New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-03-31

me as quickly as recognized him; but
little thought that such meeting
would affect my destiny. How? You
shall know in good time.
From Winchester made my way
back to the North to the town where
first fell into trouble, and was lucky
enough to get employment as a
striker in some large iron works.
With wages at four shillings a day, I
managed very nicely and was comfort
ably off. After while, another la
borer in the same works, Joe Smith,
as he called himself, came to lodge in
the same house as myself. Naturally
we became somewhat familiar; but he
was very silent about himself, SO that
I never got to know where he came
from, or anything OF his history. One
day saw that he had got posses
sion of a watch, a far better-looking
thing than had been accustomed to
see among workingmen. "Hello, Joe, "
said l, "you're getting smart. Where
did We get that ticker from?"
"Oh, l won it in shilling rattle.
lisa beauty, ism it?''
The following Saturday afternoon,
just as I was leaving, the house for a
stroll, Joe met me rather hurriedly,
saying: 'sTom, Pm going to Manches-
ter till Tuesday. I haven't much time
to catch t. train, and l just want one
or two things in t. house, and a few
shillings extra like just run and
pawn this watch for me, there's a good
lad, and we'll both go to the station
together: )"
"All right, joe" Isaid, "give it to
me-"
"I'll follow thee in minute" he
shouted, as I hurried to the nearest
pawnshop.
When | handed the watch to the
shopman, he examined it closely, and
once or twice looked rather queerly
at me. "Where did you get this?"
he asked.
IA mate Of just gave it to me to
pawn, . | answered. "He won it in a
rattle; expect him here directly"
"Boy" he shouted to an assistant
in the shop, II shall wantsome change;
run and get some as quick as you
cam"
In a few minutes the boy came back
with a policeman-the "change' he
he was sent out for, as it proved.
"Officer," said the shopman, ssthis
young man has just handed in watch
that's wanted. Here's the notice Of
warning sent round from the police Of
fice."
"What have you got to say?" said
the policeman.
II know nothing about it; I will take
it directly to the man who gave it to
me-"
But on going into the street, nothing
was seen OF Joe. We went to the lodg-
ings but no Joe was there. He must
have seen the officer, taken to theshop
and then thought it best to run away.
"Well, young man, you must come
with me to the station. The watch is
stolen and has been found upon you;"
SO said the officer as he laid hold Of
my arm to take me to the lookup.
In due time was brought before the
magistrates, charged with having stol-
en- a watch. I told my story, which,
from the smiles on the faces in court,
seemed to be very stale one.
Is anything known OF this MANI"
sharply asked one Of the magistrates.
eyes, Your Worship" answered an
official, as he read from large book,
Convicted for stealing a pier-g]ass,
April 10, 1867, and sentenced to three
months hard labor"
It was now October, 1868, only
about eighteen months after my first
appearance in the same dock. saw
that this fact told againt my tale.
"You stand committed to the ses-
sions," was the reply of the bench;
and went down below, lamenting my
hard luck.
A day or two after my committal
to the borough prison the chief super
intendent visited my cell, note book
in hand. "You have been previously
convicted" he said. "Once in this
prison last. year. Haven't you been
in Winchester Jail since?"
saw it was useless to deny it; and
now began to realize the seriousness
OF my position. The superintendent
was getting up my criminal history for
theRecorder, and two convictions in
SO short time would certainly insure
for me long sentence. The knowledge
OF my innocence IN the present case
made my position all the more griev-
Gus.
Each OF the cells in this prison was
provided with small cistern for water,
let into the outside wall, but with one
of it's sides flush with heinterior wall.
l found one OF the screws, by which it
was fastened, loose. Curiosity led me
to try and loosen the others. This l at
last accomplished. Then I took the
cistern out, and saw space in depth
more than half the thickness of the
wall, and large enough to admit the
passage OF my body. The thought Of
escape at once suggested itself, and ]
resolved to make the attempt. Icare-
fully put back the cistern, replaced the
screws, and covered them with white.
wash from the walls.
Having several weeks to wait fol
trial, was taken out OF the cell 8
good deal, and was employed in many
ways. One day, as Twas doing light
lob in the basement. IsaW an iron bal