Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-02-18
CONVICT NO. 1913.
Ferdinand ward Enters sing Sing On. 10
Prison ON Ten Years. sentenee-Meshod
af Inaroductiou.


of Introduction.
The following will be of interest to
many readers, as it is a detailed de
scription of the proceedings attending
the entry of a noted criminal into the
State Prison at Sing Sing, n. T., which
are nearly the same in the prisons OF
other States. The account IS nom
the New York Tribune:
Sheriff Davidson and his charge
quickly alighted and passed into the
prison. Warden Brush was away
and the prisoner was received Dy
Principal Keeper Connaughton, WINE
| Secretary Babcock examined the pa
pers in the Warden's office. Ward
CARRYING his black paper box n ms
yalise, passed directly down n stone
steps and went through an iron door
ard an inner grating. He passed N
other door, went past the low ta6le
Nth 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 lace
10 the wall. This was the first com
mand that perceived sa ~
was 4 D. m, Ward wheeled quickly
on his feet, obeyed the order and with
folded hands stood in front OF aradia-
tor lust as the evening shadows were
beoinping to settle about the low dark
room. There the keeper kept INN
standing until Sheriff Davidson a
formally handed over his prisoner. and
with Warden Herman had made q
rush to catch the All tram.
The head-keeper then entered h
room. Secretary Babcock seated
himself at a low, broad-topped table
behind and facing Ward; Keeper Horn
beck took aposition at the secretary's
left; while Chaplain Edeerton, with
blotter in hand, stood behind a rail-
ing at Wards left.
award, turn and advance to theta-
ble;" said the mild-voiced secretary.
The second orderwas obeyed. Then
came question and answer as follows,
| Ward speaking in a low tone OF voice
while the secretary recorded his an
swers:
Q.-What is your name? A.-Fer-
dinand Ward.
Q-What is your business? Al
have no business.
Q-lour former occupation? A
Banker and stock broker.
Q.-How old are you? Affinity
three years.
Q.-Where were you born? AIN
Genesee, Livingston County, New
York.
Q.-Are you a married man? Al
am, | have one child.
Q.-Do you use liquors or beer free
~ or moderately? A.-Moderately.
Q.-Do you use tobacco? Ayes.
Q.-Haye you been in any prison be
fore? AIN the Ludlow Street Jail
and the Tombs,
The secretary then said: Ward,
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 a month
| you can write letters home and you
/ can receive letters at all proper times.
Bad conduct will deprive you OF the
remission of three years and SIX
months and all the privileges | nam
ed. You will be required to do only
n 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 Wardho
much money he had on his person.
81 don't know" he replied, II think
about $3.50. HE handed overa fat
pocket-book, and the secretary count
ed out $3.50. There's some more in
| the other side" said Ward. The adj
ditional sum made a total of S;lS4.77
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's,
half a dozen cigars and some keys.
"Would you like to have those put
in your satchel and sent 10 your
friends?" asked Mr.. Babcock, and
| dEu dIlSN6Ttut l. NOLlu.
Mr.. Babcock told him to take back
one of his handkerchief and h did so,
thrusting it into his overcoat breast
pocket. Chaplain Edgertont then took
down Wards answers to questions
as follows:
Q.-Do you authorize the opening
of your letters?-Otherwise you can
not receive them. Al do.
Q.-Have you attended Sunday
school? Al have.
Q.-Are you a Roman Catholic or a
Protestant? A.-Protestant.
A bundle of convict's clothes were
then deposited on the tabl, before
Ward and he was instructed 20 take
this and follow Keeper Hornbeck. 1t
was a good-sized bundle. Ward
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 a 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.
The hospital was the next point
visited. Ward took a seat in DR..
BARRIERS room, while half a dozen on
victs, having easy manual and clerical
berths, gathered in the background
Ward. advance to the table" called
out ood-looking, benevolent-faced
physic, 4. The newcomer walk.
ed up with folded hands, with
his PRISON cap in the grasp
of the right hand. Being ordered, he
took a seat close to thedoctor's table.
The physician took his pedigree, and
then Ward answered that he had
never had smallpox or varioloid; he
had had no mechanical injuries, and
wore no mechanical supports. He
took IN full breaths while the physician
sounded his lungs and laid his ear to
his heart. DR.. BARRIERS report.
handed to the ~headkeeper, ran: ZAP
pears TO be sound; small vitality;
health fair"
Clerk Westlake found that Ward
weighed 120 pounds, and was five
feet eight and one-half inches tall.
Q.-Ward, if you are sick or die, to
whom do you want word sent? A.. lin
a Slightly faltering voice-To my wife,
Ella c. Ward, No. Is South-St., Siam
ford, Conn.
All this had taken orty-fiv minutes,
and the shadows had deepened in the
room so that features were not easily
distinguishahle. Ward took n sent