The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-02-29

illzwater, Minn, Wednesday,, Feb 20, 1885,

into one Of the best stores in the center OF
the business portion of the city.
ALAS! the day came when the
same evil that had befallen the father be-
fell the son. He came home one evening
plainly under the influence of drink. l
need not tell you how the mother pleaded,
nor how he promised. 1t went on for two
years. He was never drunk, but ever and
anon his mother could see that he had been
drinking.
"Ah! how she loved that boy! And she
had reason. He was her all-in-all of earth
ly life; and, at heart, he was goodness itself.
He had put stop to her work, further than
taking care Of their own little nest; and he
procured for her every comfort she could
enjoy.
lat length the crash came. Henry had
entered his twentieth year. One evening,
when he had drank freely, he fell in with a
party of young men, whose acquaintance he
had made at drinking -places-he never
would have associated with them otherwise
and they persuaded him to join them in a
lark, as they termed it. They were going
to clean out Old Butterworths doggery. He
had complained of one of their mates for
assaulting him. and had caused him to be
locked up in the House of Corrections; and
they were now going. in full battalion, to
give him what he richly deserved.
Henry was very drunk. If he had not
been, he never would have gone with that
crew. upon such all errand. They reached
Old ButterwOrth'S, low, rambling drink
ing and gambling place. just off Hanover
street, and entered; and for few minutes
things generally. Naturally, the police
came-came, as often happens, after the
ring-leaders of the riot had caught the
alarm, and got safely off.
II have no doubt that when Henry Will
mOt-so I may call him-I have no doubt
that when he came to realize the full enorm-
ity of the crime his companions were bent
upon, he did all he could to prevent it; and
yet he, and one other, were the only two
who fell into the hands of the police; and
the last thing he had done before being
taken, had been to take from the hand of a
man who had been running out by back
way, a large claspknife, with the blade
open, and bloody. The escaping man had
given it to him. Henry could remember so
much distinctly, because he had come very
near being cut as he took it, but he could
remember little else.
Henry WilmOt was tried on, don't
know how many, counts; but the principal
to say, the gang he had been with was
known to the police as one of the very
worst in the city. Mr.. ButterwOrth had
been badly cut in the arm, and on the chin;
but was able to be in court; and to swear
positively that Henry Wilniot was the man
who had stabbed him. Also, the police
men-twO of them-SwOre that they had
taken the knife from Henry's hand; and it
had been bloody at the time. There was no
help. When others would have testified to
his general good character, the district at
tOrney, who seemed bound to make his case
as strong as possible, brought up dozen
members of the police force. who testified
every one OF them-that they had known
the prisoner at the bar for several years;
and that they had seen him, within the year
last past, often intoxicated. and in company
with the very men who were engaged in the
riot at Mr.. Butterwort;l's place.
1T was jury trial; he was found guilty,
and was sentenced to five years of hard lab
or in the state prison. 1t broke his heart
completely, the mother said; and her own
heart as we'll. The blow was dreadful.
Death would have been blessing beyond
price in comparison. He had served out
quite two years of his sentence at the time
of the interview Of which 1 am telling.
During that time the mother had supported
herself with her needle, and very nearly a
year of it she had worked for me.
"When l asked her if there was any way
in which could help her, she said, No.
While she had her health. she should do
very we'll. 1 told her should not forget
her, and that if the time should ever come
when l could help her, would do it. She