Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-07-23
mEmENroEs OF CONvICTs.

At the County Jail-Eforts to Leave
Reminders OF Themselves Kenko
Stolidly Awaits Trial-The Bound
over Tier.
Many of the cells in the county jail have
interesting associations connected with |
them. either from the prisoners that form |
erly occupied them OF on account of some
curious piece of hsndiwork that has been
left behind. It is curious, also, to note
how tho desire to be remembered pervades
even the gloomy corridors of prison, and
overcomes any shame that might be felt
over incarceration there. It seems to have
been the ambition of many of them to
labor zealously for months over single
knick -knack in order to make an attracting
| memorial of the maker. In almost every
case the name or the initial of the construc-
tor is attached to it.
| On the first floor at the head of the frst
tier is the room occupied by the hall man,
who has charge of seeing that the cells are
put in order, and reports to the officers
any disturbance. This is occupied now
by Dolan, who is serving years time for
completely in trunk robbery at the Union
l
Dolan's house in his absence, and on his
return he lacked stamina enough to resist
the temptation of keeping them. The 9th
ers implicated in the matter, escaped and
as justice had to be satisfied some way, Dolan
got a years sentence. He is faithful and
Trustworthy AN efficient assistant there. His
cell is a double one. "Chip" Smith, who
killed the chief of police of Derby, and
was the latest man hung at the Jail, occu-
| ,ia1 al Ia hos 1aft hahind
him, with his initials upon it, beautiful
piece of penmanship. 1t is cross with
religious symbols on either side of it and
the words "Glory to God on high" in
scribed in large letters on the CROSS.
A few cells lower down is the one
occupied by John Vandyke, colored,
who left about month ago after serving a
term OF twelve years on various charges OF
misusing little girls. He lett behind him
a memorial of himself in the form of q
careful representation in perforated card
board of an altar with the sides of g
church in relief. The whole thing is about
the side of a 10 mo- book two inches thick
The work has been done with considerable
{ hours of the long twelve years. sentence.
The fret tier as you enter the Jail II
known as the bound-over tier. In here
men are kept who are awaiting court t.
convene. These are exempt from work II
the shop across the way. In one of thes'
yesterday stolidly washing his feet sa
Klenko, who murderously assaulted anoth
q or Hungarian in Derby. He sits Their
silent as the sphinx, seemingly occupied
with the profoundest speculations on life
: death and immortality.
o Sickness at the Jail is Comparatively
:. rare. Only one case required the atten
n ton of the physician during the past year
Q Indeed, glance at the department presid
ed over by Mrs. OKeefe would be sufi
cient explanation of this. Everything
the acme of cleanliness, neatness and OF
e der. The floors are secured as white a
though they had been painted. The pan
= and the cooking utensils that are in us
, every day were all secured and shinin
so punctiliously as to warm the heart Q
l. the most scrupulous housewife.
10 Not much amusement can be got i
7, those dreary cells, but occasionally Jaile
10 O'Keefe arranges for little pleasure fc
< his wards. The other night Germa
gutter band who came by were called i
and played several tunes for the men j
| the cells. The doors leading to the women
10 quarters were likewise thrown open an
1T all were given a chance to enjoy this occ,
m sionsl pleasant glimpse from the shut-or
= world.
IL New floors are soon to be put in tt
kitchen and ration rooms. They are yer
g old and sadly need repair, as they are We,
in difficult to keep clean.