary conne-
! ment. In the harness we saw Clinton the
| man who shot Seyerence last summer at Rockland.
! In the salesroom we saw some handsome sleighs,
| hearses, sc. At a small stand We're displayed
| many handsome toys, trinketS &C. which the guard
| informed us were made by Hainos, tile man who
/ shot the Rockland policeman, and VINO was hunted
| at Llncolhylle. lie attempted to escape recently
| and was badly wounded by the guard, Who Shot
ed IN making fancy articles, and Is the best work
man in prison. Knights the Poland murderer is
one OF the oldest prisoners, and is engaged in the
wash house. 1t would be interesting if we could
trace The career of each, but have only mention
ed those of which had some previous knowl-
edge The prison walls enclose three acres of land,
and here these pass their daily lives. The only
outside view obtained is that of the sky overhead.
The prisoners are MOI allowed to communicate with
each other, and in all our rounds we ul Not Near
| the voice OF ORG of Them. 1t is indeed lonesome
| place. where one forgets the great outsi lie world.
! The prison is wen conducted, Warden Bean being
| most efficient official