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

blocks, but the prison itself was divided int
two entirely separate divisions-north an6
southland to pass from one division to thu
other entailed q walk of at least 100 yards
By the time he had completed the round o
the locks, Mr.. Paley had had about enough
of it. 1t was not surprising that he felt
little bewildered-not one of the locks hat
shown any more readiness to yield to hin
than to the others.
In passing from one ward to the other, hl
had passed the row of day cells in which wa
situated B q. Here they found Oliver
Markell sitting in silent state awaiting ths
call to work. The governor pulled up a
sight of him.
"well, Markell, so there was nothing the
matter with the lock of your door?"
Markell simply inclined his head.
81 suppose you know nothing about the
locks of the other doors?"
| Aeain the inclination of the head. The
man seemed to be habitually chary o.
speech.
| "What's the matter with you? Are you
dumb? Can't you speak when you're
| spoken TOP" i
his hands with a gesture which might mean
| ANYTHING or nothing. The governor passed
on: The round finished, he held consulta.
ton with the chief warder.
"Have you any suspicions?"
IT'S queer" Mr.. Murray stroked hil
bristly chin.
"It's very queer that that man Mankell'l
should be the only cell in the prison lefl
untampered with"
Every queer, indeed"
"What are we to do? We can't leave the
mel locked up all day. It's breakfast time
already. suppose the cooks haven't gone
| down to the cook house?"
They're locked up with the rest. Barnes
has been up to know what he's to do"
Barnes was the prison cook. The cooks
referred to were six good-behavlor men who
were toled off to assist him in his duties.
eff the food were cooked, Idon't see how
we should give it to the men,"
"That's the question" Mr.. Murray pom
dered. "We might pass it through the
gas-holes."
"we should have to break the glass to do
it. You wouldn't find IL easy. It's plate
glass, an inch in thickness, and built into
the solid WALL"
There was o pause for consideration.
"Well, this is pretty start. I've never
come across anything like it in all my DAYS
before"
Mr.. Paley passed his hand through his
hair. He had never come across anything
like it either.
'I shall have to telegraph to the commits
sioners. I can't do anything without their
sanction"
The following telegram was sent:
"Cannot get prisoners out of night cells.
Something the matter with locks. Cannot
give them any food. The matter is very
urgent. What shall do?"
The following answer was received:
Inspector coming down"
The inspector came down-Major Will
lam Hardinge, tall, portly gentleman,
with very decided'manner. When he saw
the Governor he came to the point at once.
"what's all this STUFF"
"We can't get the prisoners out Of the
night cells"
"Why?"
'There's something the matter with the
locks
"Have you given them any food?"
1--WE have not been able 10"
"When were they locked up?"
Yesterday evening at o'clock"
''This is very extraordinary state of
things"
"It is, or I shouldn't have asked for in
structions."
''Its now 8 o'clock in the afternoon.
They've been without food for q hours.
You've no right to keep them without iood
all that time"
"We are helpless The construction of
the night cells does not permit of our in
Producing food into the interior when the
doors are closed"
"Have they been Quiet?"
,va b~ssA- -iuist 80 -.ndss tiro -;-
cumstances was to be expected"
As they were crossing toward the north
division the governor spoke again:
eWe've been able to get one man out"
"One!-out of the lot! How did you get
him?"
oddly enough, the lock of his cell was
the only one in the prison that had not been
tampered with"
"Hunl should like to see that man."
''His names Markell. He only came in
Yesterday. He's been pretending to magic
powers-telling fortunes, and that kind of
thing"
"OnIy came in yesterday? He's begun
early. Perhaps we shall have to tell him
what his fortunes likely to be-
When they reached the wards the keys
were handed to the inspector, who in his
turn tried his hand. A couple of lock-
smiths had been fetched up from the town.
When the major had tried two or three of
the locks it was enough for him. He turned
to the makers of locks.
"What's the matter with these locks?"
"Well, that's exactly what we can't make
out The KEYS 60 in all right, but they
won't turn. Seems as though somebody had
been having lark with them"
Cant you pick them?"
They're not easy locks to pick, but well
have a try.''
"Have a tryp
They had a try, but they tried in vain.
As it happened, the cell, on which thew
Il
gentleman who had had a considerable ex-
perience in picking glocks-experience which
had ended in placing him ON the other side
that door. He derided the locksmiths
through the door.
"Well, you are couple of keen onesl
What, can't pick the lock Why, there amt
lock in England couldn't pick with
bent 'airpin. 1 only wish you was this side,
starving like 1 am, and / was where YOU
are, it wouldn't be lock that would
keep me from giving you food"
This was not the sort of language Major
Hardinge was accustomed to hear from the
average prisoner, but the Major probably
felt that on this occasion the candid pro-
fcient in the art OF picking locks had
certain excuse. He addressed the bsffled
workmen:
eff you can't pick the lock, what can
you do7 The question is, what is the short
est way of getting inside that cell?"
"Get watch saw" cried the gentleman
on the other side of the door.
Sand when you've got your watch ssw?"
inquired the Major.
"Saw the whole lock right clean away.
Lor' bless me! I only wish was where
you are. I'D show you thing or two. It's
as easy as winking. Here's all us chaps
9 starving, all for want of a little hexperi.