The herald., 1894-12-10
LIFE IN THE COUNTY JAIL,
Six Murderers at Present Gagged
in Cells.
Craig's Appearance as lie Nears the
Gallo ws.
Alec Doctor. tho e NIB rzzisr. the s~ell of
the Place and tho Envy of tho
"H0boa'-How the INN ates
Are Cared For.


tho Place and tho Envy of tho
"Hobos'-How the Inmates
Are Cared For.
Standing on the hill on the south side
OF the court house is the county Jail, in
which all of the county prisoners are
confined, while awaiting trial or serving
sentence. Sheriff Cline ia the custodian
OF the structure, and j. J. Henry the
lailer and corps of assistants attend
10 the safety and wanta OF the minated.
A. HERALD reporter wended up TO the
Jail yesterday afternoon, and was shown
through the entire establishment by
Mr.. Henry, who explained in detail how
the county's charges are taken care of.
''ln the first place " eaid the host, as
soon as prisoner is brought hare either
TO serve "a sentence, or TO await hear
ing, he is first searched, his name en-
tered upon the register, and his vslu
sbles, il he has any, are locked up in the
sale, and kept there until ne is dis
charged. or sent to San Qnintin. If the
individual is TO serve O sentence his full
and complete description is taken. it,
Guiding his height, weight, color OF eyes
and marks upon his body, and entered
upon separate register kept for that
exclusive purpose.
"As you no doubt well know" con-
tinued Mr.. Henry, "all of our charges
are unjustly confined here. Not one Of
them will ever admit that he has COM
nd -. . t,a IA
will tell every one who chances to talk
with him, that he is as innocent as a
babe OF Whatever charge may be against
him.
CRIMINALS ONLY IN NAME.
"Of courae, ell our inmates are not
hardened criminals, and many of them
DO touch q cord OF eympathy in
our hearts. We cannot but feel for the
man who is serving a ak months een-
tence for some trivial offense when he is
vlgited day after day by his nalf clad
wife and ragged and perhaps hungry
little ones. Oltentimes we are com.
pletely unnamed when we observe one
OF these fellows who Is, perhaps, only a
victim OF circumstance, bidding good =
bye to his wife and children. The
woman is usually weeping and the
children join in the concert of wailing
as they pull foEdly upon their fathers
coat tails and beg for one more kiss be-
fore they go.
There are others who should be
beaten with club several times day,
for they act like brutes. They are
natural born criminals, and the more
kindness and consideration they are
shown, the more brutal and Rntagonistic
they become. fhese wretches are
granted no privileges. Those who are
decent and make the best OF the situa-
tion. by obeying the rules OF the jail,
are made 'trusties' ss their associates
calls them. which gives them the pleas
ant side of prison life.
They are the servants of the institu-
ton and are trusted according to their
worth. All the cooking. serving OF
meals and general cleaning is done by
prisoners, and it would surprise you
how adept some of them become.
Many of the TRUSTEES are gentlemen, but
have left the main track of honesty. per-
haps having run against the obstacle OF
liquor, and by thsir perfect dameanor
here, impress us all with the belief that
they have returned to the main line OF
integrity"
CRAIG IN THE CONDEMNED CELL.
The reporter was then escorted through
the jail and first shown the condemned
cell. John Craig. the triple murderer,
WAS pacing nervously up and down the
floor, behind an old corncob pipe, and
by his mechanical, measured, self-con-
scious tread, 1t was plain to be seen that
be was once member of cur police
force. He sat down and began lingering
q new deck of cards with the adeptness
of three-csrd monte man, when he was
awakened from his reverie by saluta-
ton from the reporter.
"How am II" he rejoineG, as he ad-
jnsted a leather slipper on his foot.
pretty we'll, thank you." and recog-
nizing the reporter, he arose from
his chair end advanced to.
ward the barred door. II am
glad the people have got civilized.
and don't want to hang me "a they aid
a while ago. have not given up hope.
and believe I have . chance of getting
out of here. My attorneys, and not the
public, know the facts of my case, for
have told them the whole truth. They
know that my acts were justifable, and
l would have been acquitted at my trial
bad not the newspapers convicted me in
advance"
The death watch was placed upon
Craig yesterday at noon, and he will
hereafter never be left alone moment.
until the time of his execution. A deputy
will guard him all day and at night q
iailer will stand lonely watch beside
his iron couch.
Craig looks many years older than he
did when he walked the Spring etreet
beat few years ago. His gray beard
had few days growth yesterday, which
cast shadow over eountenance which
has not been softened by crime. He
was not at all nervous in his manner,
but he showed by his general actions
thet it is impossible for him to get
away from himself for moment.
THE STRIKERS AT EXERCISE.
The iron corridor of the inner prison
was then invaded and the railroad boys.
including Phil Stsnwood, a. t. johnson,
Billy Clunie. Alex Ross, I. @. Gallagher
and @. T. Buchanan. were first observed
taking their afternoon stroll up and
down the pavement.
Clunie was the first one to salute the
newspaper man and he seemed tickled
to death 20 get glimpse of familiar
face. "Well, we're here" said he, ss
he felt his shirt baud and missed his
collar, 'but we will all get out tomor-
T.t ~ IL.