The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-08
DIED A MISERABLE DEATH
Life of Frank Burns, q Young and Am
bilious Desperate. Ebbs Away.
Bald he Did Not Want Q Pardon - Trying
Scene When he Rebelled Against the
wardsn-Incident Of Prison Life.

Hello. partner. how are you getting
slongf"
The CHEEKY words were addressed to a
patientin the hospital of the Indiana Prison
South at Jacksonville. The speaker was
William b. Roberts. the Governors private
secretary. who, on o recent visit to the
penitentiary. made his customary round
Alrough the prison. Mr.. Roberts has a
suave. sympathetic way about him. and
the patient gave him an interested look.
The latter recognized his visitor and re-
piled IN a week and husky voice that told
Of the ravsges Of consumption:
'Oh. very well. but 1 don't need q par
DON"
perhaps you may" said Mr.. Roberts.
whats your namef"
"Burns"
Frank Burnsf"
"Yes."
The answer completed the recognition in
the Colonels MIND of what was formerly
the robust. vigorous form of q desperate
and determined criminal This man
Burns" said Mr.. Roberts. in speaking Of
the incidentto aJournal reporter. was sent
90 prison for murder. receiving a sentence
of twenty-one years. He loved the daring
and the desperate, and. in prison or out,
courted the distinction of being q bad man,
IN the slang sense Of the word. lon must
remember that there are social de-
grees In prison as we'll = as In the
world. and certain convIcts love to
impress the rest with q conviction that
they are very much more wicked than any,
body else Burns was one of this sort. At
liberty he cared nothing for the rights OF
Others or for human life. and when sent to
prison his character was not CHANGED One
day he provoked q light in the shop. just
before the dinner hour. with a fellow-cOn-
~'cr. The men were separated before dam
ould be done. and nothing was SAID 10
: Just at that time. When all the
,'ners had been seated at the tables IN
sdining-rOom, Warden Patten. who Is q
a out:
frank Burns, stand up
.urns did not move. and instantly every
l.isoDer was on the alert Tor trouble.
Burns's face bore O reading of logged and
J~nsolent defiance. and the brute in him,
which entirely filled his being. was aroused
20 resistance. The warden again said:
burns. stand up.'
The same silent refusal of Inaction was
the result. Ii was q critical test of authori-
". but Patten was equal TO the emergency.
lie walked toward Burns's seat. and, as
the latter saw him coming. he rose aud
squared himself to fight. The prisoners
were consumed with excitement. and all
eyes were on the two men. When Patten
was near enough he struck Burns a blow
and seized him BIZ the throat and arms.
Burns struggled and fought. The room
was in an uproar IN an instant. The forty
or fifty of the convicts of Burns's stripe
rose from their seats. The guards, who
were stationed on high chairs about the
room and were armed with guns. were
calling:
"'Sit down. Sit DOWN.
Their command meant danger unless
ooeyed, and the conyicts sat down. Pat
a. - -s~-o
toward the door. and again there were a
Der rose from their seats as IL to take
a hand in the struggle. Again they were
,~rred to sit dow by the guards with
J sod guns. Still again, these same men
)M9ulsively arose, and one convict. a Jew,
; rled a cOffee-cup at the warden. Ii
: rock him on the shoulder. glanced OF
hrd did no damage. by the time he had
Burns ont OF the room the guards had the
cOnvicts all seated and measurably quiet.
Burns was safely locked III the dungeon,
nI,d the warden returned to the dining
rooiI and the meal was finished. The pris-
0ners then arose To- march out In the prison,
lock-step. Then Mr.. Patton said:
"SonIe one hit me with q cup-let bin
step out of the linei
No one budged; a painful silence was in
the room. Now III such q case. TO shield
a convict reacts on the shielder. and there il
% sentiments among the prisoners that forces
men TO acknowledge gnilt of misdemeanOrs
which involve the good time of others.
CnOer THIS uuTess. the Jew nnally stepped
out OF the line. but he was the most wIlted
and br-Oken-spIrited fellow imaginable.
The warden's mastery of the worst of them
all had restored authority and filled the
jew with fear. His conduct was cOmlcal.
Zach, Nh. Patten.' he said, his Hat hands
shaking on timber and uplIfted wrists
my dear Warden Patten. i deed not go to
do eet: Pm so VERY sorry. Mein Gottl don't
punish me. Pm so sorry; Pm so sorry
His point gained, the warden ordered the
Jew To resume his place in the line, and
the prisoners were marched ont of the
dlning-roOm. The Jew received q very
light punishment. But Burns will not
again cause such q trying scene. He died
on Wednesday last of consumption.
He came TO Indiana from Chicago
His family has a bad record. aud one has
served tImo In Joliet. On his release. a
few weeks since. he called at jefferson Vile
10 see his brother for the last time. Frank
was thirty years OF aye. and had spent hil
manhood's years in prison.