Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-28
WITH MILK AND DUST
AN INGENIOUS. WAY OF INTERLiNiNo
A JAlLBlRD,s LETTER.

~ Accompanied . Christmas Book and
Contained Instructions Which Were
Neatly Hiddsn-st Story Told BY Veteran
English Prison Keeper.
On q recent stormy night . number Of
gentlemen, Willing away an hour or two
In a 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 rs
years he had been identified with the work
Of caring for convicts in one of the largest
prisons in the British possessions. Speak
ing of some of the incidents of his life in
that capacity, he drfted into recital of
tho tricks, many and ingenious, which the
convicts resort to from time to time in
their efforts to outwit the guards and eff
feet an escape.
"On ono occasion" said the venerable
guard, II had charge of tier No. 12 1t
was filed to the limit with long time pris-
oners, and at its farthest end several cells
had been set apart for those serving life
sentences. Ono of these prisoners rough
looking chap, but as keen as a razor, had
given us great deal of trouble, and when
he was placed under my care was espe-
cially admonished to keep sharp eye up
on him, as he had already caught two 9TH
er keepers by his tricks, and had done
much mischief before they had got the
upper hand of him.
For weeks he was as quiet as mouse,
even refusing tho usual constitutional,
or half hour exercise in tho corridor. l
suppose he thought he had me off my
guard ono day after supper had been scry
ed-in the English prison we servo this
meal at 4 o'clock in the evening-and
whilo l was at another part of the tier
busy receiving some supplies he began his
first bad break on my good book
AFTER l had finished receiving and re-
ceipting for the supplies and getting thom
into place, took up my regular beat down
the tiers again, and when had finished
began closing the outer cell doors, secure
~ padlocking them.
II had peeped in through the little win
dow Of his cell door and found him sitting
quietly on tho edge of his little cot, read
ing book that had that day been sent
him as q present from his sister-this was
Christmas eve-and, after ordering lights
out, l fastened his door and went on to
the next. This, No 49, was occupied by
a.onnad e. tho ono,;ne, in 10 orat;nc, ond
osiind ,o srooI- - fo,,, ,yords Win ma
Tboso feu ,roras startIod mo Uo h,d
howl M a, rou;n,, b,re Co,,a l., L,,,r
.,,oh -, ro,rd ,hron9,h 40 inches of .+o,,,
vii th.t dir;dod tho colIs9 No. ho hoor,l
tho eound +hot ,ttroctod h;c ,,tontinr
,bro,,,,h tho rorro,v slit If a ,r;ndor, hot
snr,,o5 -, 1i,,,t he co1l with ~, ri,,ht
w w. h;,,, 49,, ,'r,,an.tand s,ans',,aa
tho arna. boi,oI door With hang ,ha W;
hro+ior ne ,rh;cb ,n,,st boyo boon boorl in
.Vo DC, coli ord ,,ossod nm dou,, ~ tho
ard IF ,hn o,rr;I.,r fi,,isbino 1nci.i,,,. M
pnn,or;no NV ebnns 7 cli,,hed ont n1 tba
.,nsrd ,,,fInr,: ana aftsr rrocon,,ino c,I,
81, g." sis,i'l ,,.f1, - go
tha ,ri,dn1, ~ thn ,oIl occnniod bc ,So O
~ ;r+o.,;,,,, ;nto,.t1,, for = Gov. ,',o,,,o,,ts
1oo,,Id I,,,,,i,a enft.rl;sh lin eIirh, *
,bn s,ool COW, mr. 9Th loon tao,b woe
slo,ly, hn, s,,,o,r, cattnr, ire r,,, tbro,,,,,,
tho etooI l,ars bnior and hnrr,,;nr ~
conf 4,,n aoniet oi,rr,, 70 ,bo o,,tei1n
grard. tbor tn,eino NV tovs wont
e,u;clTl, 70 ths otbor .nd Of ,I'o l;or nd
nnIoclred and tl,rnv ouon lis coll door ~
the son,o limo f,,rnine Tho rape of INV Io,'
torn f,,II ,,no, hi,n
"uo xvo. in he'd according tn orders
but ne hic .,,oth;r,. nod not boon ro,,,o,od
tho r,,eo VAC stno Ibin nod oss;stan,.o
Inv this t;n,o in thn ,,orson ~ tbn s,,no,.,.i.
Gov ~ rc+io,, ,,5 ,r+or r,,o I,5 ,ilo,o,,
90 safely il anntbr. cell we heg.,n i IN in.
.,..:'.s.;;.- 80 I'LL - - - -.
or, tha+ tbroo hove hod hoa,, c,,t olna,9i,.
.hna,,I,,, M, 90 c-','a ~, o,,o1,. tl.1,
,ao1 '.4oo, ~, -
bis co+
9 T;,,o,,r nav. o,.oe co,1 ,,no, ,ho T..
b,a nan,, roa,1,,[s ava ,,,'d,, -
nof',II, faI,,16
inf, was loosn tnro tho heoI. a,nrt n,d
d;soo,arod 10 ,rolo oo s'aT ,0oM ''p'' A>'
serpba sa,-.s had hoo,, 4n ,s3 .,o
h;,d;nt. 90 10 haa,, a,a 800 up f ~ '''o
,n,to, ,s,h;a,, b,d ,,.~roa w io", ~.
,nr,, 1a o,,d 90 - Lea 10 "a ~ I'm '. ,h
- 49, ~, 90 ~ -ie's' VIZ w. ~ 'n'
s''o,ho' V. viz Pii''i' oi' 't9 i'0V' sho"
ing tiito IL iiih peeh Ie'ii anu its conten's
officially examined, 1T did not arousa any
suspicion in my mind; but, upon reading
it now, I was struck dumb TO find that it