Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-02-17

I wish you to understand from the
very outset of this story that 1 am an
old bachelor. / can say without
egotism that I could have placed the
yoke of matrimony over my neck
score of times between the ages of 20
and 40, but did not elect to do so.
It seemed great deal better to keep
my liberty and to fall in love with
new face about once month. A
bachelor can do this, you know, while
n married man is bound by certain
ties not easily broken.
Up to the time L was appointed
warden of the Keswick prison had
been in love Just AZ times. This was
an average of twice year, which l
think is doing very well for modest,
retiring man, who was baldheaded at
the age of % and yet not too much
for a man with natural leaning tow
ard the fair sex. was appointed
warden, not because of any peculiar
fitness, but as a political reward for
assisting to elect certain candidate
for governor. L think best to admit
this, lest you find it out from other
sources. 1 held the place for year
and half, and the files of the news
papers prove that L was "soft
mark"
The Keswick prison was for both
sexes, and when took charge it con-
tanned $50 male and 80 female con-
victs. I felt sorry for the females
even before the keys had been turned
over to me, and they soon discovered
that I was ready to listen to their sto-
ries and to do my best to ameliorate
their condition. In the course of a
month L was pretty we'll satisfied that
at least so out of 80 were entirely in
nocent of the crimes charged and that
the other ten ought to have new trials
at least. Fifteen of the women were
in for murder-cold- -blooded murder
the courts said-but when they had
told me all about it I could see where
witnesses had perjured themselves an
Jurors had shown their thirst for re-
venge. I tried to make things very
easy for the female contingent, ac-
tuated solely by a natural courtesy
toward the sex, and l think the news
papers that criticised me so severely
should have been sued for SANDER.
In eight months the governor, more
to oblige me than for any other reason,
pardoned 20 of the females and among
them were five under sentence for
murder. I should have recommended
him to pardon at least 20 more before
the year was out if the opposition
hadn't got after us and made things
hot. There was an Investigation, a
great deal of talk, and as result
had to repress my natural galantry
and wait for things to cool down. 1t
was during this period of waiting that
the vaults of the state treasury were
robbed of $780, 900 in cold cash. The
trick was done by one man and in the
neatest manner. He drove up to the
building at high noon in carriage
and entered the treasurer's office. The
money had just been bundled up to go
to the bank. and these packages were
lying on table with two clerks to
guard them. The robber gave one
clerk clip over the head, bound and
gagged the other, and the packages
were carried out and dumped into the
carriage in the nerviest sort of way.
He had 20 minutes start of pur-
suit, and though overhauled after a
hot chase of an hour, every dollar of
the money had disappeared. AS he
had not thrown it away during his
fight, the idea was that he had either
stopped at some house i'll town for q
moment or met another carriage, &C
cording to arrangement. The problem
seemed ensy of solution, but though
it was worked upon for weeks by many
detectives nothing was discovered.
The captured robber was young
and good looking man who gave his
name as Charles Day. He refused
any information as to his home or peo-
pie and insisted on pleading guilty
when arraigned for the robbery.
There was great sensation over the
loss of the money, as the state was
heavily in debt with big n crest tc
pay, and the party in power, from gov
ernor down to janitor, got daily rak-
ing for many long weeks. 1t was even
charged that certain clique of us pui
up tHo IOuDery anu uHu Wcro W Wuaoh
up with the robber. This was a bold
faced scandal, of course, but it mate
rally dimmed our prestige and almost
caused me to doubt the innocerce o1
a fresh lot of female convicts sent in
for various crimes against the law.
They made quick work of sending
Charles Day to prison for 20 years,
and, owing to the personal attacks ot
the opposition. I was rather preju6i ,ed
against him, as he came under my
charge. His daily demeanor and
daily conduct were, however, beyond
any fault-finding. Reports from my
| deputy proved him model prisoner
| The hunt for the money did not cease
when the prison door shut him in. Al
least ten detectives were constantly a
work to discover where and how il
had been transhippe6 nd the stat.
was ready to pay $50, 80 to the luck,
man. Every day or two sore of thes,