Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-04-03
A NIGHT IN THE JAIL.
An Odd Chapter in Martinsburg's
Daily Life.

A newspaper man, stranded on the
road, came into this Office Saturday,
and related the following experience
He said he was forced by Strengthened
circumstances to apply for shelter at
the police station last evening. The
officer in charge, while kindly tolerant
to a distressed stranger refused the
application. There was no accommo
dation for wayfarers and the town did
not propose to provide forsuch people
He however limited that the Sheriff
might do something.
Accordingly the stranger made a
Decline iorthe court house, and found
the Sheriff was out in the country.
The gentleman in charge aftersatis
fying himself as to the character Of
the applicant, sent the man to inter
view the iailor That worthy func-
tionary OH being seen was evidently
annoyed. Tramps were in the habit
of calling at the jail at all hours. 1t
was getting a nuisance, but, he would
not allow any poor unfortunate to be
out of doors on a night like this.
Tom, he cried to an assistant
"Show this man inside and let him
sleep on the floor" whisp, bang,
rattle, and the wanderer found him
self inside the Jail. A mat was given
him for a couch, and he proceeded to
make himself as comfortable as posi-
BILE. A group of six prisoners gath
cred near the eating of the cage and
gazed eagerly at the lodger. They
began to importune for tobacco, and a
half plug was handed in. Then they
piled the reporter with questions
"Where did he come from?" "Where
was his destination" What was he
at?" This done slim looking colored
man broke into a song and the five rat
tied out the chorus of a "Hot Time in
The Old Town Tonight :"
Songs over a series of mutual re-
miniscences were INDUCED in. A
mere youth, with the look and limo
cence of girl, boosted of shooting
ARRAY for which he had been arrested,
and another spoke of doing a jew out
OF a hundred dollars. There was a
sort of bravado about this business
that was absolutely refreshing. A
young old rounder, a youthful old
man, claimed that Chicago was far
ahead of the Bowery, and New York
prisoner said the Bowery was the pro
fessionals paradise. "Pshaw," re-
torted another. Eyer wanter go to
San Francisco ter see life. The East
ern tough is MT in it with a real Frisco
mug, see?"
And so on adj lib. The group of six
formed an interesting picture of low
life. The party were interrupted by
the entrance of two more dodgers who
had been favorably received by the
jailor and given the usual resting
place on the hard pavement.
The two strangers were young men
and evidently felt their position.
Noticing their embarrassment the
writer helped them to improvise a
couch with newspapers and overcoats.
Life on the road" sighed one, rs
not what it is cracked up to be. oh!
that l could but see my poor old
mother once again, and the saddened
youth sighed. "Cheer up, never say
die, said his companion, 1--WE will
pull through yet" The prisoners
broke out into laugh. The idea of
seeing two tenderfoots on the road
amused them. Poor DEVILS" said
the young old prisoner. Leave 'em
alone. They'll get hardened in time.
l suppose now we've had nothing to
eat Too proud to beg, eh?" "Yes,
sir said one of the dodgers. well,
here, take this, and a piece of pie,
and two slices of bread and meat were
showed through the grating. "And
see here young Teller. You will find
in time exhausted nature will make
you beg" The lights went out aud
all hands retired to bed In the
morning the three dodgers were re-
leased with a caution, and told to
proceed to their several destinations.
Reader this is a small sketch of a
night spent in the Jail. How do you
like it? c. HEMNfING.