The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-10-20

forth and burFlod and assaulted to kill
nico folks who never did anything to lin
He got coin, also 90 years Of time thrown
in, which Is sometimes reckoned rs money;
honce the delay In getting tho duck ranch
started. The money TINT was fed To tho
rats forms tho bnsis OF n picturesque prison
story, IN interesting tale of criminal cum
ming, cupidity ind patient waiting, In
which tho ngcd convict finally triumphcd.
When Winters entered Folsom, In 1885,
presumably for tho last time, he had $3.50
In grcenbHcks sewed up in tho sleeves of
IN old brown cont. Ho had quarried rock
Mt Folsom before and knew that in cold
weather tho prisoners were allowed conts
Any old coat will do. If an inside man
las comfortable garment, it Is given to
man outside in tho weather.
Jim was well aware OF this arrangements
rLd had prepared himself accordingly.
But his provident plnns received setback.
Flo bud served thrco terms and was Chased
Ia an incorriGiblc. So lie wns placed in
tho dungeon. There ho remained in utter
Gclltude for 7ol days, hnrasscd by doubts
end fcars OF tho most aggravuting de-crip-
ton Tho cout had boon given to another
prisoner.
In time There camo change ut the pris-
en-. Warden Aull succeeded Warden Nc
Comb. Tho new official took pity on Jim,
and tho old man was relieved from tho irk-
some confines Of u dungeon cell OH Jan.
II, 1888. They placed him in charge of
tho Nmehousc, n small wooden structure
In the confer of tho prison yard whore tho
UNDERWRITING appliances are kept Even
before no was regularly installed in this
position OF trust and responsibility Jim
had his weather eye peeled for tho old
brown coat, but 1t waa many weary days
before he caught u glimpse Of 1t. Iu
wouldn't do to ask questions among the
300 convicts many Of whom wero rs crafty
aB himself, 10 jim had simply TO watch
and wait.
At last ono day Jim cnught sight of his
perambulating bank. 1t passed the limo
house ON tho hack of big Mexican horse,
bhlef who worked on q derrick In tine
quarry. Though somewhat changed, Jim
recognized the coat. 1t had boon patched
hero and thoro, and the man with money
OIL deposit noticed, with sinking heart,
that the cuffs had been renewed with strips
OF horse blanket. However, he took hone.
for as rule, convicts do not cut away the
frayed portions of garment. They sim
ply sew the patch on the outside ana let il
SO ut that.
Jim was nearly two weeks recovering
possession oil the coat that h;.d been among
strangers two years. The limo OF prisoners
and to bed passes tho limehouse, where
Jim and his assistants fail in. II is only a
Walk OF 100 yards, and Jim had to e1er-
else great caution. Watching his chance
ho would drop in behind the Mexican, and
In that way gradually worked up an no.
Quhlnapce. He also complained Of cold
and the need of q heavier coat, and in time
made u dicker with the horse thief, In
Which smoking tobacco figured largely on
one slde.
Thus Jim recovered possession of his
money after 1t had passed through at cast
w pairs OF hands. ae the coat had been very
popular en- cold days. lie slowed tho mon
ey away on his person for the sake Of bcin1
near 1t for fow months, and then, finding
that his job in the limehouss was por.
manent engagement, he rolled the bills up
In bit Of rag and hid them In the build
ing. IEero the treasure remained for
about I've years, drawing no interest, but
safe rs jim thought.
Gno day, however, when tho burglar
went 70 look for his money the roll was
gone. His natural conclusion was that
some other convict had rtumbled across the
hiding place Still jim said not a word.
Sguring that the thief would again hide
the money. So he kept on mixing white
wash and probing around in hooks and
crannies when the chance offered At the
expiration at eight months, to his creat
Joy, Jim flshed HE precious dollars out Of
u rathole, but the bills were In n fearful
state of mutilation. Each bill retained it's
original size and shape, but the nibblin.
hud reduced them to miniature luce cur
tains, SO far az the fabric was concerned
In one corner Of the limehouso tho cooke
Es6 throBn -thoiS emptI fruit sud. xece-