Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-13

Michi-au City. Ind. April 12.-Prob-
ably the largest transfer of prison con-
yic-s thar ever took place in this coun-
trv was successfully carried out to-day.
Two hundred and uiney-o1e prisoners
from The Michigan City prison were
PUT on a special 3-onon train and taken
10 Jener5uviue while from the latter
place 1856 prisoners were sent here.
Behind this transfer lies an INTEREST
ir- bit of history. and it may be that
the state VIII yer De compelled TO emu
late The example Of g certain general
who tradition states marched his sol
die-s mp the hin and marched them
down ega.r. iu other words the DriS-
o-ers NAV have 20 be retransferred on
account cf leCal complications. At the
11s- session OF the state Legislature a
law was passed converting The South
eru ueCit-uri3-v into q ref0rma-Ory and
uak'rg the NichiEal City prison the
Deri-eu-ic-v ~ the State The law
provided that am prisoners under 50
wears OF l-a serving their first Seuten-
eos were On he transferred 20 Jefferson
vile. the exceptions hei-E those sem
t0ced for treason or murder. An in
discriminate sentence law was also
passed About Two weeks ago. how
ever. JulEe Hubbard. of the ST Joseph
Circuit, i~ sentencing @ young man
named Allison for larceny. declared
the iC3e,s-ui7eta law unconstitutional
Allison was given two-vcars' sentence
and sent On Michigan CITY The prison
officials refused Co accept him az first.
bU- upon the s7vice Of the attorney
general dij 50. Should the question be
carried O. the supreme Court and
judge Eubbarls decision upheld
C-ave consequences might follow. This
Is not probable i1 this case or least
as under the in5eterwincre sentence
law Allison could De given o sentence
Of from Two % fourteen years. and his
LAWYERS o. uC- care 20 risk it.
After the decision conference was
held between Gov Mount e-d the priS-
on officials and the government gave
orders On 20 ahead with the transfer
The utmost secrecy was observed as 20
the time 90 departure. even the guards
selected % accompany the prisoners
from here being kent in ignorance
Sunday noon the gates Of the prison
we've locked ard the tedious Job of So
Letting the prisoners % be transferred
wsS BEGUN. This consumed most Of
the afternoon. The men were then
given an extra supper and locked i'm
their cell for the night At ( o'clock
.r ~ 20
fer beEc-. The prisoners were routed
Cur. and --~ selected guards assisted
the b'acksmi-hS in r.ve,.rg The shackles
or rhe prisoners. Two a- time they
were taken from their cells and their
lsss stack'ai. About TWO hours time
was consumed In this, and then the
prisoners were taken % the dining
room f-~ The 'as- time. where breakfast
YVES served them. While this was 60
Ing Oh rho train which was 10 convey
the prisoners 90 Jacksonville was
backed into the north gate. IL consist
e9 ~ nine cars. The first coach a hoSpl-
tai ear. the next six for the COnyicts
one ear the militia, Company a. Of In
dicnar1ls who were 20 assist in guard
i0- the prisoners and ore for the press.
h -.- .~.a..lA l+-H
men were lined up and marched 10 the
train. First came tile irvaLds. eight
~ them. who were conveyed 70 their
car In cots then The rest Of the motley
crowd. Stumbling from the uuaccus-
toned leg shack,es. were bundled on
board. Three guards ana TWO TRUSTEES
were locked IN each car. Every pre-
caution hal been observed against an
outbreaks. The windows were not bar
red. but everything that might be used
es q weapon had been removed. The
guards bad no weapons except their
lsavy canes. bur the prisoners were not
allowed 20 leave their seats. ANYTHING
they might require being brought 10
them. and orders had been given 10
shoot az the first head thar was po6ed
out ot q window. 40 o'clock all was
IN readiness. and one Of the most re-
rarkabIe excursions ever undertaken
started ON the journey south The
Ncuor officials had taken every pre-
caution CD insure the safety OF the
trains Every foot Of track between
here ard Jacksonville was inspected
fifteen minutes before the trains passed.
and every bridge was carefully exam
med five minutes before IL went over.
Even The switches were spiked. and the
trains were given the right Of way
over everything. No stops we're made