The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-07
CONvICTS GIVEN A DOSE
OF UTAH CRAFTSMANSHIP
Lawmakers Meet LaWbTcakerS Behind the Bars
and Exchange Fluctuations.
One Member Had Been There Before and Was Predicted
That Others Might Go Again.

With a rasping click the heavy bolts
of the penitentiary gates shot back yes
,erday morning. When they gritted
into place again practically the entire
fourth legislature was safely locked up
out of harms way. If four or five
guards and gate keepers had been sud
denly stricken with paralysis the COM
monwealth might have been spared a
great many Unwieldy statutes, but
Providence was on the side OF the legis-
Iators. Their period Of confinement,
being of the indeterminate order, was
permitted to expire after about three
Ao--s.
Archibald Mcfarland of Weber, mem
her Of the legislature and father of the
house now, but One-ttme plain No in
q neat suit of zebra clothes, chaperoned
the party. 1t looked like old times TO
Mr.. Mcfarland. and yet it didn't Does
the place seem natural TO you, Uncle
ArChie?'' he was asked as the legislative
party promenaded the prison wall
4 can't say it does" from this posi-
ton" he replied, j0vially. You see L
wasn't permitted TO get this high when
I was here before
Mr. Mcfarland did" three months
for unlawful cohabitation in 1890. One
Of the prime purposes of his visit Of
yesterday was to renew old acQualnJ-
ances: but he found only one man who
was there in his time This was Tom
Williams, undergoing a life sentence
for murder.
Fun Behind the Bars.
Nothing was permitted to dampen
the picnic spirit Of the occasion The
wOrld-old joke of begging the warden
not to forget the combination was
worked overtime. and others equally as
hOary were sprung with frequency.
Every part Of the prison was Inspected,
every inmate of any note was exhibited,
and the elaborate luncheon served IN
the convicts' dining room was the eli
max
The Legislators and officers of both
houses. with a number Of women
friends. left the Theatre corner at $40
Governor Wells Joined the party at the
joint building, and. jointly with War
den Dow, played the part of host At
the penitentiary. which was reached at
i0;30, everything was ready for the Wis
tors. The first tour was around the
great stone wall. where the guards with
Winchester rifles are hourly on the
watch for escaping prisoners.
A fine wire is strung along the wall,
and il puzzled Speaker Glasmann
nightly. He couldn't understand what
it was for and finally he asked the
warden shake the wire and yOu'll
see was the reply The speaker touch
ed the wire, and instantly bells IN all
four of the guard houses rang vigor-
OusIy. Guards stepped out with rifles
ready. and then the purpose of the wire
was apparent. 1t would be difficult for
a convict to scale the wall without
touching the wire, and the moment he
touches il he is done for.
no Ia
that way From the wall the guests
walked down through the office build
ing and lined up in front Of the great
gates.
Institution Inspected
The bars were shot back. the portals
swung wide. and. headed by Governor
Wells and Warden Dow, the official in
spection was begun The first place
visited was the first grade cell house
It was found in first-class condition.
The little cells were scruDulOusly
clean. and in many instances decorated
with excellent taste I've slept in
worse places than this myself remark
ed Waterman Morris of the house
Yes. and you're liable to sleep in worse
places again. retOrted Senator Tanner,
unless you're good"
From the cell house the visitors trail
ed across the quadrangle to the work
furniture and shoes and clothing are
made. The convict wOrkmen stuck
steadily to their employment, glancing
I'D occasionally with flashes of keen
curiosity at the men and sWOmen VINO
surrounded them. In one of the work
shoDs Governor Wells and Senator
Howells struck an oId-tine schOolmate.
who is soiourning for seven years as a
guest of the state.
isn't it odd that Wells and this man
should meet here" remarked one or the
PARTY. Ones doing a four years term
and the others doing seven years.
Whereupon the laugh was on the gov
ernor.
Interviewed the Notables.
After the work shops the guests
wanted 10 see some of the more IA
nous prisoners. Calls were made Tor
Abe Majors and the young desperate
was not at all reluctant about eNmblt-
ing himself Governor Wells intro
duced the members and many OF the
women to him and he was extremely
snabIe. In reply to questions he talked
cbecriIv about his prospect for acqult-
tai st his new trial recently granted
Inv the supreme court and bore himself
altogether like the lion Of the hour
Nick Haworth. under sentence or
death for killing Night Waterman
Brown at Pennington. refused 10 snow
himself or to be seen except by one or
two of his friends. Senator Allison,