The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-26
XMAS BEHIND BARS
COUNTY JAIL PRISONERS WE'RE
NOT OVERLOOKED IN GEN
ERAL REJOICING
SHERIFF JUsTUs WAS HOST
Tobacco and Cigars Were Generous
Iy Distributed and Vocal and
Instrumental Selections
Made Day Pleasant.

| Christmas was observed at the county
! jail yesterday in way that deeply i'm
! pressed the twenty-four unfortunates
| who were prisoners behind the bars for
various offenses, and it will always re
main in the memory as one of the most
| pleasant ever spent by them, in spite of
| the fact that they were cut off from the
| outside world. Young and old were
treated alike, the man who happened to
be there awaiting trial on some minor
| offense in the police court, receiving just
as much as the one charged with a more
serious crime. They all seemed to en-
! joy the excellent musical programme
| that had been prepared for them by
| Sheriff Justus and the turkeys at the
| jail. Occasionally the music would bring
back olden memories to prisoner and
| the close observer could see a tear trickle
| down his check as he seemed lost in
faraway thoughts.
Sheriff Justus had charge, and was
ably assisted by Deputies Miller, Cour-
teau, La Dow Lang and Kroeger, and
| everything in their power was done to
| make the prisoners feel cheerful and to
forget their many troubles for a short
time. Probably the most cheerful one
of all was Walter Bourne. who has a
nfteen-year term in the state peniten-
tlary facing him, and it seemed a pleas
ure to him to help make his fellow men in
misery happy. Especially was this the
fact when he stood at the beautiful
Christmas tree that was laden with
cigars, chewing and smoking tobacco APP
pies, oranges, candies and nuts, and
I dealt each of the prisoners his share
| OF these luxuries. 1t was pleasure to
the observer to see the men as they
hled up one by one in response to their
names as they were called by Sheriff
| Justus, and received the gift which.
While it only consisted of things to eat.
was given with a will that carried with
| 1t cheer and many good wishes.
Good Programme Given.
The main room in the jail was con-
verified into an auditorium, and the chairs
Tor the prisoners were placed in the GEN.
ter, While the few visitors who were
present sat in the rear and on the Sides
Outside the large iron door leading into
the court house corridor sat two of the
deputy sheriffs, who kept guard and adj
nltted the visitors, while Sheriff Justus
and three deputies attended to the wants
| of the prisoners on the inside A co TIer
of the room afforded the facilities for a
stage and on it sat the singers AMI nu-
sicians who had kindly offered sheir serv-
ices to help make pleasant afternoon
for the poor unfortunates. piano had
been secured, and as the musical num-
bers were rendered it tended to make
one forget that he was really in JAIL
Adolph Ilmm possessing well trained
baritone voice, sang several numbers in
Guiding 1.-THE Palms. in a way that won
him warm spot in the hearts of all
present, and he was forced to give sew
era1 encores. Miss Leona McKown
| also sang several soprano solos, and her
yNi.a A.
some of the unfoTtunates, and seemed to
remind them of bygone days She was
accompanied on the piano by her vocal
teacher, Mrs. Ellen Lamberson. The
piano solos by Miss Leah Reeves also
called for encores and helped to make
the afternoon more pleasant. W nen the
programme was over all present stood
UP and sang My Country, Tis of Thee"
after which the good things were dis
trfbuted to the prisoners and they march
ed away to their cells to eat them and
settle down to the ordinary routine or
jail life
Frank Goodscq, the federal prisoner,
who was arrested few days ago for tho
alleged shortage in his accounts while
postmaster in a town in the state OF
Washington, was among those who re-
ceived the benefit of Sheriff Justus' hos
pitality. and he also seemed to enjoy
the occasion great deal.
Mrs Justus also did her share in max
ing it a gala day for the prisoners by
preparing an inviting menu that was rel
ished by all. The bill of fare consisted of
chicken with dressing, stewed tomatoes,
mashed potatoes, pickles, plum pudding,
coffee and cake, and bread and butter.
City Prosecutor John w. Finehout,
whose duties in the police court require
him to aid in the prosecution, donated a
fine box of Havana cigars, while his
mother, Mrs. Henry Finehout made the
little deformed son of Mrs. Johnson,
who is at present serving a term in the
workhouse, happy by loading him down
with goodies and toys.
Summed up in few words, it can
truthfully be said that the Christmas en-
tertainment given the prisoners in the
Ramsey county Jail yesterday was the
best that has ever been prepared on
Christmas since Ramsey county had this
institution.
BOURNE WAS FEELING GOOD.