Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-05-13

career up to May 6, 1884, and, forgetful
of Justice Barrett's monologue, but think
/ ing this golden opportunity for his pc
culiar bump of genius, resolved to hazard
the die. He had plenty of paper, sup
| piled for his monthly writing as permit
ted by the rules and in use for making
up additional Grant d. Ward schedules,
aad he began his correspondence. The
first letter he wrote was to a lady in
Brooklyn. 1t was not Miss Ward; it is
supposed to have been a relative. Ward
passed the sheet, folded neatly through
the ventilator 20 Morgon, who put it care
fully away. This letter was not emotion
al. 1t simply gave history of Ward in
Sing Sing prison, how he liked black
coffee. bacon, and six-by-eight cell,
with no pokes parties and no margins for
profits Lhe other two letters, one writ
teen on brown paper, were of imilar ten
or.
Morgan kept the letter while Ward was
making his professions of faith as a de-
votee of the rules of the prison Morgan
after due waiting, saw no $1,000 bills
dropping through the ventilator, and so.
base deceiyer that he was, he went to
principal Keeper Connaughton and gave
the whole snap away"
Mr.. Connaughton is staict discipliner,
whose experience has made him chary of
mankind especially as manifested at
Sing Sing. Yet he had been blinded by
Wards docility, by Lis zeal in shoyeling
ashes until henearly fell in a swoon, and
had declared Ward to be the most prom
ising pupil he had he'd in long time.
He was at first incredulous, but Morgan
ha lat
Wards chirography, neat, small. incisive.
The principal keeper promptly placed
the matter in the hands of Warden Brush
Ward was summoned to the presence of
the portly warden, who loves not to be
fooled with
Ward, what does this meant" asked
the warden, coldly, calmly, cruelty, hold
ing out the letters.
Ward tumbled 10 the situation quick
ly as on the Hateful evening when James
ID. Fish whirled a chair around his head
over the old Marine bank building. He
"caved' like Buddenseik death-trap. He
was dazed, but he finally managed to say:
II did not know that 1 was doing any
thing wrong" The warden recalled the
rules which had been read to Ward when
he entered the prison, and pondered on
the uncertainty VI litHOTg anu lHt uttL-
ness of ebliuion. Yet he admired Wards
frankness, when caught, and he took in
spiration from Wards vehement promises
the portly warden read Ward such les
son as he never had heard before. pictur-
ed the ten years yawning before him in
stead of ''six-and-six," and sent the
abashed letterwriter crestfallen and
crushed to his cell.
Mr.. Connaughton said yesterday: "From
that day to this Ward has obeyed the
rules implicitly. l don't know why Nor
gan put up the job, unless it was in the
hope of money. The warden has the
letters. Had we had the new rules
which were into operations on April /
there, Wards communication would have
been shortened ten days"
The rule referred to is No. framed ac-
cording to chapter 81 of the laws of 1886,
Providing for the Communication of SEN
fences for good conduct" 1t runs thus:
For assaulting or attempting to assault
an officer or assaulting another convict,
not with a dangerous weapon; for DISC
beying orders: for resisting an officer:
for Characterization for feigning insanity;
for smuggling letters or other articles in
or out of prison or penitentiary, the con
Wet offending shall forfeit not less than
ten days of the allowance or Communication
fixed by the above act for good conduct"
Ward has gained swenty-fve pounds i'll
prison, and looks fat and hearty. His
complexion will never behorid. Mr.. Con
naughton says his charge takes lise easily,
and seems to enjoy existence as it rolls
on. W. Bourke Cochran, Wards counsel,
visited him on Friday last, stopping over
on his way down from Albany.
No other convict than Morgan has yet
'given away" amy of Wards fertile pc
culiarities and idiosyncrasis in "ignor-
ance of wrong