The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-07
THE COFFIN BROTHERS
A NIGHT IN PRISON WORKS A
CHANGE IN HEIR APPEARANCE.
They Were Reused at $50 and Took
breakfast with Other Prisoners
Consoled by Rev. Mr.. Christensen.
snesia, 70 the Indianano,is Journal.

cell houses Of the Prison North, and, in
obedience to the summons, F. A. and p. B.
Coffin arose from their hunks in cell No.
Sc, of the south cell house, where they had
passed a s~leepless night, in what mental
agony no one can imagine. The night that
had just passed had come to them as a
terrible realization of the dread punishment
that had been hanging over them for
months. Heretofore. however, this real
ization had been in the distance, and slight
though it was, there was a ray of hope
between them and this impending fate. 1t
is but a small ray Of hope that is necessary
to cast a radiant light over the darkest
prospects, and this small and very uncer-
tain hope had served TO strengthen these
two men during all the preceding days of
their trouble. 1t is to be presumed that,
until the last. they had hoped they would
not be compelled to enter the prison cell
and don the prison garb until after the end
OF a possible new trial, o. at least until
it had been finally and for all time set
tied that the verdict Of the jury finding
them guilty should stand. Now this last
hope has been dispelled. Yet there was
still the hope that the supersedeas might,
perchance, be granted and they again given
their freedom, after a few days confine-
meIt in prison, and this undoubtedly helped
to sustain the men and aid them in bearing
the humiliation they had been compelled to
endure.
The number of persons who can fully
realize what it means to enter a prison
cell under the rules of a prison are exceed
ingly few. The word convict" sounds ter
rible to every person. but to see the actual
change is a sadder experience than one
-v1,,I1 ol;o xrho hos nof xr;fpaccoI a.
This is true in greater measure when the
prisoner is a person who has been accus-
toned to enjoying the luxuries and ALI the
good things of life, and whose every wish
had been gratified, as was the case with
the two men who arose in cell No. Sc Of the
south cell house of the Prison North yester-
day morning. They were there on a level
and equality, SO far as their identity and
treatment was concerned, with 1888 other
prisoners, and in the list were murderers,
burglars, despoilers of virtue, and thieves
and scoundrels of all grades of depravity.
A PRISON BREAKFAST.
The Collins were brought into line with
the other prisoners and marched in lock-
step to the dining room. This was the first
time they were separated. They were not
together in this, their first march to the
prison dining room, to sit through their
first meal of prison food. p. 3. Coffin
wore his eyeglasses and walked with his
hands upon the shoulders Of Charles Waist,
a life prisoner for murder. f. A. walked
behind Henry Underwood, a burglar, who
has spent thirteen years in the prison. The
wonderful self-restraint Of the men was
here again demonstrated. Though 1t is
probably past the scope Of the Imagination
to comprehend the mental agony that they
MUST be un04rROlnR To marCn In mis- line
OF convicts not a sign Of this poignant pain
was expressed in their faces. They took
their seats in the dining room at the long
tables and sat down to a breakfast of
bologna sausage, potatoes, head cheese and
coffee. They ate but little. No food was
tempting. to them under the circumstances
The food served was clean and whole
some-but so different from what they had
been accustomed TO. 1t Is doubtful If they
could have swallowed any of 1t had they
tried. After the breakfast was over they
were taken back to the cell house with
other unemployed prisoners.
A few minutes after 2 o'clock they were
brought into the Office of the deputy war
den. and talked for a few minutes with the
representatives of the Indianapolis news
papers who had made the trip to the prison
with them. They greeted the newspaper
men cordially. and shook hands with all.
Both men said they had slept but little
during the night. and their faces bore con-
elusive evidence of the truth Of their state
ments, II any were needed. There was a
changed expression upon their faces which
is indescribable. but It's cause was no Sc
cret. In just what the change consisted,
whether in a dropping Of the eye, a tighter
drawing of the lip, or what else, 1t would
be impossible to say, but the change was
there. The elder brother still kept a watch
s spon ndS nrot to tb an4 or sHagh' The II ere slipbte esf
suspicion of weakening on the part of the
younger brought a wistful look into the
eyes of Francis, who feels that he is re-
| sponsible for the other being a convict in
the State prison.
CONsoLED BY A MINISTER.
After a few minutes had been spent in
conversation with the press representatives
the Rev. G. A. Christensen entered the
room The newspaper men babe the pris-
oners adieu n withdrew, leaving them to
converse with the divine. The presence of
their pastor, who had accompanied them
on their trip to the prison, had proven a
great solace to both men, The evidence Of
affection Of the minister for Francis Coffin
during the journey to Michigan City on the
day previous, and it was equally apparent
that the elder Coffin held his pastor in the
expressed any opinion as to the guilt or
innocence Of the men, but, without. this,
e esee has be words eve to m rsady th wifh b aiaa an aa
light as 1t was possible for him to do. Yes
terday morning, when he came out Of the
he had been shedding tears He was Wis
ibly affected by the talk he had with his
two pensioners. He spoke 1eei1ngly OF
this brief talk with the men. He had en-
deavored to say a few encouraging words
to them, and comfort them in SO far as 1t
was in his power. He told Francis Coffin,
| speaking also for his brother, that 1t was
better to have lost liberty and retained
retained liberty. This was in line with
the expressed feeling of the elder Coffin
in a previous conversation with one of the
press representatives, when he said tina
with a knowledge of his innocence he could
endure anything he was called upon to en-
dure.
PercivaI Coffin made one request yester-
day morning. He wanted some books tc
read. f. A. Coffin asked for some chewing
tobacco. Warden French and Chaplain
Xanders had a consultation yesterday
morning as to the character of the employ,
ment to be given the men. Being United
States prisoners, the State cannot work
them upon contract work. 1t has been de-
cided to put them at no work till the cues.
ton of the supersedeas is settled; Wher
In charge of the library and Francis viii
have custody of the chapel. There Will bt
no labor about either of these positions
and they will ave other prisoners tC
sweep out for them and do such work a:
is required about the places. They vii
then not be required to march with tht
other prisoners in the lock step TO ths
dining room, but will be permitted to ca
by themselves. Chaplain flanders has al
ready begun to develop great interest IL
which they are taking their punishment I
sure to gain them the good will and ad
miraticn of both the prison officials and tn
other prisoners. Both men are taking thei
John s. Duncan called at the prison an,
held a consultation with the men, ant
then proceeded to Chicago.
F. A. Coffin says he believes Haughel