New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-07-04
Could Handle Criminals.
rom the New York Tribune.

From the New 7 ork Tribune.
The late Amos PilsburY. under
whose administration the Albany
penitentiary gained the reputation of
being one of the best managed penal
institutions in the country, was
man who seemed not to know what
fear was. Mr.. P1lsbary was chatting
one evening at a, social gathering with
number OF persons, including a cap
tain OF the Albany police. During the
conversation the captain quietly re-
marked: Mr.. Pilsbury, / see THAT
Bills dead mentioning the name
OF a wellknown member of the crinai.
nal class. ~ es,'' replied Pilsbury,
81 read the notice of his death and
it brought to mind rather interest
ing experience that / once had
with him" This remark aroused
the curiosity OF his companions. and
at their solicitation Mr.. Pilsbury
related the experience. "a good
many years ago, before had seen
much service as a prison manager,
this Bill - was sentenced to the AL
bany penitentiary. He arrived, ugly
lips compressed, eyes flashing a bale
ful fire. Bill resolutely declined to
have his hair cut. You know ws al
ways cut prisoners hair as soon as
he reaches US. Well, / informed him
and guess my voice sounded pretty
decided that he must submit to the
rules OF the Institution or take the
consequences. He answered that he'd
be id if he'd have his hair cut. Con-
sequently ordered him put into one
OF the dark cells or placed on starva-
ton diet, forget just what, until he
should surrender. 1t was not long be-
fore he sent for me and stated that
he'd made up his mind to submit.
Accordingly l had him placed in the
BARRIERS hands No sooner, how
ever, was he shorn of his hair than
he turned to ME with as murder
Gus an expression as ever saw hui
man face and burst out. his voice
trembling with passion: You want
to look after me, Amos Pilsbury If
ever | get chance at you, you're
dead man" "Well, not long after the
regular barber of the penltentlary fell
i'll and, on learning that Bill had once
kept 'tonsorial parlor,' decided
that he should take the place of the
sick man. Then there was trouble
again. found that his appointment
was giving great dissatisfaction.
Why? Well, one or two OF the men re-
marked in Bills presence that they
were afraid to allow such Desperate
to run a razor over their faces. That
put me on my mettle. / was young,
and my temper was not so cool as it
is now; SO exclaimed: Afraid! Non
sense-why should you be afraid? I
believe that Bills as trustworthy a
Darber as we ever had
IN the institution With that
got into the BARRIERS chair
throat were barred. The act was, OF
course a foolhardy one. / was risking
my own life and exposing a bloodthirs-
ty convict to a terrible temptation.
However, / never had better shave
in my life, although the barber's hand
trembled SO that Twas afraid he would
accidentally cut me, even if he didn't
Intentionally carve me up. When he
got through Ishook hands with him,
and from that day until his term ex-
pred he was one of the most exem-
plary prisoners in theinstitution. One
day after his term expired, he related
the incident of shaving me. why
Bill, didn't you go to Pilsbury? in
quired the rough to whom he was talk
ing. Lacked sand, eh?' No, replied
Bill, L didn' lack sand. Butd-n me
ii could do him up. He showed his
confidence IN me; he put himself com
pletely in my power. No, l couldn't
Kill as game a man as Pilsbury show
ed himself"