Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-01-01
MISSOURI STATE NEWS.
Christmas in the Penitentfary.


The convicts in the Missouri peniten-
tiary enjoyed Christmas Day as only
holiday is enjoyed within the cold,
frowning, forbidding walls of a penal
institution. There is zest and energy
about the appreciation shown by the
unfortunate and unhappy criminals that
removes from the minds of the specta-
tors any doubt that may be entertained
about its being merry Christmas for
them. They are in for making the most
of the holiday and the enthusiasm never
wanes. A special to st. Louis paper
gives the following account of how the
day was passed:
The day was celebrated as usual at the
prison, where the striped inmates were given
the liberty of the yard and buildings from
a. M until D. M, with an extra good break
fast and dinner thrown in, besides the prNi-
lege of purchasing such knick -knacks az
their appettes and pockets may dictate or
allow. The scene was the same as on other
holidays, except that the snow and coid
kept most of the convicts INSIDE
the comfortable corridors of the cen
buildings. There were the same oiu
games of chance, the same tendency toward
athletics, which found vent in number OF
good boxing matches. The day passed zoo
quickly for the conSicts, but they enjoyed 10
the utmost the six hours of unusual nDerty
accorded them, and were locked up without
q single case of characterization, Tor each
man is his good behavior on Christmas
and July 4.
The two pardons which, iii accordance with
an old established custom, are granted TO
long service men on each holiday, fall this
time to john Mcclure and William W.
Taylor. The former has been in the PRISON
since December, 1879, under sentence OF fifty
years for murder. He killed a man named
Brown in jefferson City in a drunken spree
"nl
1877, under sentence of twenty years for muir
der in the second degree. He killed man
in Hickory County, who boosted that he mad
wronged TaSlorS daughter. The case was
tried in Webster County ON change of
venue, and the Governor ia granting the
pardon, made Taylor promise that he would
not return to Hickory County. He is seven
ty-one years old, and is drawing a pension
from the Government for services in the
army during the Mexican War. He served
thirteen years, three months and seven days.
Governor Francis spent a good portion of
! the forenoon at the prison, and at eleven
O'Clock called the two men into the round
house, Snd after some conversation with
/ them handed them the pardons and gave
| them some advice, to which Warden Nor
rson added kind word to each, and they
| were dressed out. The scene at the gate
| was affecting. Dozens of the cOnvicts came
| oIrt to shake hands with"Unc1e" Johnny and
| oSd man Taylor, both of whom We're half
| laughing and half crying at the prospect of
| immediate freedom from their long cOnfine-
| mont They have both been model prison
! ers and We're among the oldest in point OF
! prison life.
The breakfast of the convicts consisted of
! beef hash, coffee and bread. The menu for
| dinner roast payk, picked pigs feet,
! sweet potatoes cranberry sauce, siaw and
! ginger cakes. The total cost of the break
| fast and dinner was S5S6.41.
The total number of prisoners in conffne-
! r1ent Christmas, male and female, y as ,dSi,
making the cost per capitr to the State.5is3
! cents.