The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-13
SORTING THEM OUT
INDIANA SEPARATES her C0NVI0Ts
INTO GLASSES.

and the Other for the Incarceration o
| -weedips Out Process is Effected an
Two Big Train Loads of Prisoners ar
Exchanged-How the Novel Excursion
Conducted-General Crime News.
Michigan City, nd, April 12.-Probabl.
the larges: transfer of prison convict
| that ever took place in this country wa
successfully carried out today. 1--WE
hundred and rinety-one prisoners from
the Michigan City prison were put on Z
special Monon train ard taken to Jeffer
sonvil,e, while from the latter place thret
hundred and fifty-siX prisoners were Sent
here. Behind this transfer lies an inter
esting bit of history, and it may be that
the state will yet be compelled to emulate
the example Of a certain general who
tradition states, marched his soldiers UP
the hill and then marched them down
again; in other words. the prisoners may
have TO be re-tranSferred on account Of
legal complications.
At the last session Of the legislature a
law was passed converting the southern
peritentiary into a reforma tory and max
ing the Michigan City prison the peniten-
tiary for the state. The law provided that
all prisoners under thirty years OF age,
serving their first sentences, were 10 be
transferred 10 Jeffersonville, the excep-
tons bairg those sentenced for treason or
murder. An indeterminate sentence law
was also passed About two weeks ago,
however, Judge Hubbard of the St. Jo-
seph circuit, in sentencing a young man
named Allison for larceny, declared the
law unconstitutional. ALI
son was given a two-years sentence and
sent to Michigan City. The prison off,
Gals refused to accept him at first, out
upon the advice OF the attorney general
did so. Should the question be carried to
the supreme court and Judge Hubbard's
decision be upheld, grave consequences
might follow. This is not probable, il this
case a least, as, under the indeterminate
law. Allison could be given
sentence OF from two to fourteen years.
and his lawyers do not care to risk it.
After the decision a conference was i'm
held between Governor
Mount and the prison officials, and the
governor gave orders to go ahead with
the transfer.
The utmost secrecy was observed as to
The time of departure, even the guards
selected to accompany the prisoners from
her being kept II ignorance. Sunday
loon the gates Of the prison were locked
and the tedious job of selecting the prs
'ners to be transferred was begun. The
nen were then given an extra supper
lrd locked in their cells for the night.
II O'Clock this morning the real work
II the transfer began. The prisoners
we're routed out. and ten selected guards
'ssisted the blacksmith in riveting the
hackles on the prisoners. Two at a time
hey were taken from their cells and their
ess shackled. About two hours were
orsumed in this. and then the prisoners
yer taken to the dining room for the last
ime, where breakfast was served them.
While this was going on, the train that
vas to convey the prisoners to jefferson
lie was backed into the north gate. 1t
onsrsted of nire cars, the first a hospital
ar, the next six for the convicts, one car
or the militia, Company A of Indianap- |
lis, who were to assist in guarding the |
risoners, and ore for the press. As soon |
$ breakfast was finished the men were |
ned up and marched TO the train. First |
anne the invalids. eight of them, who |
-ere conveyed to their car IN cots, then |
ne rest of the motley crowd, stumbling |
rom the unaccustomed leg shackles were !
urdled on board. Three guards and two
-ustles were locked in each car Every
recaution had been observed against n
utbreak. The windows were not barred,
ut everything that might be used as a
eapon had been removed Even the
oors wer removed from the water clos
e. and the air brake apparatus taken
way. The guards had TO weapons ex-
,pt their heavy canes, but the prisoners
ere not allowed to leave their seats.
nything they might require being
Fought to them, and orders had been
ven to shoot at the first head that was
,ked out OF a window.
Al 9 O'Clock al was in readiness. and
e Of the most remarkable excursions
'er undertaken started on the journey
SN-A. Az -hcllOli OillNIdlS ndQ taken
cry precau'ion TO insure the safety Of
e trains. Every foot Of track between
re and Jeffersonville was Inspected fiji
en- minutes before the trains passed and
cry bridge was carefully examined five
inutes before they went over. Even
g switches were spiked and the trains
ere given the right Of way over every
irg. No stops wre made for crossings.
overnor Mount having given permis-
IN for this violation OF the state law.
Id no stops were made except for the
lrpose Of changing engines or taking
ater. The trair was in personal charge |
+. w. Quimby, trainmaster OF the
onon, and the crew was composed Of
cked men, veterans in the service. wh1
uld be relied upon in any emergency.
Re Monon wreckirg train was under or
rs all day, ready 10 start al a mo- ,
ant's notice in case Of accident.
THE JEFFERSONVILLE GANG.
|effersonville, Ind, April 1.-THE frs. ,
ap toward putting into effect the prison
form Jaw passed by the last general as
noly OF Indiana. having for its purpose ,
? reformation ot the penal system, was 4;
ken this morning, when a train loaded
IN convicts serving sentences in the /;
Jacksonville prison started on its Jour p,
70 Michigan City. The northern and
ithern institutions are 70 hereafter
We two distinct purposes. The institu-
n az JeffeCsonville becomes the Indi- /,
a reformatory. while the Michigan City .
son is 70 be known as the Indiana
re prison. The effect viii be % separ-
, the hardened and confirmed criminals :
iong whom are classsi the murderars
IN the first term prisoners under thirty
ars Of age. The latter class remains IN 10
, southern institution while the former