The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-07-04

There were those who said that con
vict 1880 was innocent Of the crime
which sent him to prison for such long
term Of years. but that there was scarce
a hope Of bis over being free man
again. They meant that ho was tech
nically guilty. Ho had sought to save "A
woman from a beating at the hands Of
her husband. and In the struggle and
excitement no had struck blow which
caused the death Of the man. IL was
accident, in sense. but II was also
manslaughter. No man who il man
will stand by and see woman beaten.
and yet II no interferes he must take
his chances with the law. Big Tom, as
the convict was sometimes referred TO,
was. like most big men. child in his
gontleness and good nature. He did not
complain, but ho grieved. Ilo thought
Of the years and years which must drag
away before the prison doors would open
20 him. and be moved about like a
weak. old man. The prison officials folt
pity for the man. but convict is con.
vict. and all must be treated nliko--all
who show obedience 90 tho rules Thoy
sized him up az childliko and good ma.
tured, and yet thoy said 20 each othor as
they talked Of him:
Look out for Zig Tom Ho will
break loose some day and do some dos
pcrate thing"
They thought it would come during
the first six months Of his term--thon
during the second-thon they almost
became afraid of him. Men who are
slow 10 angor--who 90 ON grieving,
brooding aud bearing mental burden
for weeks and months are dovils whom
the climax comes.
Big Tom had tho management Of the
trip hammer IN tho machine shop. Had
thoy put him in tho shoe shop or tailor
shop he would have robelled nc once.
His place was beside the biggest piece
Of machinery Ia the shops. two pieces
of machinery, as II woro-lum and
Trip. Day by day and week by week
and month by month. "a the ponderous
hammer rose and foil and its blows
shook the very earth for yards around.
making tho convict smilo and look
proud, the guards had an eye ON him
and kept saying TO each other:
1t will come. /, Is only delayed.
When he breaks loose. he will kill some
one and have 20 be- killed in turn.
Nearly bali OF tho second year had
passed, and tho giant convict had never
even snlked. when ono day there came
into the shop as sightseers husband.
wife and little girl on years old.
Children are seldom seen In prisons
and ~ is a rare thing that thoy are
taken into the shops In the yards. II
any one In that prison knew that
convict 1850 had daughter fair
haired. handsome child, who could only
walk alone whom tho jury pronounced
his verdict of guilty had for.
gotten the fact His vito had visited
him as often a. visitors were allowed.
but the child had mover heon seen with.
in the grim walls. Knowing that her
husband had killed man by accident.
the wife could bear TO see him wearing
the horrible stripes of convict. but to
let the child look upon him. 10 gaze in
wonder az tho iron bars. to ask why all
those men were there, thousand times
mol Ana 30 this Was the first child Big
Tom had seen since tho heavy doors shut
him In. Father. mother and child came
close 10 him and gazed at the pondorous
hammer with wondering eyes. You
would have argued that the sight Of the
child would have softcned the convict's
heart and brought tears TO his eyes. but
IL did not Ii brought feeling Of mad
ness. OF desperation. Of frenzy. To save
woman from brutal beating at the
hands Of a drunken. worthless thing not
nj 20 be olassed with men be had struck
a blow.
A jury had called il murder In the
second degree. and he was here in pris-
on on "A sentence almost never ending
He had been wronged. and the knowl-
edge Of IL fired his heart and brought
the long expected outbreak. With a sud
den cry which startled every one in the
noisy shop Big Tom made a spring for
ward, seized the child in his arms. and
there was a shout Of defiance on his lips
as he held her ut arms length and
Rlared about him. The mother of the
child gasped for breath and staggered
back to the wall and sank down. The
father stood staring, as If struck dumb
but presently held out his hands in 81
lent supplication. Big Tom gloweret
and muttered in reply. He was a con
Wet, childless father He was deaC
10 his child-she was dead to him. II,
could not make another fathers hear
ache and throb and grieye as his did
but he would secure revenge.