New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-06-20
EMIL WEsCHCKE, Managing Editor.
Wednesday, June 20, 1888.

Wednesday, June 20, 1888.
To one who has never studied a cri-
nlinal character with deeper interest
than ordinarily shown by reading the
story of crime, it must be a moment
of unusual consequence to be placed
suddenly in the presence OF notorios
offender. It is with feeling of sever
ity and yet freshly awakened interest
that we gaze on the face of fellow
man, who, the very image of ourselves,
with every attribute that proves him as
belonging to our great family, holds
that position in daily life which engen-
ders in our hearts a feeling akin to
loathing, and we experience a certain
embarrassment to have his criminal
countenance scan our own with look
of scrutiny or Indifference.
By the many who have visited the
State Prison at Saltwater, and who
have stood face to face with the notori-
Gus Younger brothers, the Mortified
bank robbers, such a sensation was GER
tainly experienced, and although there
may have been some, who relished the
idea of shaking hands with a man con-
victed for murder, recognizing in so
doing. that they stood before one what
was their superior, if it be only in no.
toriety, the majority of prison visitors,
affected by the novelty of their expert
ence, entertain doubts as to the pro-
priety of condescending to such an act
Of greeting, which, cherished by the
condemned, still proves to them that q
certain esteem exists for them in the
heart Of the outside world. We be-
lieve that this practice, which in minor
cases would of course be a proper one,
inaslnuch as it may soothe a penitent
prisoner, is fraught with evil conse-
quence in the instance of those charac-
tiers, who, devoid of most if not all no.
bility and purity of feeling, deem it but
lust and deserved reward to be hon
ored by the friendly greeting of a man,
who, although occupying a different
station in life, finds it not below him to
confer with one, who in the eyes of the
world is past redemption. Instances
are on record where popular sentiment
has expressed Itself so utterly impropri-
ately and, to say it mildly, foolishly, in
rendering proof of sympathy, yes, and
on the part of silly woman, admiration
for criminal, that the latter, aware
OF the prominence of his visitors, con-
ceived the idea that his deed was JUS
titiable one. He would glory in his
action, and having once been permitted
to entertain a course of thought most
gratifying to himself, although not to
his judges, penitence would undoubted-
ly be the last condition in which an I'M
prejudiced juror would find him.
In the case of the Younger brothers,
the conditions spoken of are witnessed
to greater or lesser extent and al
though their crime has not been COM
mitted at late date, the incidents of
the same are ever recalled and contem-
plated upon by the robbers, who relate
their story with q certain gust, witness
ing the cage" chances from the eyes of
their hearers. Such proceeding how
ever, sympathizing as it may be for the
prisoners, and therefor beneficial in
one sense, is one Of harm TO the public,
and especially to those who are natur-
ally weak in the understanding Of the
full consequence and character of such
deeds as committed by the prisoners
before them. This is the case with idi-
osyncratic people and with children.
The latter, although not introduced to
reality, have ample opportunity to ac-
quaint themselves with every detail
connected with the criminal act of a
condemned prisoner, and what oppor-
tunity fails to do for them, in prevent
ing them visit to the prison, "blood
and thunder literature fully supplies.
We deem it therefore wrong to allow
of the public's free access to place
where harmful Influences may be
brought to bear on its character, and
with the same right anu for the same
reason that we denounce the publishers
and authors of the nickle-a and -dime.no-
vel literature as Indicators. we regard
the regulations of the state prison, al
lowing of free opportunity to see the
worst of criminals, as malefcient.
It was indeed hard tussle in Kuute
Nelson's district last week, when the
Republican convention gathered at St.
Cloud to appoin his congressional sue
oassor Necessarilv if had RI ha q