Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-20
DRAeER AND OLSEN.
HOW THE sLAYERs OF JOHN LOWELL
PASS THEIR TIME.
Working Up Hemp to Good Purpose
Contented Only While Busy
and Making Money.

Yesterday as Sacramentan was walking
| through the corridor of the Ell Dorado
Courthouse at PlacerviIle, he met the
Sheriff, J. N. Anderson. Yes, there is
where John Henry Myers was hung, said
the Sheriff, pointing down in the Jail yard.
THE scafold was made up even with the
upper porch, and John Henry stepped
from the portico TO the trap. the string
was cut and the man who murdered John
Lowell was launched into eternity. You
see the scafold piled up yonder ready for
the next Individual who takes the life of a
human being"
No, don't Ike hangings, and hope
to have no more of il to do, but 1 can't
say now soon | will be called upon. as ]
have three nlurderers in the lookup now.
By the way, don't you want TO call on TWO
OF your former townies, John Olsen and
William Drager, the two individuals who
We're convicted with Myers for the murder
of Lowel?
When the invitation was accepted Il e
Sheriff slipped into his office for the KEYS
to the lookup.
We went down in the back ward
and proceeded to the jail. which
IS no more or less than strong
cellar under the Courthouse The outer
door consists OF heavy framework or
grating Of iron bars. The inner door is
solid.
When we entered the jail the Sheriff
locked the prison door on the inside and
put the keys in his pocket We first en-
tered room, in size about 16x20. in which
was range and apparently answered the
purpose Of diuing-room and kitchen. Cells.
or rather bedrooms opened oil from this
main room to the east, south and west.
The place looks anything but secure, end
the prisoners are allowed to roam about at
pleasure, but al night they ale locked no
in their cells.
The hrst one 10 meet us was q tall,
swarthy Indian, who is locked up f5r the
murder OtauOther InGisn many months ago.
de was only captured recently, is Young,
nlelilgent!ooklng and has none of the
appearance OF the desperate be is said to
be. de was very pleasant and seemed
highly pleased with the visitors and accom-
panied the Sheriff and his guest on heir
tour of inspection.
As wepas>ed The door ofthe first cell we saw
fellow sitting on the edge of g bunk with
his head resting upon his hand apparently
wrapped N a reverie. Young, good look
ing, Of excellent family strong drink has
wrecked his life, and today lie is an out
cast. When liquor is kept beyond his
reach be Is quite man. He is we'll known
to the officials Of Sacramento and Placer
counties. While in the auburn iall he
wrote poem Of unusual merit
When he saw the visitor he sprang to
his iest shook hands, asked how motif was
IN Sacramento, etc, and requested the
visitor 10 Gail again, as MS board and iodg-
ing bad been engaged with the county for
t,1 fpHT Of L. n I
some one stole his banjo, and without it
the fellows lost. He longs and signs for
his old cremonan
Into the east room or cell the Sheriff
stepped, followed by the visitor.
q" Good morning, olsen
Good morning, Sheriff." said the
prisoner, with patronizjng smile; ' how
do you feel to-day Pr
This is q friend of mine from Sacra-
mento."
From Sacramento? All! How are
times down there?' addressing he visitor.
After few commonplace remarks Olsen
exhibited the work be was engaged upon.
that of making hempen slippers. They
are made srOng, of proper shape, and
with considerable display of taste in the
use Of colored worsted. His cell is in the
front Of the Jail and the light comes
through grating in the sidewalk In his
window are wooden fans and many fancy
articles knit of worsted and hemp.
This helps pass away the long hours of
my confinement" said he Il am never
happy, bat l am very unhappy when my
mind Is not occupied with some employ
meBt, and so I work all the time"
Olsen looks better than be did when ar
rested, and the officers say he is good
prisoner. He makes a pair of slippers a
day that readily sell for 81 80, and the ma
Ierial Of which they are made does not cost
to exceed three cents. He sees now when
1t is too late what can be done BY honest
industry.
In the west end of the jail in large
room, with light from the north. Here
the visitor was introduced to William
Drager, another of the Lowell murderers.
He was slttlDgin front of a table workingon
an oval door mat which he was ornament
ing with colored woIsted. He seemed
quite well pleased with the visit, and
answered the questions asked with readi-
ness.
Il like this work, said he, .'and the
Sheriff can tell you that l have used up
over 500 pounds of rope in the last few
months. This is the fifty third doorma
that have made, and | made a carpet for
the entire hallway of the Court house"
The visitor said to the Sheriff as he
passed out that it was not usual to give
murdeFers condemned to be hung rope 10
play with.
"Oh," remarked the Sheriff, they are
in no hurry 10 get to the end of their rope.
/ They believe the Supreme Court will come
to their rescue, and, if not, that they will
be respited'