The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-04-11
CONVICT TELEGRAPHY.
A STRANGE SYSTEM OF SIGNS IN USE
IN ALL PRISONS.

Cannot be Detected They hesp Eacn
Other Fully Informed of Occurrences.
(From the Indianapolis Journal)
Incidents that must necessarily follow
from intercommunition often happen in
penitentiaries, where the rules are rigid
and surveillance so close that convict
is never from under the eye of a guard
or tsskmaster. No matter to what ex-
teme the rule prohibiting conversation
between convicts may be enforced, they
6nd some means by which to inform
themselves of what is going on or what
is to occur. But, more than this, con-
7ict may conceive the idea OF escape or
revolt, and for him to communicate it to
one he wishes to have as an accomphce
is not difficult. They bring others into
the plot or plan until twenty or thirty
know il, in the details for the carrying
out of which each is assigned his par
fcular part. This necessitates a thor
ough explanation of uninutie and calls
for system Of communication for
which limited use Of signs would not
answer. The system, whatever it is, in
wolves no doubt an elaboration OF signs,
aided whenever chance offers the means
by written communication. The secret
use of the latter means for expressing
ideas and purposes will not account for
the completeness Of information con-
y;cts obtain Of what takes place In
prison walls, for, whether anything
occurs in the Office or the most distant
part of the prison, within fifteen min
utes there is convict who does not
know all about it. Penitentiary officials
have tried again and again to obtain
even ciew to the system, but they are
no nearer solution than when they first
began to investigate the matter. They
know there is system, and that 1t rests
on signs, but whether on those made
with fingers, eyes and lips, or the bring
ing into play of other features, or
whether it depends on all together, they
do not know. Prisoners, to curry favor
with the officials, often tell them what
thew have learned from other conTtcts.
They 80 to especial trouble at times IN
exposing plots, and are ready to reveal
everything except the means by which
they learned the facts. No convict has
vet given the slightest suggestion which
would lead to the discovery OF the secret
that has deied the shrewdest detectives.
ssI have seen," said an ex-prison
official, sstwo convicts, six feet apart,
facing each other. They did not utter
word, nor could I discern the slightest
movement Of the lips or eyes, yet l
knew they were communicating some
thing. They gazed at each other for a
minute or two before had chance to
interfere, but I am satisfied that one
told the other all be wished to tell.
Three or four of them will be standing
around q stove or together ID other
places of the prison. and yet with sufh-
cient distance between them to lead one
to think that they have nothing In com
mon, but while there is not the least
sign of conversation observable they are
talking to each other In their own way.
Acknowledgement Michener relates an
incident or two showing the perfection
to which the convicts have carried their
system OF conveying information among
themselves. On his first visit to Jefer-
sonyiIle to look into the matter OF Jack
Towards shortcomings as warden OF the
Southern prison he Was sitting IN the
Office of the prison one afternoon when
the deputy warden or some other subor-
dinate asked him if he did not wish to
90 through the shops. It was some
thing be did not expect to do, but, &C
cepting the inyitaton, they passed
through the inner gates, crossing the
first cell rooms, out into the courtyard
and across that directly to the shoe
factory. They were not three minutes
in going, nor did they stop anywhere
until they reached the factory. The
Attorney-Seneral had gone but a few
feet into the room with the prison officer
when 8 convict stepped up, and asking
the latter if he could speak to the gentle
man with him, said, on permission be-
ing given him: s'You are the Attorney
Genersl?"
eyes" was the only reply Of that
officer.
sYour name is Mickener?"
ssYes; but how do you know that? ]
have never seen you before.
s.Thas is true, nor did ever see you
until now, although am from Shelby
county" He then went on to tell who
he was, where he lived in the county,
and what be had done to bring him into
the penitentiary. But the convict gave
the Attorney-General further cause fol
wonder by telling him that he knew ol
his reaching the city the day before, how
many visits he had made to the prison
and for what purpose.
Leaving the shoe factory the Attorney
General and prison officer went inte
another room, separated from the frs
BY an intervening room, and with Meth
er of which could any person ID the
third have direct communication. Here
Mr.. Michener was approached by anoth
=. .o,,;ot Who told him ahoDt what The