The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1891-12-21
AN INGENIOUS CONVICT.
His Remarkable Work Performed
While in Prison.
He Seeks Diversion In Uptried Fields
of Employment and Makes Him
Self Useful to His
Keepers.

In little cell on the second tier of
one OF the dor1litories in the Maryland
penitentiary, Tobias f. Hudson has
passed nearly nine years of his life. Cut
off from intercourse with his fellow
men, nothing meets his view as he
gazes from his grated window but the
brick walls of dormitory and workshop.
On June 26, 1888, Hudson was convict
ed in Fagerstown of stealing two
horses from George Stonebraker, and
was sentenced to thirteen years i'm
prisonment. He says he was not guilty
Of the charge, but that fate and the tes-
timony were against him, and he is only
waiting for his release to collect evil
Gence to clear his name.
When first convicted, says the Balti-
more Sun, he was dazed, and continu-
ally brooded over his condition, but he
gradually realized that occupation was
the best means of diverting his
thoughts Before he was sent to the
penitentiary he met with an accident
which rendered his left arm almost use
less, but with his right hand, assisted
as far as possible by the crippled mem
Der, he accomplished more than many
bodied men having their liberty
ever accomplished BY working over
time he earned little sums of money
with which he bought material for oc-
cupation when his tasks were finished.
He brought into use his knowledge of
clock-making, and soon his little cell
beran to show the result of his labor
rom the marble works in the prison
ward he procured bits of various colored
u arbles which he fashioned into minia-
ture monuments, which he slxillfully
carved and polished, and into which
he set little clocks. From smaller
pieces of marble, onyx, bits of stalag-
mite and lava, he made crosses, watch
chain pendants, etc, neatly set in
frames of gold plate.
He found he could not work all the
time, and he commenced to purchase
books, which he eagerly read. He was
careful in his selections, and one corner |
of his cell is filed with nearly two hun
bred volumes, including histories of the
principal nations and books OF refer |
ence
A short time ago, when electric light |
wires were beng placed in the prison,
he became Interested in electricity and |
purchased a few standard works upon |
that subject The result was the con-
struction of half a dozen different cleo
trio appliances, including burglar
alarm which he has just completed for
Warden Weyler's bedroom. He also
made curious-loolsing clock, which
adorns the walls of his cell. The dial
is a semicircle of white marble, with !
twelve at each corner, and the other
hours marked along the arc. 1t has
one hour-hand, and two minute-hands
set opposite each other, SO that both are
seen only at noon and at midnight. The
are marked on separate cir
cular dial by hand that moves from
right to left. By an arrangement of the
a spring that would run an
clock twenty-four hours will
run his clock fifty-siX hours.
The man is constantly seeking diver
sion in new and untried fields of work,
md when prisoner escaped from cell
in the prison yard by hammcring on the
paddock which fastened his cell door
until the bolts dropped back and the
ocl6 opened, Hudson determined to in
vent paddock that would preclude
future escapes in like manner The re-
suit was the production of lock which
seems to be all that he claims for it, be-
ng SO arranged that hammcring ON it
lrives the bolts deeper into their fast
ming. He exhibited model of his lock
% Warden Weyler, who was so much
pleased that he showed it to the board
If visitors, and they at once adopted it
or use in the prison. Castings for the
oclzs were made in the prison foundry,
/ lathe was purchased and set up in
Iudson's cell, and he was relieved of
Ill other tasks SO that his entire time
ould be occupied in the manufacture of
ocks. In short time they will be
lsed in all the dorrnitories Of the pris-
IN. The locks are neatly finished With
,rass rivets and key-holes, and to all
appearance might have come out of
ONE factory.
Hudson has always been an exem-
'lary prisoner, and is entitled to TWEEN
y-siX months Communication of time.
Te will therefore be released Anri1 =