The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-23
MAVERICK AND WILDE
TWO ENGLISH PRISONERS WHO ARE
REPORTED IN BAD WAY.
The American woman Once Admitted
TO the Jailer that She Deserved
Her Punishment.
ccopyright. 1896. by the Associated Press,

Copyright. 1896 by the Associated Press)
LONDON. Nov. 22.-From a high official
connected with her Majesty's prison at
NORWOOD Scrubbs the press is furnished
with the following account of the prison.
ers. Mrs. Maybrick and Oscar Wilde. Saws
the official: For anyone who knew Mrs.
Maybrfck. as l did. before her incarcer-
alton. she would not now be recognized.
She is a complete mental and physical
wreck | wish TO say right here that this
condition is not due to prison treatment
but Is the direct result of confinement and
mental worry. While she is not insane. her
condition borders closely upon it, She
mas not been at Norwood Scrubs for
many months. but is now In the smaller
prison at Aylesbury. in Buckinghamshire
IL Is found that the prisoner in her menta!
state requires much change as is con-
sistent with prison regulations. and for this
reason she has been an inmate of so many
penal institutions. While at NORWOOD
Scrubs she was i'm the hospital for nine
months IN the year. and her health has
demanded ike treatment at Aylesbury.
she mas grown thin. and her cheek bones
protrUde In a manner NEST unpleasant to
see Her complexion is CHASTITY. and her
eyes have haunted look
she has all the cunning of insane
person. This is shown By the fact that
she has twice enGedNOred to commit sui
eide. once nearly successfully. despite the
strict and searching watch to which she
Is constantly subjected. One of these at
temptS was evidently made in endeavor
10 convince the doctors that she was suf-
fcrinS from internal hemorrhage. and went
100 Tar. She subsequently made the same
attempt. and very nearly succeeded. The
other attempt Was by means of strangula-
ton Since these attempts the watch 10
which she has been subjected precludes
In talking with her she orce said to
me: 4 deserve all / have got This was
significant. but her mental condition at
the time was such that / did not attach
much Importance to her remarks. How
ever That may be- she wes not. in my opn-
belief that she will not survive another
year Of prison life. She has now been In
confinement since July, 1883. Ordinarily
imprisonment for life means twenty years,
there being but few instances where pris-
oners have been confined on a life SEN
tence after that period, unless some new
and pointed facts i'm relation to their guilt
have come to light in the interim. l also
think that the efforts to secure her re-
lease that have come from America and
nature of ccercing the Home Office, have
operated against her, and / also believe
that she will be set at liberty within
The official was also asked regarding os-
car Wilde. and he said: Wilde was also
ago. He is now at Reading His health
Is also wretched. and he seems aged and
broken, He has spent much time in the
hospital and. like Mrs. Maybrick. has been
frequently transferred and for the same
reason While at NORWOOD Scrubs he
a model prisoner far as complying
with the regulations was concerned, but
his work was done in a perfunctory man.
ner
II must decline to say at what labor he
was employed. Like Mrs. Maybrick, l do
not think he would survive another year
of pris on life. but fortunately for him. his
sentence expires the last of March. Per-
sonally / do not believe that any petitions
for his release will be granted.