Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-02-19
CONVICT NO. 927.

CONVICT no. 927.
Ferdinand Ward Enters Sing Sing IN. Y.)
\ Prison On Ton Ye.rs' Sentence-Method
IS of Introduction.
The following will be OF interest to
many readers, as it is q detailed de-
scription OF the proceedings attending
the entry ola noted criminal into the
State Prison at Sing Sing, N. Y, which
are nearly the same in the prisons Of
other States. The account is from
the New York Tribune: .-.s@'
Sheriff Davidson and his charge
quickly aliRhted and passed into the
prison. Warden Brush was away,
and the prisoner was received by
Principal Keeper Conpaughton, while
Secretary Babcock examined the pa
pers in the Warden's Office. Ward,
carrying his black paper box and his
valise, passed directly down the stone
steps and went through an iron door
and an inner grating. He passed an
other door, went past the low table
with it's load OF convict bread, in the
southeast corner of the yard, and en-
tered Secretary Babcock's room.
There he put his package and his
gripsack, and Keeper Connaughton
ordered him to stand with his face
to the wall. This was the first COM
mand that he received as a convict. It
was 4 p. m. Ward wheeled quickly
on his feet, obeyed the order and with
folded hands stood in front of a radia-
tor just as5the evening shadows were
beginning to settle about the low dark
room. There the keeper kept him
standing until Sheriff Davidson had
formally handed over his prisoner. and
with Warden Herman had made a
rush to catch the ALT train.
The head-keeper then entered the
room: Secretary Babcock seated
himself at q low, broad-topped table
behind and facing Ward; Keeper Horn.
beck took a position at the secretary s
left; while Chaplain Edgerton, with
blotter in hand, stood behind a rail
ing at Wards left.
"Ward, turn and advance to the ia.
ble;;" said the mild-voiced secretary.
The second order was obeyed. Then
came question and answer as follows,
Ward speaking in q low tone of voice
while the secretary recorded his all.
swers:
Q.-What is your name? A.-Fer.
dinand Ward.
Q.-What is your business? Al
have no business.
Q.-Your former occupation? A
Banker and stock broker.
Q.-How old are you? A.-Thirty-
three years.
Q.-Where were you born? AIN
Genesee, Livingston County, New
York.
Q.-Are you q married man? Al
am, have one child.
Q.--Do you use liquors or beer free.
ly or moderately? A.-Moderately.
Q.-Do you use tobacco? Ayes.
Q.-Have you been in any prison be-
fore? An the Ludlow Street Jail
and the 'Combs,
The secretary then said: award,
you can tighten the. term OF your i'm.
prisonment by three years and six
months by good conduct. by orderly
going to and coming from your work,
and by doing your work quietly in
your cell. You can see your friends
once in two months; once IL month
you can write letters home and you
can receive letters at all proper times.
Bad conduct will deprive you OF the
remission of tire, years and six
months and all the privileges I nam
ed. You will be required to do only
q fair days work. Nothing impossi-
BILE will be required OF you. Any at
tempt to escape will cause the forfeit
ure of your privileges.
The secretary next asked Ward how
much money he had ON his person.
II don't know" he replied, Il think
about $3.50. "He handed over fat
pocket-book, and the secretary count
ed out $3.50. ''There's some more in
the other SIDE" said Ward. The ad-
ditional sum made total Of $l84.77.
The secretary said this sum would be
placed on deposit for him. Ward was
next called upon to empty his pockets.
He went through his oveocoat, coat,
waistcoat and trousers pockets, and
placed on the table lead pencils, a silk
scarf, a knife, and two handkerchief $,
half a dozen cigars and some keys.
"Would you like to have those put
in your satchel and sent to your
friends7' asked Mr.. Babcock, and
Ward answered; II would"
Mr.. Babcock told him to take back
one OF his handkerchief and he did So
thrusting it into his overcoat breast
pocket. Chaplain Edgerton then took
down Wards answers to questions
as follows:
Q.-Do you authorize the opening
of your Observation-Disclosures you can
not receive them. A:--Itdo.
Q.--Have you attended Sunday
school? Al have. r>.
Q.-Are you a Roman Catholic or 8
Protestant? A.-Protestant.
A bundle of convict's clothes were
then deposited on the table before
Ward and he was instructed to take
this and follow Keeper Hornbeck. II
was q good-sized bundle. War6
promptly grasped it., turned and with
the keeper walked into the open court
and along the stone walk to The State
barber shop. There his scanty mus
tache was shaved off, he took a bath
and exchanged his dark business suit
for the States garb ofgray with broad
black stripes and put on his prison
cap. The suit fitted him well and as
he emerged from the shop and walked
back down the stone walk he looked
like q jaunty yachtsman: He walked
with easy gait, but with head bent
down, and he carried shoes, clean
socks and underclothes in a bundle
under his arm. y T. Z
The hospital was the next point
visited. Ward took a seat in DR.
Barber's room, while half q dozen con
victs, having easy manual and clerical