Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-21
KEIIEBEC JAIL.
The Unhealthy Fruits Of Idleness
Hours Of JAN Ltfe-How They are
Spent BY Certain Notorious Charac-
te1a.

"A comfortable BERTH" Soft snap
Nothing to do but loll around. and more to
eat than most of them are accustomed to get
ting"
Such are the remarks that we constantly
hear concerning the inmates of the Jail. Par
TALLY true! OF course they are. But they
no more express the whole truth than does a
shrewd attorney when talking to his brother
lawyer on the other side of the case. Some
lethargic brutes in the form of men may have
the power of passing sixty or ninety days in
a dull, sensuous stupor, and when their time
is out leave with regrets. Such persons are
the restless longing which has kept him row.
ing from one place to another comes over
him day aftsx day as he sits in his cell.
Waiting trial. Waiting for the time when
. court 10 to decide whether you are to walk
out among your fellow creatures free man,
| or whether you are to receive sentence,
under the shadow of which all the days to
| come will be darkened.
The Journal reporter entered the Jail yes
terday morning with the understanding that
the exit should be granted when desired.
young Beal occupies that cell to your
left" said the genial turnkey in reply to the
scribe's question.
He was sitting by the window of his cell
reading Of the blood curdling scenes through
which a Pinkerton detective followed Jim
Cummings the desparado.
THE william is caught at last is he not?'
was asked
The young fellow turned quite quickly
with keen nterrogating look.
"Oh yes, that's the way it generally comes
out"
SO this is the fellow accused of poisoning
his father. Not bad looking face, though
nifty might be spoken of as "scape-grace,
bound to come to some bad end, he having
caused these remarks perchance by the ex-
hibition of certain low tastes and tendencies.
Wont you come in 2"
You can't for the time feel as you accept
his invitation and chat pleasantly with the
young man before you that he could ever
have poisoned his father, could be guilty of
a most horrible crime"
"You are reporter suppose What
paper do you represent Oh, the kennebec
journal. Pretty good paper but the fellow
who was in here the other day didn't seem to
think much of my clothes"
"Well you seem to take things quite coolly
in spite of the reporters"
"Oh yes, | have no fear but what it will
come out all right in the end"
do you get plenty of reading matter ?"
Yes, am well supplied. have friends
here who bring me in books. That one I'm
reading is pretty fair and here is very inter-
esting one" he said, showing the scribe an
other detective story.
Haven't you got something you would
like to say to the Journal readers ?"
Nothing, at present" was the reply, after
which the conversation lulled
Young Beal didn't appear to be quite at
ease, though he endeavored to appear So
Evidently of NERVOUS temperament the con-
fnement lie leaving its mark on him.
In the tier of cells above, the Journal man
found Slim and Irish. The former was read
ing an old issue of the Kennebec Democrat
while Irish was busily engaged in polishing
what appeared to be pewter spoon.
"Well you are a good Democrat, | see"
the scribe remarked to Slim.
He gave a laughing acquiescenee and laid
down Ben Bunkers editorial columns and
reached for his short clay pipe which has
grown black while its owner has grown pale
and thin Say Boss how'd the Waterville
election go? Democratic9 that's the stuff.
were the words which came from within the
cell
"Cap'n look here haven't We got loose
change enough to give me a diner was the
query from cell close by.
The owner of the voice had a pleasant
bright looking face.
What are you here for?' queried the
scribe.
up for 60 days I'm done with the stuff,
and the fellow looked as if he expected
another dime to follow the last remark.
In the last cell of the tier the Journal man
found Brown the brutal tramp who was tried
be fore the Municipal Court Monday.
The ruffian was pacing back and forward
in his cell as if anxious to get outside.
whats the weather out BoM?" he, asked,
and resumed his nervous walk to and fro.
II he did but know it he had much bet
ter be where he is than to be outside the
walls which are really protection to him.
Passing down through crowd stand
ing about the corridor, many of whose
faces bore a pleasant, hearty but withal weak
look that told without question the story of
first the bottle and then the Jail. the scribe
sought the outside world, which with ali its
troubles is at least not reeking with the at
mosphere of disgrace.
The tenement occupied by Warren, the
BENTON murderer. when he lived in this city
about ten years ago, bears the marks of his