The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-16
HOW THE Ex-BANKER SPENDS HIS
TIME AND HOW HE'S
TREATED.
RoUGHs 1T LIKE THE REST.
SINCE RELEASING HIS DONDSMEN
HE HAS HAD SOME CONTENT
MENT.
ANXIOUS FOR AN EARLY TRIAL,
When He Expects the Cloud Now
Hanging Over Him Will Be
Cleared Away.

Accustomed to the comforts of lux
uriouS home and the ASSOCIATIONS VI
family and friends, William +. Blckel
still persists in his refusal to accept
the bail which he could procure at
moments notice and is content 10 re-
main a voluntary prisoner in the couh,
ty Jail, reconciled by the relief OF
escaping those whom he regards as
prosecutors and the hope of ultimate
vindication. Nearly four days have
passed since Mr. Bickel took up his
quarters in the JAIL and, despite the So
lcitation of riends, he is strong In MS
determination to remain in prison until
brought to trial No argument can
shake this resolve, though the eX-
banker is anxious for speedy trlal
and feels confident that falr-mnoeo
Jury will not find him guilty OF wrong
doing.
The daily life of Mr.. Bickel is in
conformity with the rules OF the jail,
and he enjoys no more privileges than
others in confinement. Owing to the
number of callers which he daily re-
ceives he is kept in the boys ward, as
it is more accessible to visitors than
the main corridor. Here the comforts
are no more elaborate than in other
parts of the Jail, and at night Mr..
Bickel occupies the same iron cot with
which every cell is provided. The idea
prevalent in some quarters that MI.
Bickel is living off the fat of the land
Is a mistake, as he simply eats the
meals served by Sheriff Wagener's chef,
without delicacies in the line of side
dishes or wines or ales, with an after
dinner cigar.
Shortly after o'clock breakfast is
served and the eX-banker is handed
his portion of food through the bars
of his cell. He has a good appetite
and apparently relishes the plain food.
In his opinion the Jail cook is an artist
and makes most palatable meal out
of the unpretentiouS dishes. Break
fast over, Mr.. Bickel is given the free
dom CT the corridor for the purpose of
exercise. Something of an athlete he
finds the quarters a trifle small in
which to accomplish much in the way
of physical development, but makes
the best of the circumstances by pac-
Ing rapidly up and down the corridor.
His walks are taken in shirt sleeves
and open vest with hands thrust deep
in the trouser pockets. An occasional
pause at the Fifth street window,
which opens from the boys corridor, is
the only evidence on Mr.. Bickels part
that there is a tinge of regret in re-
fusing the offers of friends to restore
him to freedom, but no word of COM
plant has escaped him and on the
whole, he appears to be as well salts
fed as the conditions will permit.
During the day Mr.. Bickel converses
pleasantly with the attendants about
the jail on general topics, but rarely
takes any one into his confidence con-
hi Ill A 1iv,cr n
JaiIer Hammes, Mr.. Bickel is a model
prisoner, who is perfectly willing to
conform with every rule Of the Jail
and makes no requests for considera-
ton or favorS not accorded other pris-
oners. AS soon as the jail is opened
each day to visitors Mr.. Bickel's
friends begin to drop in to see him,
and throughout the day callers are
constantly inquiring after his welfare.
He receives his friends in the corridor
Of the boys ward, where, during con-
versation., he at times seems to for
get his predicament and talks pleas
antly of past incidents and his plans
for the future.
All Of Mr.. Bickels callers, with the
exception of his wife and mother, are
gentlemen. The wife and Mrs. William
Bickel visit the husband and father
each day. and their coming is always
In the nature of a respite for the i'm
pr1SOned man. Their efforts to persuade
him to accept bail are unavailing. With
the cessation of visitors, Mr.. Bickel
passes the remaining hours to supper
time reading books from the Jail Ii
brary or the daily papers. A feature
of Mr.. BickeFs large acquaintance is
noticeable even in his Jail life. Many
people, evidently of the poorer class,
whose relative or friends are confined
at the county Jail under indictment or
awaiting trial in the municipal court,
in calling UP those in confinement
shake hands with the eX-banker whom
they formerly knew as one Of the prom
inent business men Of the city, SYM
pathize with him and express the wish
for his vindication at the time of trial
Mr.. Bickel had just concluded a con-
sultation with his attorney, when a re-
porter for the G l o b called upon him
yesterday. He expressed his content
ment with his surroundings, and stated
emphatically that he intended to re-