Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-10

Prisoners who Are Treated so Well That
They Will Not Escape.

Rhode Island is proud OF Mrs. EVELYN q.
Smith, the keeper Of the county jail of historic
old Warwick, which tradition saws was a Gala
boose when the king ruled over the Connecticut
plantations. The records of the institution
show that Earl Place the jailer way back sixty
wears ago. and that John L. Place, the grand
father of Mrs. Smith. followed HIM keeper.
In the order Of succession came John =. Place.
her father, and since she was three Years of age
she has made her home in the gloomy old build
ing. On the death of her father her husband
was appointed and served eleven wears saws the
Pittsburg dispatch.
Mrs. smith was appointed TO the position
thirteen years ago on the demise OF her hus-
band, and she has proved a very successful
jailer, managing the institution without mascu-
line aid She Il a woman OF great courage. and
upon many occasions has shown her pluck aud
strength. much TO the discomfort of the des-
perate and restless spirits under her super
vision. There were at different times last wear
go prisoners under her care But four prison
birds have flown during the time Mrs smith
has been the keeper. and since the last break
she has guarded against repetition BY having
the jail made more secure. remedying defects
dle TO its being an old building
1t was several years ago that the first break
was made. A Swede. placed under arrest for a
high crime. Was in danger of being lynched
The whole swedish colony in Warwick had been
aroused, and they had sided in their openly
townspeople had risen IN arms prepared to
take the Law into their own hands. Early that
evening swede, who turned out to be a con-
federate OF the prisoner. had been permitted to
visit him in his cell. He supplied the prisoner
with a false KEY to the old-fn-hioue3 locl. lie
had made his way to the top Of a tier Of cells
whence he had burned a hoe in the roof Of the
building large enough 10 crawl through and had
lowered himself by rope made out of strips VI
clothing TO the ground below.
In the next break three OF the most desper-
ate prisoners got away. They made big hole
In the wall by taking out brick and stone. Only
one Was recaptured. and another wrote "a letter
to Mrs. Smith in which he expressed his re-
grets at having taken hasty departure
from congenial boarding place and trusted
she would ever hold her mice position"
The prisoners used TO say they were treated
SO well that they did not care TO escape. One
prisoner made remark Of this tenor TO Mrs.
smith and she told him that she had presented
the matter TO the state au thorities.
The prisoner thereupon asked for a pen, ink
and paper. and his communication 10 Gov. Van
Zandt is one OF the treasures in the archives Of
the secretary of state. IL reads: Unless YOU
send some one down here pretty quick aud
patch up this place FOR Mrs. smith she wants
il III leave"
Mrs smith has a solitary cell in which she
places the obstinate ones. and she is deaf 10
their appeals until che COW lnced that
bread and water diet has e.ectually disciplined
them. Now and then she las trouble ln lock-
ing up prisoner. but she says she can handle
her charges well ne any man, and has always
declined the proffered assistance " the good"