The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-11
JOHN MKANE IS FAITHFUL
Famous New Yorker Makes . Good Convict
In Sing Sing.

In Sing Sing.
| New York. June 10-John Y. McKane
| in Sing Sing, talked freely about his fu.
ture, mis- fortunes and his family TO q
reporter for the Herald, who visited him
| in prison yesterday.
Il was not the John Y. McKane OF
| old, bold, defiant and confident, tina, en-
| tered the little room set aside for prison
ers TO receive their visitors In when the
| reporter called. but instead a man show
| ing unmistakabiy in his features The
lines that only intense mental suffering
can bring about. He looks older than
he is, and mis- hands .remble nervously
as he bows to his visitors and says, slow
ly. faint smile lighting up his face
How are you? / am pleased 10 meet
you"
Asked as 10 the proba bilities of a par
don. Mckare said: II hear very little
in here. OF course. I would like TO go
home 10 my wife and children. and Try
to retrieve my shattered fortunes az far
as possible. but do not know thar any
special effort is being made on my be-
half / am told that Governor Morton
promised to release me. but he changed
his mind. 1t was a great blow. Let's
see- have clever months more 10
serve"
He spoke tenderly Of his old mother,
Martha Young McKane is her name"
he said. "She is nearly eighty years Of
she and I always thought a great deal
OF each other. She speaks about me now
am told. as her poor boy John 1 have
never seen any OF my family except my
brothers since I was sent away here. My
wife, am told. has suffered terribly
Some persons will not leave her alone.
They try to cheat and worry her al they
can. l suppose my little girl is quite a
woman now. George, my blind boy,
las been treated very badly. Advantage
has been taken Of his afIliction and ef-
forts have beer made to cheat and Ill
use him."
/ asked him IL he received any better
treatment than any Of the other prison.
ers. ''Oh. yes" he replied, better than
some-Dut some OF the men here are very
troublesome. 1 think can truthfulIy say
and have never asked for any kind of IA
vor or expected it. / am concerted, so
far as man can be in my position,
when / am at work at the carpenters
bench. like work and 1t helps me TO for
get. AT night / sleep in a cell just She
same as the rest. We are graded of
Men who behave themselves are in differ
ent grades from men who make trouble
ard will no: work l do not think any
one would find fault with that"
Mckane said when he first came to the
place ne thought he would go mad. but
after while when he got down 70 hard
work he found relief from his own
thoughts.
DR.. II. irvine. the prison physician, was
asked about McKane's health. and be
said: "My report is ON file. The man Is
suffering from Brights disease OF the
kidneys. and he has other troubles, too |
Some days he is cheerful and hopeful. !
other days he appears 70 be breaking |
down. My opinion as a physician is that |
nis punishment mas been TERRIBLE mean |
that he feels II more than the majority |
u men do"
Warden V. Sage said that McKane had |
been very faithful in hi. work and was
10 trouble to any one. I'VE can srus. I
him." he said, "he il always the same. /
ind is a genera favorite with all. The /
,opvicts VINO work under him seem TO
lold bin In great respect. and he seems
lble 70 get more work out Of them than |
most men car Personally. I shall be
orry 10 part with him. but / know ne
Worries a great deal. and / should rejoice
o see him leave here and go home"
One Of the keepers announced the time
vas up. and McKane said. az re held on.
is hand 70 me. Don't youad me In the
herald and nisrepresert all have said
)ther papers have done that more fhan
nee. I can; defend myself Don't take
advantage OF my position. but be fair
/ watched him az ne walked along the
orridcr. Then ! heard the voice Of
;eeper say. Here Gomez NcKane" An
ther voice made answer. "AU right
hen there was the sound % heavy keys
lashing together ard The gate opened :