National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-02
THE PRISONER wEPT.
Passengers on Sing Sing Train Sym
pathize with Desperate Looking


Man.
[New York SUM-
Four well-dresscd men occupied a double
scat on a train of the Hudson River rail-
road that left New York OF o o'clock on the
morning Of one day last week. The one
who sat nearest the window and facing The
forward end Of thecar was & man Of medium
stature who wore a sandy mustache and
seemed very much depressed He kept his
eyes fixed upon the floor most Of the time
Occasionally he sighed deeply, aud cast
wistful glances out OF the window as the
train rushed past the fields and woods His
companions paid little attention TO him, but
conversed among themselves.
Soon after the train left Pcekskill one Of
the men stopped brakeman who was go.
ing through the car, aud asked quietly.
VIII you bring the prisoner a glass Of
water ~
The brakeman brought the water and In
less than five minutes word was spread
through the car that the sad man by the
window was prisoner on his way to Sing
Sing, and that the three men with him were
sheIifp's deputies, who had him IN charge.
Men and women turned in their seats to
look Mt the unfortunate, aud when the CON
ductor came through to look at the tickets
he asked in a whisper:
"What's his name"
"Mackay,n replied one Of the deputies /;
"John w. Mackay.n
"l'ye heard his name,n said the cOnduc-
vcted Off
Forgery; ten years." responded the
other.
"Oh, yes, remember: desperate looking
man, the conductor said, and went ON
his way.
The prisoner'g name was spread through
out the ear and when the length of hi
term WIGS made known greater curiosity
than ever was indicated by the passengers
Men came in from the other cars to look at
him. When the prisoner happened to look
up and found himself the center OF obser-
walton, he at once cast his glance to the
floor again, and a moment later great tears
were seen rolling down his face.
"COme now said the big man with u
black mustuche who sat at his side, "what
are you blubbering about -
The other made no answer, but wept ST.
lently. The eyes Of some Of the lady pas
sengers began to grow moist. Presently u
sweet-faced old lady came over to The seat
where the prisoner sat and said, with tears
streaming down her face:
81 can't tell you how much feel for YOU,
but please let me give you this Bible, and
please promise to read it. You don't know
u
Other ladies were crying, too, by this
time, and some OF the male passengers felt
called upon to blow their noses rather
oftencr than usual. But the black-inus-
tached man, who sut next to the prisoner,
seemed to restrain laughter with some diff
hculty, and he finally stuffed his handker-
chief in his mouth and boitcd to the end OF
the car.
"You're BRUTE" said an old gentleman,
who sat near the door.
~ suppose SOL said the black-mus-
tached man, gruflly; "but II you'd taken
as many men up the river as | have you'd
laugh, too, when the passengers went silly
over 'em.n
When the train stopped at Sing Sing the
fou men arose, and, with the prisoner In
the middle, walked ont OF the car, while the
passengers opened their windows and gazed
at them on the platform. just before the
train started on one OF the men brought
back the Bible and handed II In the window
TO its owner.
ale can't read,n he said.
Then, to the excitement of everybody
the prisoner suddenly bolted up the road,
and before the two men left with him could
recover their senses he had hundred fe:t
start. All three rushed after him but, to
the disgust Of the passengers, the train
started away and they were unable to wit
ness the denouement
After the train had gone the prisoner to
the surprise Of the hands, came back to his
iailers, and all four laughed long and loud
The four men were Mackay, the comedian
Edward AronsOn, of the Casino; Robert
billiard and Maurice f. Strauss. who were
on their way TO visit Sing Sing prison, and
had played " Mackay off as a prisoner
for their own amusement.
at made me feel mean to take In that
nice old lady, said Mackay; but can
lick the conductor who said looked des-
perate.n