Evening journal., 1899-07-10
Ar HIS OLD TRICKS.
Even in Trenton Penitentiary
r. S. Clark Is Dishonest.
NO LONGER PRISON GArEKEEPER

AND is NOW LOCKED IN A CELL |
BECAUSE HE sAIUGGLED CHOICE
VIANDs FOR HIS FELLOW CON
vIcTs AND SENT OUT CROOKED
LETTERS.
Thomas S. Clark. Delaware's cele-
brated prisoner. confined in Trenton
penitentiary for five years for COM
plicity in the looting Of the First Ma
tional Bank Of Dover, has practiced his
evil ways in that prison.
The news comes from Trenton to the
effect that Thomas S. Clark, a Federal
prisoner in the New Jersey peniten-
tiary, having been sentenced to five
years for completely in the abstraction
of S1O7, 900 from the First National
Bank, Dover, shortly after his arrival
at the prison a year ago was assigned
to duty at the main gateway because of
his good behavior. He has caused a
sensation at the prison by turning the
big gateway into a miniature rival of
the Joppa Gate Market at Jerusalem.
Developments of the past week show
that for several months back Clark has
been catering to his own and the tastes
of Colonel Cooper and Boggs and Cotter,
three others banished from society be-
cause Of their connection with the Do
yer bank robbery, in a manner thor
oughly epicurean. In doling out his
tempting yiands he did not limit him
self to his Dover confreres, but carried
on quite a fourishing business among
favored few having cells near his own.
AGAIN LOCKED IN HIS CELL.
1t was due to his ambition to extend
his clientele that Clarks wrongdoing
was discovered, and now he is back in
his cell, and an investigation has been
set on foot to see whether or not any
of the prison officials were parties to it.
A special committee from the Board of
Prison Inspectors has been named and
tomorrow they will make a thorough
Investigation of the whole affair. Ma
jor Alexander A. Yard of Monmouth
county, is the prison deputy in charge
of the big gateway, and Deputy John
son Bergen, Of Mercer county, was sta
toned on the gallery, where the con-
victs who have had the forbidden goods
are located.
WAS MAKING PLENTY OF MONEY
Clark carried on quite an extended
traffic, not only receiving goods, but
sending articles out of the prison. Sta
toned as he was, at the main gateway,
he was able to cultivate the acquaint-
ance Of some of the teamsters who
daily have business within the prison
walls, carting thither groceries and
stores and taking away goods manufac-
tured in the shops. Through this means
he passed out a number Of crooked
lletters-letters sent out without the
knowledge of the prison authorities.
Clark has acknowledged that he sent
out twenty-three of these letters to
friends.
In these missives he gave implicit
instructions as to how the game was to
be worked. He sent out a large guam
THY of bone work, sHch as fancy bone
boxes and other articles, and received
considerable money in this way. With
this, as well as that received from his
friends on the outside, Clark carried on
his extensive trading business.
LIVED LIKE PRINCES.
The convicts who were let into
Clarks scheme, and had the necessary
money to pay for it, enjoyed high liv-
ling for a time, the Irregularities hav-
ing existed, it is said, for about three
months. Sugar was among the lux
uries, Clark having filled orders for
as much as ten pounds at a time for
some of his fellow-convicts. Broiled
shad packed in ice was another invit-
ing dish enjoyed by Clark and his
FRIENDS They even had cherry roly-
poly, while canned chicken and other
{ lcanned goods of leading varieties were
Iquite common. It was impossible, of
lcourse, to have a stove upon which to
cook the articles that required cooking,
but even this difficulty was surmount-
z ed A small piece of gas pipe was Sc
- cured and bent into a circular form
{ This was fastened over the gas burner
r in the cells with wires. and when in
e. position it served as a a capital stand
e on which to rest the tin vessels used in
t cooking or warming the food.
3 COLONEL COOPER WARNED HIM
j Colonel Cooper who was only given
= eighteen months for his part in the
b Dover scandal, was Clarks cell-mate
= He is an exemplary prisoner. Natural
y ly he knew of Clark's misdoings, and
s when Clark became reckless and was
n taking orders for goods from those in
h ltho surrounding cells COODpr bpcamf