Sunday morning globe., 1901-10-20

fensa list almost Immediately fell of one
half and "a corresponding increase in the
products of the various factories in the
prison But the most noticeable improve
mcnt was observable iu the convicts per
sonal appearance indicating a return of that
sclfrespect which the state had heretofore
cndcavorcd with its blind policy to entirely
eradicate
The eve. that window of the soul no
longer avoided the pitying. interogative OF
offensive stare of the visitor official on
guard the convict head became erect, the
shoulders impercepubly at FIRST and slow
enough squared themselves and the stride
tool, ON a more human 4 not manly mo-ion.
The convict felt himself dressed IN human
semblaucc in his suit of grey clothes no
longer disGgurcd with black stripes visible
TO the naked eye halfa mile or more The
humane aud experienced warden (Colhnl
encouraged him by rewards and punished
him iudiciously for iufractious of discipline.
and the wrctched prisoner for the FIRST time
In the history of the Ohio penitenliary, be-
gan to think that there was even hope for
him ON earth as well as in that other world
the chaplain unctuously preached TO him
about ON Sundays.
But Mr. Coffin had not yet inaugurated
his reforms when became "a convict Ben
iauin i. Dyer and old, degrading dis
cipIine were still the active agents of the
devil and the state for the damnauon, soul
and body of the erring youth and veteran
criminal alike Hence when I attempted
to move across the prison campus to the
Idle House, to which was temporarily
assigned pending a dispute among the con
tractors as 20 who among them should nave
the pleasure and qualification OF working
me. ] could scarcely walk iu my awkward
suit and heavy brogans. Malloy and Kelley
soon followed me TO the Idle House, but so
complete was my transformation from
respectfully dressed looking citizen OF few
hours previously that they were unable TO
pick me out from my fellow convicts sitting
ON benches in rows and facing the guard
stand. with our hairless heads uncovered
and preserving an uubroken silence. Twas
partially amused at their wandering and
searching glances, and finally when they
asked the guard to point me out as they
had permission TO speak TO me, / deter
mined TO end, if possible their persistent
persecution. The guard descended from
the stand and approaching me said
These gentlemen desire to speak to you
by permission of the deputy
arose and addressing Kelley I replied /:
"You look as If you had the instincts of a
gentleman and we're deceutly raised, but
your association with men Of his character
Indicating Malloy) has evidently caused
you to forget whatever manhood you were
endowed with. decline to either hear or
speak with you further, and if you are not
entirely devoid of any redeeming quality
you will annoy me no further and respect
misfortune"
Kelley blushed to the roots Of his reddish
hair and attempted to say something, but !
quietly resumed my seat and indicated with
nod to the guard that the interview was
ended He politely showed both men ~
to the door and I saw them no more.
Presently runner the prison name for
a messenger, entered the Idle House with a
slip and the guard beckoned to ME to ac-
company him When we emerged from the
Idle House the runner, who was himself a
prisoner, said
Colonel, you helped to save me from the
scaffold. / am JEFF Bowling, the deputy IS
runner, and I am sorry they are raising so
much h. with the old man, otherwise
you would not be put on a contract, but
Over Is absent and Porter is ratified"
Thanking the runner for his expression of
good will ! asked TO whose contract ! was
assigned
"Why, that sneak in the snath shop
whom you made jump your fence the Sun
day morning that gang attacked you.
Sure enough I was assigned to the Hin
man contract, which was under the direct
supervision of the young man NOW
dead and uamelessl who joined a
party of ten others of his class TO clean me
out at my residence one Sunday morning
for an article exposing their immoraliues,
i'm which a young girl was ruined whose
brother held cases ON my paper While
engaged with the leader of this gang, which
was composed of the sons of the leading
citizens of Columbus, in giving and taking
blows in the side yard entrance to my resi-
dence the leader slowly Tctreating to the
front yard aud / following him up, the gang
suddenly sprang from the concealment of
the corner Of the house and jumped for me,
Stepping back, drew with the rapidity of
lightning a revolver and leveling 1t at them
compelled every man to take the iron fence
fronting my residence on a flying leap.
This young man who led the aristocratic
hoodlums was now to be my task master,
and l anticipated from his eifeminate char
acter the most disagreeable consequences
and ! was not disappointed.
It may be necessary to indent this chapter
with a few explanatory paragraphs touching
the light in which ! was regarded by men of
the class of this superintendent of the
Hinmau factory aud even by the Hinmau
class of Broad street aristocrats themselves.
Firstly, l was a tyrant who showed no
mercy in my newspaper to the "bloods" Of
the city and ruthlessly exposed their licen-
tious conduct In fact, / made il so unsafe
for them TO seduce their victims that when
such unhappy occurrences took place they
married the girls rather than be exposed in
the columns of the Sunday Capital Mag
istrate Olenhausen, whose Office was ad-
jacent to the capital for a number Of years,
derived a respectable revenue from this
source In addition or in continuation Of
this "frstly," / relentessly exposed all
crooked schemes or attempts 10 plumber the
people and as il is only the rich and the
privileged class that attempt these enter.
prses, was to them pariah an ogre, and
a-villain Of the deepest dye.
Secondly / had, unfortunately, in a mo-
ment of mental ALTERATION, supported the
U.a,.shHt,..4 rs.a .r q