New-York tribune., 1886-04-26
WARD BREAKS PRISON RULES
SECRET LETTERS SENT AT SING SING.
A FELLOW CONVICT HIS AGENT-wARD IBID NOT
KNOW" THAT HE WAS DOING WRONG.


FELLOW CONVICT Hrs AGEST-wARD DID NOT
KNOW" THAT HE WAS DOING WRONG.
1t has just leaked out that F. Ward, gracious
known as the Young Napoleon Of Finance short time
after bis Incarceration was caught In scheme TO send
letters to friends outside the walls Of Sing Sing State
prison, was betrayed by supposed sccomplice, and
When haied before Warden Brush made tho most re-
marhabe record for his nfracon Of the ada
mantine rules OF the insuton-that he did not know
he was doing wrong
When Ward, In tho g!oaming of On autumn
day. made solemn promise in the presence OF
Principal Keeper Connaughton tho chaplain OF
the prison, and members OF the press.
that he would obey implicitly the rules OF the prison.
no spoke in solemn aud serious vein, held his head
10 such mock humility. and looked such picture OF pa
ence permeated with heroic fortude and the spirit OF
righteousness that everyone present felt In his heart
that Ward would keep his promise. II for no other res-
son at least than that his ten years term
might be commuted by ope-third. as tho
chaplain, with dignifed and benevolent mien,
assured him. When Thar ksgiving with its brown and
luscious mnce ries its chickcn and It's pudding rolled
around Ward assured the officials and tho public through
the press that he would faithfully obey the rules and
continue bowng in meek humility to the mandate OF
his lot.
Willie still vOlubo In promises 1t now appears that tho
man who nveigled others into the mythical contract
pioht labyrinth. unable to escape the demon OF
|
Of fellOwconvict named Morgan. who was serving
term for grand larceny At tho time Ward was In
Gallery No 10 and Morgan in Gallery No. 7. The two
galleries backed each other, so that whispers couu
float through tho yentiators OF Morgans cell into tho
cellof the former member Of the firm OF Grant & Ward
Whether Morgan thought that Ward still had around
him some OF Billy p" Jones's thousand-dol bills
or whether from evil purpose pure. lie whispered to
Ward evening when quiet reigned through the cor
ridos that the grand larceny adept being the older In
Slug sing life. hal a special means OF communication
with the outside world and could II he would, run out
letters snrreptitiosy for the young Napoleon who had
met his Waterloo before Justice Barrett.
" Is that so I" asked Ward in his nervous English
Fact" MJr:an's reply.
Morgan explained that Ward could write to any friend
he pleased and could push the letter through the vent
ator to Morgan who would supply the envelopes and
who would then become responsible for the arrival OF
the message at the post Office.
Ward pondere1 over his Sundayschool experience in
Brooklyn. his rehypothec,on OF securities ann his
whoe up May O. 1884 and, forgetful Of Jus
tice Barretts monoogue but thinking this golden op
porunity for his peculiar bump OF genus resolved TO
hazard the die. lie had plenty OF paper supplied
for his monthly writing permitted by the
rules and in for making additional Grant IL Ward
schedules and lie began his correspondence The hrst
letter he lady In Brooklyn. 1t was not
Mrs. Ward; 1t is supposed to have been a relative
Ward passed the sheet folded neatly through the ven
laor Morgan, who put carefully away This letter
not emotional. 1t simply gave history OF Wari IN
Sing Sing prison how he liked black coffee bacon and
sixbyeight CELL with poker parties aud no margins
profits The other letters written Oh brown
paper were OF similar tenor,
Morgan kept tho letter while Ward making his
professions OF faith devotee OF the rules OF the
prison. Morgan, after due waiting. $1,000 bills
dropping through the ventlator and base deceVer
that he was he went TO Principal Keeper COnnaughtOn
and cays he away"
Mr. Connaugh is "A strict discplInaran, whose ex-
pericncc has made him chary Of faith In human
nature especially manifested at Sing Sing. Yet he
blinded by WARTS docity, by his zeal in SHOW
cling ashes until lie nearly fell in swoon and had de-
cared ard be the promising pupil he had had
In a long time He first incredulous bat Morgan
banded him the letters Thore was Wards chi rography
neat small and ncsive The principal keeper promptly
placed the matter in the hands OF Warden Brush Ward
VINO loves not to be fooled with.
Ward. what does this meant" asked tho Warden,
coldy, calmly, cruelly. holding out the letters.
Ward tumbed" to the situation as quickly ~ on the
around his head over tho old Marine Bank building Ho
"cave1 like n Buddenslek doath-trap. He was daze1
%n, Su hd dons n s"rthnS wong The warien recalled
tie rules which hal been read to Ward when he en-
memory and the fretncss Of oblivion. Yet he admired
Wards frankuess. when caught and he took inspiration
from Wards vehement promises. Inc pOfty warden
read Ward such lesson as ie never had ho'f oeIore
sXand.S and seni the a6as6ed eter writer
fallen and crushed TO his cell.
Mr. Connaug ghton saiI yestoyday: From that day to
this Ward has ot eyed the rules implicitly. don't kDow
why Morgan put up the Job unless 1t was IN the nope OF
money The warden has the letters. Ead we hau tno
rules-whicn went Into operation on April l-there
Wards commutatOn would have been shortened ten
days"
The rule referred to ia No. framed according to
chapter II OF the laws OF lss6 Providing Tor tue com
mutation OF for good conduct IL runs thus;
For attempting 10 assault an officer or as.
saung anOt convict not with dangerous weapon lor
dsObeying orders for resstn, Onic'r' TO- nslDoIh1
ton Tor felgning INSANITY ior snsgl or atteP1ng 10
articles ont u prison or peh
tentary. tlr offending shall i0rc not less IMAM zen
Of commutaon fixed by the above act
for good conduct
Ward has gained twenty-five pounds in prison, ana
looks fat and hearty. His compexiOn VIII neVer 10
ford. MIr. Connau snton says his charge takes Ire
easily, and enjoy existence as II rolls on W.
Bourko Cochran, Wards counsel visited MN on fruAy
last, stopping over on his way down from Albany. ,
No other convict than Morgan has yet given away
any Of Wards fcrte pecuarite5 ana ldosyhcraces III
Ignorance OF wrong"