Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-23

Oliver Markell was sentenced to
three months hard labor. The charge was
that he had obtained money by means OF
false pretenees. Not large sums, but shil-
lings, halF-crowns, and so on. He had given
out that he was a wizard, and that he was
able and wilhng-for q consideratiou-to
predict the events OF the future-tell for
tunes, in fact. The case created large
amount of local interest, for some curious
stories were told about the man in the town.
Markell was a tall, slight, wiry-lookiEg fel-
low in the prime Of Lie, with coal-black
hair and olive complexion-apparently of
Romany extraction. His bearing was self
possessed. courteous even, yet with some
thing in his air which might have led one to
suppose that he ssw-what Others did not
the humor of the thing. At one point his
grave, almost saturnire visage distinctly re-
laxed into a smile. 1t was when Colonel
Gregory, the Chairman OF the day, was pass
ing sentence. After committing him for
three months hard labor, the Colonel added:
During your sojourn within the walls of
prison you will have an opportunity of re-
trieving your reputation. You say you are
a magician. During your stay in Jail L
would strongly advise you to prove it. You
lay claim to magic powers. Exercise them.
] need scarcely point out to you how eI-
cellent chance you will have OF creating
sensation"
The people laughed. When the great
Panjandrum is even dimly suspected of an
intention to be funny the people always do.
But on this occasion even the prisoner
smiled-rather an exceptional thing, for, as
q rule it is the prisoner who sees the joke
the least of all.
Later in the day the prisoner was con-
Veyed to the county Jail. This necessitated
a journey by rail, with a change upon the
way. At the station where they changed
there was a delay of 20 minutes. This
the prisoner and the constable in charge
OF him improved by adjourning to public
house hard by. Here they had a glass
indeed they had two-and when they
reached Canterstone, the town on whose out
skirts stood the Jail, they had one-or per-
baps it was two-more. 1t must have been
two, for when they reached the Jail, instead
of the constable conveying the prisoner, 1t
was the prisoner who conveyed the consta-
ble-upon his shoulder. The warder who
answered the knock seemed surprised at
what he saw.
What do you want?
"Three months hard labor"
The warder stared. The shades OF night
door did not seem to cast sufficient light
upon the subject to satisfy the janitor.
"Come inside" he said.
Markell entered, the constable upon his
Shoulder. Having entered, he carefully
placed the constable in sitting posture on
the stones, with his back against the wall
The policemsn's helmet had tipped over his
eyes-he scarcely presented an imposing
picture Of the majesty and might of the law.
The warder shook him by the shoulder
"Here, come-wake up. You're a pretty
sort" he said. The constable's reply, al
though slightly inarticulate, was sufficient
ly distinct.
'Not another drop not another drop r.
he murmured.
"No, L shouldn't think so," said the
warder. "You have had pailful, it seems
to me already"
The man seemed little puzzled. He
turned and looked at Markell.
"What do you want here?"
''Three months hard labor"
The man looked down and saw that the
Newcomer had gives upon his wrist He
went to q door at one side and summoned
another warder. The two returned together.
This second official took In the situation at
q glance.
"Have you come from -" naming the
town from which they had in fact come
Markell inclined his head. This second
official turned his attention to the PROSTATE
constable. "Look in his pockets"
The janitor acted on the suggestion. The
order for commital was produced.
"Are you Oliver Mankell?"
Again Markell inclined his head. With
the order in his hand the official marched
him through the side door through which
be had himself appeared. Soon Oliver
Markell was the inmate of a cell. He
spent that night in the reception cells at
the gate. In the morning he had hath,
was inducted into prison clothing, and ex-
amined by the doctor. He was then taken
up to the main building of the prison, and
introduced to the governor. The governor
was quiet, gentlemanly man, with a strag-
Cling black beard and spectacles-the
official to the tips of his fingers. As Man
ksli happened to be the only fresh arrival,
the governor favored him with a little
speech.
you've placed yourself in an uneomfort-
able position, Markell. hope you'll obey
the rules while you're here"
81 intend to act upon the advice rendered
me by the magistrate who passed sentence"
The governor looked up. Not only was
the voice musical voice, but the words
by the average prisoner.
"What advice was that?"
"He said that claimed to be a magician.
He strongly advised me to prove it during
my stay in Jail. l intend to act upon the
advice he rendered"
The governor looked Markell steadily. in
the face. The speakers bearing conveyed
no suggestion of insolent intention. The
governor looked down again.
81 advise you to be careful what you do
You may make your position more uncom-
Portable than it is already. Take the man
away" :.
They took the man away. They intro
duced him to the wheel. On the treadmill
he passed the remainder of the morning.
At noon morning tasks were over, and the
prisoners were marched into their day cells
to enjoy the meal which, in prison parlance,
was called dinner. In accordance with the
ordinary routine, the chaplain made his ap-
pearance in the roundhouse to interview
those prisoners who had just came in, and
those whose sentences would be completed
on the morrow. When Markell had been
asked atthe gate what his religion was, he
had made no answer; so the warden, quite
used to ignorance on the part of new arrivals
as to all religions, had entered him as a
member of the Church of England. As a
member Of the Church of England he was
taken out to interview the chaplain now.
Tne chaplain was little fussy gentleman,
considerably past middle age. Long ex-
perience of prisons and prisoners had bred
in him perhaps unconscious habit of re-
gardlDg criminals as naughty boys
urchins who required judicious COM
bluation of cakes and castigation.
"Well, my lad, I'm sorry ITO see man of
your appearance here" This was remark
the chaplain made to a good many of his