The morning call., 1890-05-28
PRISON POKER.
Creighton and Northey's Royal Time at

Creighton and Northey's Royal Tine at
San Quentin.
The lie OF the convict al San Quentin is not as
hard as 1t might be, provided the involuntary
resident within the prison wall possesses the
immunity that the prOveTbial pulp conveys.
FOR there are pulls" even 10 the States Peni-
Tertiary at San Quentin. where every prisoner is
theoretically supposed to stand on level, and
where caste among the cOuvicts Is presumed to
be unknown.
Chief among the prisoners at San Quentin who
are alleged TO enjoy unusual privileges are jury
brbers Northey and eX-State Senator Dick
Creighton. Ii Is said TO be common talk among
the other cOnylctS that these worthless are lncon-
yenienced very lille by then confinement.
NOrthty's outside friends, for serving whom lie
Is now a convict, have not proved themselves IN
grateful TO Him-fOr they are doing everything
possible 10 make his Imprisonment as delightful
as possible, and 10 remove from IL all semOlance
OF the ha dships commonly associated with
prison life.
Northey, from the first day of his imprison-
meDt, has been holding The post of clerk in the
prison hospital He never sleeps 10 a cell, Ike
an ordinary convict, but IS provided with com
Portable bed In the hospital sleeping quarters.
This Is not unusual. however, for cunvicts Ia his
posllion-clerk OF the bospiIal-aIe usually eX-
cused from sleeping in the cells.
Some OF The ICONS" however, are not able to
see Why a new prisoner should be promoted over
the heads OF others who. by good conduct, merit
whatever iayOrs II is possible 10 show prisoners.
with CREIGHTON IL is ollie ent. When lie Went
TO The prison first he put 10 the jute mill like
| the ordinary convict received at The Peniten-
| tlary. He was not there long before he WAS
| taNen out OF the rut of prison experience and
| pleasantly provided for Now he is employed
| in the library. The story that is told of his
| good fortune is said 10 be common gossip among
| The other prisoners who look with envy upon
bis luck. One OF them Iemarked 10 former Of
| fcer OF the prison: Well, we are out OF luck.
| We aint solid with Boruck and well have TO
work in the mill Till we gel out"
HE cons" claim tnat not only WAS Creighton,
| through the Private Secretarys omnipotent III
tueuce, put In the library, but that lie also en-
Joys other privileges never 10 the PRISONS history
accorded to a convict. d" Dick" Is permitted 10
wear citizens clothes, except his breeches and,
IL is claimed, is also provided with the choicest
| underwear. He does not sleep IN a cell, but is
| allowed 10 share NOrtheYs downy couch IN the
| hospital ward.
| When it Is added that the ex-senator eats at
| the hospital table and In every way disassociates
| himself from the other conyicts it may be seen
| that his life Is not the burden that IL might and
| ought to be. But the rest OF the cOnylcts tell
still more of CfeightOn's royal treatment at the
hands OF his friend, Warden McCUmb. The days
are maze agreeable enough for him and NOrthey,
but at nights, the story goes it is when they are
in highest feather. II is reported TO be no secret
that Northey and Creighton put In the evenings
In their private room playing poker, and that the
game has more than once become exciting
that The news OF Its pro gress got out among the
| prisoners and became everyday gOsslp.-Sacra-
mentO Bee, May 27tl