The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-12-10
ocToGENARIAN CoNvIcTs.
One Killed His Wife and the Other Man
Addicted to Snoring.

AuulcteU Co snoring.
Few persons, on visiting the Massa.
chusetts State prison. would expect to
see or hear any thing that would pro.
woke smile. Yet despite the gloom
and suggestiveness of punishment in
the surroundings an occasional incident
will cause a laugh even from the gravz
| est and most sympathetic observer. ,
Not long ago, committee of the
Legislature, on its annual tour of in
spection, visited this prison. Tho
workshops, bakery, cells, strong
and hospital had all received attention
when the attendant stated that there
was one room in the upper part
of the building which had been
set apart as a loating room for aged and
infirm life prisoners. This, he said,
was occupied by only two prisoners at
the time, but the members Of the COM
mittee could visit it if they SO desired.
Some Of the gentlemen thought it would
be as we'll to look over the room and
were conducted to it.
1t was long, wide room, with white
washed walls, which reflected the glar-
ing light from the uncurtained win
dows. The only articles Of furniture
were two long wooden benches, placed
one on either side of the room. The
two aged prisoners, who, relieved from
labor, were to be allowed to spend the
remainder of their days in sweet com,
munion and social intercourse, sat scowl
ing at one another from opposite sides
of the room.
A member of the committee more in
quisitive than his colleagues, felt it in
cumbent upon him to make few in
quiries concerning the prisoners. and,
approaching one of them, said:
"Well, my friend, how old are your
Eighty, sor," was the answer.
''How long have you been here?"
Tin years, sor."
"Why, what in the world could NAL
seventy years of age have done to sem
him to State prison?'
81 killed me wife, sor.
''What did you kill your wife for?"
'Well, sor, You SEQ she agiyated m
for forty years, and then chopped he
head off.
Before tho laugh provoked BIZ ,thi
: CHASTITY but amusing reply had suhside'
, the committeeman crossed to the othe
q side of the room, and, accosyhg prisone
No. 9, began:
elbow old are you?s
"Eighty-ive, SIR
"And how long have you been here7
'sTen years"
"What was your offence"
murder, SIR"
'Well, whom did you kill?"
IA man"
what did you kill him for9"
Snoring
"What, / never heard such a thin
do you mean to say that you killed
man simply for snoring?"
Yves, sir"
"Why, how could you do such
thing?'
"Well, sir, you see it was this wa
sir. I was in the State alms-house, 81
A poltroon had the next cot to min
and every night he snored so loud
couldn't sleep. l woke him up half
dozen times night, but as soon as
d got asleep he snored again, worse TIL
I before. Finally, one day, I told if
30 kept me awake that night I'd fix him
n he'd never do it agin. Twas afraid he
be at it agin as soon as he went to be
I so just got me n billet of wood and b
i'd it under my cot.
ID THAT night he snored agin, and IRA
n ing his voice. the next night he didn
" "And why didn't hep
"Ah, we'll, sir, l iist hit 'cm lit
~ clip on the head with q billet of WOO
81 and I've been here ever since. "-Bost
. Globe.
or ------------------------