Sunday morning globe., 1901-08-18
Mrs. MAYBRICK
The Unfortunate American Woman
in an English Prison.
HER ALLEGED CRIME.
The Visit Of a Writer Who Caught a Glimpse Of
Hor Sad Faoe-The Insane Judge Who Triad
Her-Engand viii Never Give Her Up
Until the Full Twenty Years is Sered In
Prison.

A writer who recently visited Ayles'
bury prison, England, and caught
glympse Of the American martyr Mrs.
Maybrick, thus graphically narrates
his impressions:
The last time that I saw her GER
tain lady was dining gowned by Worth
and glittering with diamonds, at
fashionable restaurant. She was, as
usual, the center of attraction, for who
could have conceived those small white
hands capable of injuring a fly, much
less Of poisoning a kind and indulgent
husband? The latter was seized with
symptoms of his fatal illness on the
very day that / saw his wife entertain
ing a merry party, the man who ex-
pired I'm horrible agony, week later.
1T was a cruel and deliberate muir
der, according to the crowns counsel.
Nevertheless the death sentence passed
was eventually comnuted to one Of
penal servitude foi life. And a multi
tude OF people have mistaken faith In
her Innocence.
1T was with the object Of seeing
this unhappy heroine Of a famous
cause celebre' that l recently visited
Aylesbury prison. Permission to con-
verse would, l knew, be refused me by
NINN NAAAAWA lNANaH NAA D WNAANNA ~ oHN -
glimpse of one in whose innocence l
have always been a firm believer
Without discussing the legal points Of
Mrs. Maybricks case | shall show the
conditions of life under which she has
existed since the commutation Of her
capital sentence. nearly 13 years ago.
ION q bright summer day, with its
clear sunshine and pure air, Ayles-
bury, where the prison is, would be
almost Arcadian but for the square
brick buildings, hOneycombcd with
cells, which seems to scrawl the dismal
word prison" across the smiling land
scape And yet. on a closer inspection,
Aylesbury prison is more suggestive Of
conventual than penal associations. A
peal at the bell summons not the usual
surly ianitOr, but a benevolent old gem
tleman, who beams placidly through
gDectacles and ushers me into pOr-
ter's lodge to await the arrival OF the
matron The room is snugly furnished,
a COPY of the rules over the fireplace
alone reminding me that l am in one
of his maiesty's prisons. Even my old
friend I'm spectacles informs me that,
although he wears a warder's uniform,
he is only a gatekeeper, for there are
no male warders here. The governor
Ga physiscian) and his deputy are the
only men on the place.
"Avlesbury is essentially a convict
prison and is the only female estab-
nshment Of the kind i'm England. Mi
nor Offenders are confined In local
fails. but every woman throughout the
United Kingdom sentenced to penal
serviude Is sent here. The life SEN
tas-ee. - even ior murder, is mis-
nomer. for Il never exceeds 20 years.
No social distinction whatever is made.
When the prison gates have closed up
on her the woman Of fashion Is no bet
ter off than her sister Of the slums,
the nature Of the work assigned TO
either being regulated solely by health
and physical strength.
"The daily routine is at first very
trying to those who, like Mrs. May
brick, have led before their arrest a
life of ease and pleasure. At A. NJ,
summer and winter a prisoner must
clean her cell, and at $50 breakfast
is served. At 8 A. NJ. n short service
Is chanel is followed by work until 8
y M Tea Is the last meal at p. NJ,
and bv Z o'clock all have retired to
rest. In summer time when it is often
lipbt until past 10 o'clock. the weari-
ness OF lying awake in an uncurtained
cell until darkness brings rest is, Of H.
self a severe punishment. The diet
consists of roast or boiled meat and
potatoes for four days in the week,
soup on the fifth, on the others Of
goup suet pudding, cold timed beef
or mutton. Breakfast, bread and CO.
Goa. supper, bread and tea, with milk
and sugar. To the poorer classes this
diet is palatable enough, but to others,
accustomed to dainty fare, this unap-
petizing menu is one Of the greatest
bardsbips Of female captivity. Most
Of the prisoners are young, healthy
Ioolring women. Their straw bonnet
for outdoor work is a nideous head
dress but indoors a neat white cap Is
worn and as the wearer may dress her
hair as she pleases the effect Is gen.
orally not unpleasing. A prisoner on
diecbarge. is entitled to liberty clothes
n black serge dress with bonnet to
natcb). but this privilege Is seldom
taken advantage Of by wellto-do CON
victs.
1--WE resume our inspection OF the
ovenue OF cells, their doors wide open
for the sake of ventilation. Some are
occupied BIZ inmates temporarily unht
for harder work than sewing, knitting
and bookbinding.
seeI, Prison etiquette precludes my
questioning the matron as to her iden-
titv nor would the Cutodian answer
me if 1 did But although long weary
Years Of impri risonment have somewhat
hardened the once comely face, II Is
undoubtedly Mrs. Maybrick who looks
lapguidly up from her work at our
aDproach. / am not allowed TO linger.
Tbe glimpse is only momentary, and
vet n enables me TO realize how the
AGONY and degradation Of prison life
NAV In a few years transform the tea-
tures of even the most beautiful wo-
man.
oNrrs MAVERICKS coll Is typical Of
tho rest The bed has coarse but snowy
he'd linen: there Is a wash stand. tin
Mate mug and spoon are on one shelf;
"a bible. prayer-book and several works
of 0ction ON another, while a stool and
small table. Uttered with needlework,
complete the furniture. On the walls
are suspended a small mirror and
linen wash pocket stuffed with letters.
These are read by the governor before
delivery. while newspapers are strictly
prohibited.
"a sunllt courtyard is next visited,
, and we enter a light, lofty workshop,
where the click of many sewing ma
Nauinos Is almost deafening, the tailor
~ departmetn. I'm which a score Of
Agmen are busily turning out serge
sults for Greenwich hospital.
"a walk through the laundry and It's
breezy drying yard brings us to the