New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-01
CALLAN HOME AGAIN.
WARMLY WELCOMED BACK TO LOWELL.
HIS STORY OF HARDSIIPS ENDURED BY THE
ALLEGED DYNAMTEES IN ENGLISH
PRISON--EXPERIENCEs At CHAT
HAM AND PORTLAND.

ALLEGED DYNAMTEES IN ENGLISH
PEIsoNS-EXPERIEyCEs AT CHAT
HAM AND PORTLAND
Lowell, Mass. Jan. 3l.-Thomas Callan OF Lowell
who was sentenced In London five years ago 10
fifteen years confinement as an alleged dvnamter
reached here this morning As previously announced.
be was released on tcketofleave. The release was
made without any previous notice. and without any
reason being given TO him. Caln IS not much bro.
ken in health. but looks twenty years older than
when sentenced. He has been confined in Chatham
and Portland prisons. lie says that the prison
methods dcprving the alleged dynamitcrs Of
their reason. They are not allowed TO speak, and
solitary confinement IS imposed II the even
| suspected OF whispering. Caan saws that DR..
Gallagher. OF Brooklyn, who fellow prisoner. IS
insane, but the officials say he is shamming. Gala
CHER, according TO Caan. IS I'm the infrmary most
OF the time, and cannot last long. one Of the other
dyndmlters Calan says, Las become an idiot Some
times lie breaks out in wild laughter. and for this
Is punished by solitary confinement In n dark cold
cell In chains for from two TO five days.
Caan is ffy-fwo years Of age. unmarried. and is
veteran OF the war. There was a large crowd at
the depot TO meet him.
Callan told the story OF his trial. his conviction
and Imprisonment. well he able under the
excitement and close questioning from many friends
around him. On the floor beside him was an old
yellow valse looking though 1t had consider
able service. That, Callcn said, was the valsc IN
which the paper coverings Of dynamite we're found.
on the evidence OF which he convicted. No
dynamite had been in the house where he lived. but
there in the yard back OF it. lie stoutly
affirmed his innocence OF the charges against him,
and said that he did not receive n fair trial. Under
the circumstances he expected 10 receive twenty
year sentence instead OF fifteen. Calan first donncd
his prison garb while waiting for trial. and after he
received his sentence TO Norwood scrubs
London fro y-b nft cr q few DAYS he sent
to Chatham Prison lie says that In the long sen
tence he never allowed his courage to grow less,
and was always hopeful.
"You know I had nobody belonging TO mo whom
knew suffering my account" he remarked
"and that was great relief 10 me.
Caan In Chatham Prison four years and three
months The first nine months. he said, was the
probation period during which he was in almost
solitary confinement and kept at work at hard
sewing mail bags and such work. During ms
time Callan was punished for trying 10 carry on cor
respondence. This kept him back month In getting
into his "cass" on the public works. The punish
ment was eight days solitary confinement. the first
day two meals day OF eight ounces OF bread and
a quart OF water The next five days he received a
pint Of wafer eight ounces Of bread ana few p"i
The regular food Of The prisons varied greatly After
the nine months probationary period ana me nm
Ian was put into the Public Work Department. going
into the shoe shop. The prisoners had one h"nr
exercise, from 10 TO IL oclOck
Last NAV all the prisoners nj Chatham v"r" trans
errcd 10 Portland Prison, Callan with the rSt lni
ham Prison being CLOSED While III Portland PRISON
Callan was taken III with Influenza and his condition
was at time serious. influenza was general
among the prisoners. At This time h" wrote Ia
friends I'm Lowell. Callan says that his r"lfs" was
as unexpected his arrest. lie did not kno"
whether the Liberals had been working fT him or
not. He was entirely I'm the dark rs 10 what was
going Whether there was any truth In III" H.
ports cablcd from London regarding his r"ltsii" hr
did not know. ON Friday January 20 b" was t'td
by the prison officials that lie would nave 10 ~
10 WOrmwood Scrubs London and he was taken there
saturday afternoon. when he received sui "i cl"l>,
his "a vase, six pounds In money and Ticket
10 Ncw-Nork. The Inspector of Portland Prison
accompanied him all the tmc and saw him on b~il
the steamer. ~ .,.,..,
ing that there was no verbal statements to that -nct
made 10 him. II Is unconditional II he never returns
again to England. II he should return again 10 Eng
at the pleasure Of the Queen be- compelled 10 serve
ont the remainder OF the sentence. Tn" pardon. when
Is signed by H. H. ASIith. the English Home S"cre
tary and the chairman Of TIE Prison Board, was Issued
January 10 1888 and directs that Calnn he released
thirty days after date.
CallanS personal appearance VIII be better when
his close crop Of hair and his musiachc have hId
chance to grow Both hair aud beard are clear while
and his general appearance I, that of pr"mdturrv
AGED man. lie j. bright a ever I'm his CONVEX
sation and recalled 10 the memories 0i mos WHO
greeted him many pleasant incidents of their hV-s III
.,,s.n