The Opelousas courier., 1898-04-16

solS out'oOp VI UA1o stoiy tudp dAl i'll
old bachelor. I can say without
egotism that l could have placed the
yoke of matrimony over my neck q
score of times between the ages of &c
and 40, but [ did not elect to do so.
It seemed a great deal better to keep
my liberty and to fall in love with a
new face about once a month. A
bachelor can do this, you know, while
a married man is bound by certain
ties not easily broken.
Up to the time I was appointed
warden of the Keswick prison I had
been in love just AZ times. This was
al average of twice a year, which /
think is doing very we'll for a modest,
retiring man, who was baldheaded at
the age Of % and yet not too much
for a man with a natural leaning tow
ard the fair sex. I was appointed
warden, not because of any peculiar
fitness, but as n political reward for
assisting to elect a certain candidate
for governor. l think best to admit
this, lest you find it out from other
sources. l held the place for a year
and a half, and the files Of the news
papers prove that I was a "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 I was pretty we'll satisfied that
at least 80 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 Observation-Disclosures murder
the courts said-but when they had
told me all about it I could see where
witnesses hadperjured themselves and
jurors had shown their thirst for re-
venge. [ tried to make things very
easy for the female contingent, &C
tuated solely by a natural courtesy
toward the sex, and / 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 a result I
had to repress my natural ~gallantry
and wait for things to cool down. 1t
was during this period Of waiting that
the vaults Of the state treasury were
robbed of $500, 900 in cold cash. The
trick was done by n man and in the
neatest manner. He drove up to the
building at high noon in a carriage
and entered the treasurer's Office. The
money had just been bundled up to 60
to the bank, and these packages were
lying on a table with two clerks to
guard them. The robber gave one
clerk a clip over the head, bound and
gagged the other, and the packages
carried out and dumped into the
carriage in the nerviest sort Of a way.
He had 20 minutes start of pur-
suit, and though overhaulel after a
hot chase of an hour, every dollar of
the money had disappeared. AS he
had not thrown it away during his
the idea was that he had either
at some house in town for
moment or met another carriage. &C
cording to arrangement. The problem
seemed easy of solution, but though
it was worked upon for weeks by many
detectives nothing was discovered.
The captured robber was a young
md good looking man who gave his
name as Charles Day. He refused
my information as to his home or peo-
pie and insisted on pleading guilty
when a~rraigned for the robbery.
There was a great sensation over the
oss Of the money, as the state was
in debt with q big interest to
pay, and the party in power, from gov
'rnor down to j%anitor, got a daily rak-
ng for many long weeks. It was even
charged that a certain clique of us put
Up the robbery and and were to whack
Up with the robber. This was a bold
aced scandal, Of course, but it mate
tally dimmed our prestige and almost
aused me to doubt the innocence of
fresh lot of female convicts sent in
or various crimes against the law. !,
They made quick work of sending
Charles Day to prison for 20 years,
md, owing to the personal attacks of
he opposition, I al rather prejudiced ,
him, as he came under my =,
His daily demeanor and
laily conduct were, however, beyond
ny fault-fnding. Reports from my
proved him q model prisoner.
hunt for the money did not cease
vhen the prison door shut him in. At !
east ten detectives we're constantly at y
York to discover where and how it I
1ad been transhipped, and the state {
fas ready to pay $50, 900 to the lucky
IAN. Every day or two some Of these I
electives wanted an interview with S
be prisoner, and, while their requests a
'ere generally granted, the deputy S
arden wat always present. Nothing g
+ moment was gained from Day, and e
had about become tired of the busi-
ess when q new face appeared. Ii
One day as I sat in my Office read t
1g an abusive article in al opposition u
aper and half inclined to tender nv @
esignation before shutdown, a lady '
as admitted. I was not over Is sec i
nds in making up my mind that she b
as the handsomest m + ever .