The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-23
NAPOLEON III IN SING SING
PRISON.
Locked Up in Dark Cell by Warden
Hiram p. Rowel.
From the New York Times.


Sing Sing, N. Y, Jan. 13.-It is gener-
ally known to the world at large that
Emperor Napoleon III, of France, was
once behind the bars in Sing Sing prison
In the spring of 1887 Prince Louis Napo-
leon, afterward Napoleon III, Emperor of
France, made visit to Washington Irv-
ing. at Sunnyside, a little north of Irving
ton on -the-Hudson, accompanied by a
young French count, and escorted by Mr..
Anthony Constant, of Hastings.
Prince Napoleon expressed a desire to
visit the prison at Sing Sing, and Mr.
Constant drove him there with several
others in carriages, and put up at the
Union hotel, road house on the old AL
bany post road.
The prince greatly enjoyed the ride Of
dozen miles along the American Rhine.
Upon arriving at the prison, the party
Hiram p. Rowel, who, after TAX
ing them into his apartments, ex-
planned the means that had been at
tended with the most successful and ben
ehcial results in the government of the
prison.
The warden told the prince, who had
been an interested listener, that he had a
convict in the prison, Frenchman, who
was an old soldier, claiming TO have
several battles with Napoleon, the first
emperor. The prince naturally asked to
see the man. The warden then explained
that the prisoner was in a dark cell
for misconduct; that 1t was contrary
TO prison rules to take him out, but as
the guests were going to visit the cells he
would open the door of the Frenchman's
cell.
Then all followed the warden down the
stairs and across the key room and the
narrow passages to the galleries where
the cells were and are TO this day. He
paused at the second cell on the right
hand tier of the main galleries and UNI
locked and opened the door. Louis
Napoleon stepped inside. The warden,
with a merry twinkle in his eye, turned
the key ard locked him in. II was too
good an opportunity to be lost. The gen
tlemen were amused and trimming over
with fun, when, after a momentary de-
tention, the door was opened and the noble
trenchman Joined them once more.
They all enjoyed the joke except the
subject of it. His sallow countenance
Redeemed perceptibly for time and then
he joined in the laugh raised at his ex-
pense
Agent and Warden Rowel lived many
years aud filed many offices of public
trust in Westminster county, among them
being that of county clerk, but he never
forgot this little episode at the prison.
Another illustrious prisoner once in
Sing Sing prison was Col. Utassy, who
was tried by a court martial and sen
fenced in the summer of 1868 to one years
| imprisonment and by subsequent order
| of the Secretary of the War sent TO Sing
Sing prison. He had been convicted oil
! indorsing an official paper on the repre-
sentatlon of subordinate officer that the
account was correct For that act he
was dismissed the service his back pay
was withheld, and he was sentenced 10
Imprisonment by the Secretary of
War. In addition TO this, his personal
property was forcibly seized by govern
ment detectives. This affair created con-
siderable stir at the time in the news
papers.
Another government prisoner was Eu-
gene DAILY, who was pardoned out of Sing
Sing prison on April 10, 1854, by President
Lincoln. Daily was a native of Richmond,
Va. On the breaking out of the rebellion
he came to the conclusion that he could
not fight against the "old flag" So not
withstanding the representations of father
and mother, brothers and sisters, he left
home and went to Washington, and there
enlisted in the service Of his country.
Disliking the inactivity that prevailed in
the Army ofithe Potomac during the win
ter OF lSbl-2, he w1lhIothers, volunteered
for year in the gunboat squadron on the
Mississippi, under the gallant Mcleod
Murphy.
When their term of service expired
they desired TO return east, but for some
reason they were not allowed to do so.
They thereupon refused TO do duty, and
DAILY, on July 8, 1864, was received at
Sing Sing prison under a sentence Of four
years. After the fall of Vicksburg the
others were released from durance and
remanded to their old command. J. Nc
Leod Murphy, Days former commander,
made trip to Washington and made a
personal appeal to the President iu his
behalf. DAILY, with patriotism still at
fighting heat, left the prison with the in
tention of again entering the service and
of giving good account Of himself.
Frederick DAILY, belonging to the ma
rine corps, was pardoned at the same
time.