Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-11-09
AN INGENIOUS CONVICT.
His Remarkable Work Performed
- While In Prison -
He He~as Diver,leS In Untried E'rldi
- Employment and Makes HIN,
fbolR Useful 70 HiS .fN.


penitentiary. Tobias f. Hudson has
passed nearly nine years OF his life, Cut
Off from intercourse with his fellow
men, nothing meets his view rs he,
gazes from his grated window but thci
brick walls of dormitory and workshop.
On June 20, 1883, Hudson was convict
ed in HaSerstown 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 evi.
dence to clear his name. q, ISL. H.r
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 -meansi Of diverting his
thoughts. Before he was sent to the
rpenitentiary 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
able-bodied men having their liberty
ever accomplished. ny working over
time he earned little suihs OF money
with which he bought material for oc-
cupation when his tasks were finished.
He brought into use his knowledge Of
clock,mnlSin9, and soon his little cell
began to show the result OF his labor.
From the marble works in the prison
yard he procured bits of various colored
marbles which he fashioned into minia-
ture monuments, which, he skillfully
nj tnH1 I, III,
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.
lie found he could not work nil 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
drcd volumes. including histories of the
principal nations and hooks of refer
ence. ~ = -,'~..,{ t''.'
A short time ago, when electric light
wires were beng placed in the prison,
he became interested in electricity and
purchased few standard works upon
that subject. The result was the con-
struction of half dozen different cleo
trio Appliances, including burglar
alarm which he has Just completed for
Warden Weyler's bedroom. He also
made curious-looking clock, which
adorns the walls Of his cell. The dial
twelve ut each corner. and the other
hours marked along the arc. 1t has
one hour-hHnd, and two minute-hands
| set opposite each other, SO that both are
seen only at noon and at midnight. The
seconds are marked on n separate cir
cuiar dial py nand that moves from
| right to left. BY an Arrangement OF the
mechanism spring that would run IN
ordinary clock twcnty-four hours will
run his clock fiftS-six hours. 90" q
| The man is constantly seeking diver
sion in new and untried fields of work,
and when a prisoner escaped from q eel
in the prison yard by hammcring on the
paddock which fastened his cell door
until the bolts dropped back and the
lock opened, Hudson determined to in
vent q 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
ing so arranged that hammering on j
drives the bolts deeper into their fast
eDing. He exhibited q model of his loci
to Warden Wcyler, who was SO mucl
pleased that he showed it to the boar,
Of visitors, and they at once adopted
for use in the prison. Castings for tn
locks were made in the prison foundry
lathe was purchased and set up j,
Hudson's cell, and he was relieved O
all other tasks so that his entire tim
could be occupied in the manufacture @
locks. In short time they will b
used in all the dorhitorits' of the pri,
, on. The locks arc neatly finished wit
, brass rivets and kcy-holcs, and to n
appearance might have come out {
some factory. r..' -t. -
Hudson has always been an oxen
. plnry prisoner, and is entitled to twci
ty-siX months communication Of time