Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-08-02
A SUMMARY OF KANSAS EVENTS.


Position . Trying One.
OF the % women now in the Kansas
penitentiary Is are negroes. 1t is an
automatic fact that American juries
are slow to convict women charged
with crime, hence the probability
that those who do land in state prison
are the most depraved. The female
department at Lansing is in the ex-
IRENE northeast corner of the prison
enclosure and is as distinctly separate
from the men as it is possible TO be
made. In charge of these unfortunate
women as matron is Mrs. Ollie Clay
ton, of Ottawa county. She is ably
assisted by Mrs. Hall, of Sedgwick
City. Mrs. Clayton was school
teacher until her selection as matron
two years ago. Her experience in the
school room no doubt enhanced her
capacity to maintain discipline in this
more trying position. Visitors to the
prison are forcibly impressed with
hcr executive ability, and relatives of
those whom the stern decree of law
has deprived of freedom can know
that she will temper justice with
Eiercy.
Seven Women Murderers.
Jessie Morrison is the seventh wo-
man now serving time in the Kansas
penitentiary for murder. Anna Burda
is serving a life sentence. She was
sent up in 1898 from Lincoln county,
Ok Anna E. Bower is serving four
years sentence for manslaughter.
She comes from Canadian county,
Ok, and has two years yet to stay.
Theresa Krebys came in 1899 from
Geary county for a ten years term.
Irene Leonard was sentenced in Sedg-
wick in 1896 to 80 years. Nancy Will
son came in 1897 from Cherokee coun-
ty for 81 years. Amelia New began
in 1893 to serve a 40-year sentence.
She is from Greenwood county, and
was convicted of killing her husband.
Equal to the Task.
Visitors to the Kansas prison are
impressed with the fact that the con-
victs will receive just treatment and
the states interests be safeguarded
by Warden Jewett and Deputy Dob
son. The warden has held public
Office in Kansas long enough to form
correct estimate of men, good or
lad, and he has executive ability of a
high order. J. w. Dobson, the deputy
warden, is an ex-sherif of Barber
county and his courage and capacity
are unquestioned.
The abandonment Convict.
Apropos of the effort now being
made by the mother of Emmett Dali
10. to secure his release from the
Rar sas prison, where he IS serving a
life sentence for participation in the
| famous raid at Coffeyville, it can
| tr,thfully be said that there are few
ha ,dsomer men in or out of prison
tiia n Emmett Dalton. Over six feet
tall and weighing 24O pounds. his
physique is the envy of visitors to the
state prison tailor shop, where he is
employed.
Would Have the Women Work.
| The women prisoners at the Kan
| sas penitentiary are not now required
| to do any manual labor outside their
own washing, ironing, sewing, prepa-
ration of meals and keeping their
| rooms in order. Warden Jewett says
| ployment, and the women could be
1
| thinks it would have a salutary effect
and aid in maintaining better disci-
pline.
| Prison Life Agrees With Him.
| John Henry Collins, counted the
most famous male prisoner in the Kan
sas penitentiary, is one of the best
behaved of all the men under Warder
Jewett's charge. After two years in
IL prison printing office he was made
| clerk of the north cell house. Col
Inns is a mere youth in appearance
| Prison life seems to agree with him
his present weight being 157.
| Forts Scott Saloons Closed.
The saloons of Fort Scott were
| closed by order of injunction issued
| from the district court as a result o.
the evidence obtained by three min
listers and a number of laymen, who
visited the different saloons ant
bought whisky and beer. Suit wa.
brought against each saloonkeeper ant
against the owner of each building
used for saloon purposes
Kansas Has Tax Dodgers.
The bank deposits of Kansas amoun
to $63, 900, 900 and the total cash re
turned for taxation in the state il
enly So 900 900. Auditor Cole will cal
the attention of the tax commission
to this and ask that the new law in
clude a section that will compel PEG
pie to report their money for taxa
ton.