Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-19

british nature, They were too lazy
to keep their cells or their person
clean, and delighted in such rough practi-
cal Jokes as setting fire to paper placed
between the toes of sleeping newcomer.
From the habit OF. srumbling at their food,
one might have been led TO suppose that
they had become accustomed TO all the deli
cacies of life, On one occasion, when col
ored men were in one cell and white in an-
other, they arranged for fight, and spent
hours in loosening and removing the stones
in the thick walls. Finally two of the ne
groes crawled into the cell where the white
men were. When the turnkey arrived, one
of the two had managed to crawl back into
his own cell, and the other, with most Of
his clothes torn from him, his head, face
and limbs bleeding, was endeavorng to re-
turn. At another time, one of the men,
not satisfied with his piece of bread, threw
it into the fire and demanded more, claim
ing that he had not received any. The turn
key refused, and while unlocking heard the
man say he would mount Jim Goode, and
by listening learned that another was to as
sist He armed himself with revolver
and entered the cell. The prisoners rushed
forward, cursing and threatening, and one
Of them raised a stick which he had broken
off from bench. The turnkey then showed
his revolver, and at length compelled them
to get into their sleeping cells.
| JAIL BREAKING.
Occasionally the officials become satisfied
that the occupants of particular cell were
arranging to break out A removal always
| Immediately took place and a search fol-
lowed. The ingenuity OF criminals was
truly surprising. If half the energy and
skill, and in truth talent, which they mani
fest, were used in any legitimate occupa-
tion, great results would have appeared.
Attention has already been called TO their
success in digging through the walls, but
one must see in order to appreciate the pa
thence and labor involved. A spoon or knife,
or piece OF hoop iron, or similar instrument,
WAS employed. The place of operations
was concealed by numerous contrivances,
and the dirt carefully disposed of.Sometlmes
they worked for weeks before they were
either suspected or successful. There were
numerous holes in the inner walls, dug by
the prisoners, and evidences of many all at
tempt to gain pure air and freedom. But
no one was ever aole to do more than go
from one cell to another. Although the
rough stone ceiling and floors and main
walls had been burrOwed into, no one ever
broke Jail except through the doors. In
| fact, as the main walls were three feet
thick, 1t is not surprising that an attempt to
get through the huge flags of the flooring
into the sewer, which runs under the jail.
came the nearest 10 being success
Among the tricks usually played on those
who had charge was saving off the bolt
heads and putting in imitation heads made
of soap in their place. Soap was also used
to conceal the work while saving through
the iron bars themselves, for it is a slow
process, and days and weeks were some
times required. Twice the two highway
robbers, Sherwood and Bailey-and they
had the reputation Of being exceedingly
sharp in breaking jail-came very near get
ting out. The first time they had sawed off
the bolt of the corridor lock, and the second
time effective work had been done on the
window bars. To show to what lengths
the more desperate will go it is only need
full to add that preparations were once
made, and operations actually begun, for
blowing out a rear portion of the wall with
powder.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PRISONERS.
The majority of jail-birds are thoroughly
debased, and the many that dwelt in the
old Jail were no exception. As rule, the
characteristics of prisoners do not vary
greatly. The wearisome hours of impris-
onment are spent about the same way by
all. Safeguarding, swearing, quarreling,
card playing. the singing of vulgar songs,
q I'd boasting of past villainy was the prin-
cipal method of Willing the time away.
Now and then, snatches Of well known
songs and gospel hymns were heard. All
who read were especially fond of posing
over the Police Gazette and similar papers
OF course, once i'm a while, a prisoner with
Itulltu taStS was was
at one time young man in the east cor
ridor who quoted readily from the Bible
and Shakespeare and whose family con-
nections and whose own qualifications fit
him for usefulness in life. There were
pictures on the wall drawn by a petty
larceny man which were not without merit.
Coats of whitewash in previous years hid
the manifestations of character; for, doubt
!. less, of the thousands of unfOrtunates,
there were numbers whose minds, as well
as bodies, were powerful, and records of
whose thOughts.were traced on the masonry
during the lonesome period of incarceration.
, At one time faith, hope and charity, pen
ciled in large letters, attracted the visitors,
and few pictures from Hdrper's Weekly