St. Paul daily globe., 1893-02-18

herty. looking pale and peaked, smiling
in chilling sort Of way as she ex-
changed word with one of the other
women.
Pegging away at sewing machine
was Mrs. Smith, the negress, fat and
notwithstanding, but in resentful
frame of mind. chatting much under her
punishment. She broke into tears,
more of anger than sorrow seemingly,
when talked to. 1t is understood she
has not been at all tractable prisoner
SO far.
Poor Ella Colby, punished as most
people think beyond her deserts, suffer
ing on account of chance association
with viciouSneSS, was i'll and lying down
on her bed. She is Subdued and be
hayes well, but there is Il pltiful plead
Ing in her eye as she talks to queS-
toner.
In the library was Jim Younger. who
is the prisoners mail carrier. He talks
pleasantly and without embarrassment.
but only in answer TO questions. Some
visible marks of old injuries received in
the days OF his wild riding raids were
viewed with interest by many callers
yesterday. Cole Younger is sort of
clerk in the store room, and while
pleasant and easily Sociable is not cal
culated to make so good all impression
as his younger brother. Both are above
medium height, and in the days when
hardened by exposure and made alert
by constant danger. must have been
powerful men. Prison life has worn
away anything like an air Of bravado.
Davis and Snapp.
Dick O'Connor's one-time confidential
l., all pIyi iIfr ~ IL
WOrden's Office. Though clean-Shayen
and close.cropped. ne greets one Jaunt-
ily and without seeming to feel much
depressed by his situation.
In the deputy Warden'S office the clerk
is Cope j. Snapp. Yesterday there were
40 prisoners in the solitary, and Mir.
Lemon used Snapp to illustrate the
method OF punishment. a refractory
prisoner is made to put Oh pair of felt
solCd slippers and is then locked in the
cell, which has an ordinary grated door.
His hands are then drawn between the
bars and handcutfed outside. In that
position, unable to sit down or do augilt
but shift from leg 10 leg. he must stand
during the hours the other men are at
work. The dungeon cells have given
way to this neW-stylp, Wearying solitary
at Saltwater. Snapp. while eXemplify
flying the mode, did not seem to have
any unpleasant recollectiOnS connected
Herewith. He is an exemplary prls-
uuer, holding as pleasant position as
possible under the circumstances, but is
said to feel keenly his present condition.
Deprived Of liberty, losing his wife and
not able TO even get a glimpse Of his
children, there is little wonder that re-
morse and shame should wiring his
heart.
Two Smart Wen
At the editors desk in the Ofnce Of the
Prison Mirror sits a man named Belts,
said to be graduate of Harvard. He
moved in good society. socially and re
liyiously, in Minneapolis before going
to saltwater. Needing more money than
ne had, forgery was reSOrted to: the law
took the forger in hand, and Saltwater
will hold him probably for three years
yet to come. Belts is we'll read, an easy,
attractive talker, and Keeps we'll posted
on outside events by means of his 400
exchanges.
In one of the workshops the door is
tended by former Minneapolis de-
tective named Bassett. His life is a
romance, almost. Once guard at Still
water. he was atterward prisoner in
the same place: then a keeper at Roch
ester insane asylum; once private sec
retary of Mayor Ames, of Minneapolis;
then private detective with a crooked
reputation; and again d prisoner where
he had guarded prisoners. BaSSett is
clipper as a lark, well-behaveC and
greetS old acquaintances with a joke on
the absence or his old timed carefully
curled mouStache.
70
Ramsey, whose brother is a public
years he has already served, and is now
considering the adviSability of trying
for a pardon.
Up stairs in the same building IS a
quiet, sharp-loolling man, one of the
cieVereSt cUuntcrfeiterS in America. He
is maryelously handy with tools, and
behind him ticks clock of his own
make. Every wheel and piece of mech
anism in it is OF wood except big iron
weight. 1t will run eight days when
wound, and the wooden hands always
point to the correct time. The clock is
nothing less than wonder i'll its way.
Old Torl O'Connor.
A man whose case may become famous
in the annals OF law is old Thomas
"
for murder on life sentence almost
score OF years ago, he behaved himself
in prison as year after year went by.
and when he had served some seventeen
years was paroled on condition that he
leave the state Instead OF doing so he
went back to LIE Sueur county, fingered
there, and was arrested and taken back
TO Saltwater. His case has gone to the
supreme court on the ground that, once
released, he could not be rearreSted
and iucarcerated. O'Connor is now an
Old, decrepit man, confined mostly to the
pleasant prison hospital, and Is i'll the
first grade. He makes the finest kind
OF leather canes in leisure time, aud has
on hand now almost 100. Numerous
visitors yesterday purchased samples of
his work, and 1t is wonderfully perfect.
he old man is always good-natured,
and Is fervently hoping his plea for
liberty will be Judged well founded.
Watched the TVvine Plant.
The main feature of interest to the
Legislators was the twine- making plant.
Every detail was closely examined,
from the raw fiber to the finished balls
of twine; and so far as the whirling,
Intricate machinery could be understood
it was pronounced maryelOuSly success
full i'll doing its appointed work. The
different parts of the plant were sur
rounded by deeply interested squads of
Spe ctators during the whole time of the
visit. There may be such thing as
doubling the twine- making plant at The
prison for the benefit of the farmers of
the state. Mr.. Langum's bill to abolish
all contract labor i'll the prison is not
yet disposed Of by the house.
Throughout every department of the
prison the evidence of thorough order
and complete system is apparent. Dirt
has no chance to accumulate, the least
disorder is not tolerated in personal OF
domestic economy, men know their duty
and do it. Compared with other prisons
Saltwater is not large; nor is it in any
great degree different from others; but
that it is we'll managed, so far as OBJ
servation can detect, must be conceded
10y all who went over it yesterday.
Every convict spoken to had his own
story to tell, of course, but nothing was
learned which would lead to suspicion
of questionable methods in manage
ment. Visitors, male and female, Off
cial and lay. rOamed at will, questioned
aS thew WOuld in reasonable hOundS