, 1888-01-05
THEY GO TO JOLIET.
Wyoming Convicts to be Confined in
the Illinois Institution.
Eight Convicted Men R%esentenced
in Court Last Evening.
Six of the Territory's Wards Leave
for the East To-day.

10 secure quarters LOT terrlUOrlal conVlcIS
elsewhere thanh the various county iails
have it last been rewarded.
Since the arousing of a strong senti-
ment against the employment of c~onvicts
in the state of Illinois, where evildoers
sentenced from this territory were
formerly confined, Col. Murrin, Jno. G..
Dyer and +. M. Foote of the penitentiary
commission have arduously sought an
other haven where the wards of Wyoming
might be cared for economically. In
vain they attempted to contract advan-
~tageously with the prison authorities of
half a dozen states where large peniten-
tiaries are maintained. Promises were
made by members of various prison
boards in different commonwealth to the
effect that Wyoming's pets would be
housed for a nominal consideration, but
in each case some unforeseen obstacle arose
and the acknowledgment of a reception
of the proposition of the Wyoming
commission wasinyariably countermanded.
In the last instance the Ohio board re-
fused to sign a contract at the final
moment after all other arrangements had
been made. The action was taken upon
the advice of the attorney general, who
held that statutory provisions forbade the
importation of c%onvicts regardless of the
remuneration to be received.
Not at all disheartcned by numerous
rebuffs and disappointments, the board
has industriously correspondent with the
authorities of prisons where there ex-
listed a bare possibility Of a favorable re-
suit.
Last evening Col. Murrin was the re-
cipient of a letter from the warden of the
Joliet, ILL.,, penitentiary, stating that a
majority of the board had decided to ac-
cept an unlimited number of Wyoming
convicts at the rate of reimbursement al
lowed by the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
cents per day per man. Seventy-two men
sentenced from this territory are at pres
ent housed in that institution and cost the
territory absolutely nothing. The bid
made by the Joliet board contains the
most favorable figures yet submitted. The
prison is more conveniently located than
either Detroit or Columbus, and is con-
sldere1 one OF the model penitentiaries of
the United States.
Upon receipt of the favorable news last
evening, Col. Murrin at once moved
toward the immediate transfer of eight
convicts serving sentences in the Laramie
county penitentiary. The men were taken
from their cells to the court room and re-
sentenced by Judge Maginnis to serve the
remainder of their terms in the Joliet,
Ills, penitentiary.
The process was quite interesting. The
eight men, six of whom we're attired in
convict garb, rose in response to their
names and silently listened to the words
which consigned them TO a cell, a number
and plenty Of work down east. As a
whole they were pleased. An idle and
aimless existence is irksome to the most
depraved The men have lived monoto-
nous lines at the county jail for many
months and many of them are beginning
to feel the depressing and weakening eff
fects Of the close confinement without
exercise.
The majority of people who rail at red
tapeism and insist that no official act can
be done hurriedly, no matter how impor-
tant the case or urgency Of undelayed &C
ton will be surprised to learn that the
first party Of %convicts to be accepted under
the terms of the deal closed last evening
is TO be shipped to-day. The following
men will leave for their future residence
this morning in charge of Sheriff Sharp
less and 7. Joe Fisher:
Jas. @. Mccormick, forger, sentenced
for three years May 3, 1887.
Samuel Tolson, perjurer, sentenced for
two years June IS, 1887.
Richard Brennan, grand larcenist, SEN
fenced for two years July IA, 1887.
Thos. Kane, obtained money under
false pretenses, sentenced for two years
July IA, 1887.
Geo. Patrick, highway robber, sen.
fenced for three years July 81, 1887.
Chas. Hoagc, burglar, sentenced for
two years Dec. 9, 1887.
Edwin Germs and Frank l.. Ketchum,
standing convicted of perjury, were also
resentenced to serve the remainder of
eight and four years respectively, com
mencing last July, but were respitted tor
ten days. Their attorneys have filed mo-
tons praying that their clients be allowed
new trials, and they will remain pending
a disposition of the motion.
The men who leave this morning have
been very orderly .since their incarcera-
ton and it is believed that their good con
duct will be continued in Joliet. None of
them were implicated in the recent escape
or more remote attempted delivery.
The cost of maintaining convicts in
Laramie county is 60 cents per diem for
board. The territory furnished clotbino