The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-26
INTERLINED WITH MILK.
A JaiIbird's Letter That Did Not
Come From His Sister.
From the So. Louis Globe-Democrat.

From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
On a recent stormy night a number of
gentlemen, willing away an hour or two
in cafe, were entertained by Mr.. James
Morrison, who is on tour of inspection
in this country. He had but recently ar
rived from England, where for over TWEEN
ty-fve years he has been identified with
the work of caring for convicts in one
OF the largest prisons in the British pos
sessions; speaking OF some of the Incl
drifted into a recital of the tricks, many
and ingenious, which the convicts resort
to from time to time in their efforts to
outwit the guards and effect an escape.
"On one occasion, said the venerable
guard I had charge of tier No. u. 1t
was filled to the limit with longtime
prisoners and at its furthest end several
cells had been set apart for those serv-
ing life sentences: One of these prison
ers, rough-looking chap, but as keen
as razor, had given us a great deal
or trouble, and when he was placed under
my care l was especially admonished to
keep a sharp eye upon him. as he had al
ready caught two other keepers by his
tricks, and had done much mischief be-
tore they had got the upper hand of him.
or weeks he was as quiet as a mouse
even refusing the usual constitutional
or half hour of exercise in the corridor
is suppose he thought he had me off my
served-in the English prisons we serve
TINS meal at O'Clock in the eVening-and
while L was at another part of the tier
pusy receiving some supplies he began
his first bad break on my good book
After l had finished receiving and re-
cGetptlng Tor the supplies and getting them
INTO place took up my regular beat
down the tier again, and when 1 had
finished began closing the outer cell
doors, securely padlocking them
Il had peeped in through the little win
dows OF his cell door and found him sit
quietly on the edge of his little cot, read
ing a book That had that day been sent
him as present from his sister-this was
Christmas eve-and, after ordering Tights
out, l fastened his door and Went. on
to the next. This, No. TO- was next and
occupied by a 'trusty.' As / Started ''- to
close his door, he stepped to the open-
ing in the grating and asked to speak
a few words with me.
Those few words startled me He had
heard No. 81 saving bars. Could he hear
such a sound through forty-eight inches
OF stone wall that divided the cells? No
he heard the sound that attracted hi,
attention through the narrow slit of a
WINDOW that served to light his cell With
an an right, TO let him know l UNDER
stoQd, slammed the great bolted door
with a bang, the vibration from which
must have been heard in NO 9's cell.
anu passed , on down to the end of the
my SHOES, | climbed out on the guard
gaIlery, and, after proceeding cautiously
d dow az qi tbs e was directly oyer the win
Listening intently for a few moments.
could hear the soft 'slish, slish. sIish'
OF the steel saw that with keen teeth,
through the steel bars below, and hurry
ing back sent the quiet alarm to the
outside guard; then. taking my keys, I
Went quickly to the other end of the tier
and unlocked and threw open his cell door.
at the same time turning the rays of
my lantern full upon him
He was in bed according to orders. hut
as his clothing had not been removed the
ruse was too thin / had assistance bv
TINS time in the person of the supervisor
OF. my section, and, after we had placed
nine safely in another cell. we began an
investigation which resulted in the dis
coVery that three bars had been cut clean
~ through. Then we found the finely tenn
pered steel saws secreted in the mattress
of his cot.
FINALLY my eyes fell upon the book he
had been reading, and upon examining it