The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-02
STILL IN PRISON
MRS. MAVERICK HAS NOT YET
BEEN RELEASED FROM
AYEESBURY
HOW HER LIFE IS PASSED
Routine of Prison Life Bears Heav-
lily ON Women cot Her Nature
Description of the
Penitentiary.

KTyEEa HE last time that I saw her
certain iadyIwas dining gAwnsd
by Worah and glitteTing with
q diamondssataa fashionable restail-
rant She was, as usual, the CEN
ter of attraction for who could have
conceived those ilsmall white hands cap
able of injuringy a fly, much less of
poisoning kind and ndulgent husband,
says Henri de Wendt in the New York
World. The latter was seized with symp-
toms of his fatal illness on the very
day that l saw his wife entertaining a
merry party which she left early in or
der to nurse the man who expired, in
horrible agony a week later.
1t was a cruel and deliberat murder,
according to the crowns counsel. Never
theless the death sentence passed was
eventually committed to one of penal
servitude for life. And a multitude Of
people have mistaken faith in her in
nocence.
1t was with the object of seeking this
unhappy heroine of a famous cause
celebre" that I recently Visited Ayles-
bury prison. Permission to converse, I
knew, would be refused me by the au-
thorities but l wanted toJget a glimpse
of one in whose innocence have all
ways been a firm believer. Without dis
cussing the legal points Of Mrs. May
bricks case, shall show the condition
of life under which she has existed snce
the communication of her capital sentence,
nearly thirteen years ago.
On a bright summer day, with its
clear sunshine and pure air, Aylesbury,
where the prison is, would be almost
Arcadian but for the square brick build
ings, honeycombed with cells, which
seems to scrawl the word prison
across the smiling landscape. And yet,
on closer inspection, Aylesbury prison
is more suggestive of conventional than
penal associations. A peal at the bell
summons, not the usual surly janitor
but a benevolent old gentleman, who
beams placidly through spectacles, and
ushers me into asporter's lodge to await
the arrival of the fmatron. The room
is snugly furnished, "a copy of the rules
over the fireplace alone reminding me
that I am in one, of his majesty's prs
ons. Even my old friend in spectacles
infoms me that, although he wears a
WarGers uniform, he is only gatekeep-
err, for there are no male warders here.
The governor Ca physician) and his dep
uty are the only men on the place.
Aylesbury is essentially a convict
prison, and is the only female establish
ment of its kind in England. Minor Of
tenders are confined in local jails, but
every woman throughout the United
Kingdom sentenced to penal servitude is
sent here. The life sentence, even for
murder is misnomer, for it never ex-
ceeds twenty years. No social distinction
whatever is made. When the prison gates
have closed upon her the woman Of
fashion is no better off than her sister
of the s1uns. the nature of the work
assigned to either being regulated solely
by health and physical strength
The daily routine is at first very try
ing to those who, like Mrs. Maybrick,
have led before their arrest life of ease
and pleasure. AT 6 a. m. sunHner and
winter, a prisoner must clean her cell,
At $50 breakfast is served. At s a. m.
short service in chapel is followed by
work until 5 p. III. Tea is the last meal,
at p. M, and by Z o'clock all have re-
tired to rest. In summer time, when it
is often light until past 10 o'clock, the
WEAKNESS of lying awake, in an incur
tanned cell, until darkness brings rest, is,
of itself, a severe punishment. The diet
consists of roast or boiled meat and po-
tatoes for four days in the week, soup
on the fifth, on the others of soup, suet
pudding, cold timed beef or mutton.
Breakfast, bread and cocoa. Supper,
bread and tea, with milk and sugar. To
the poorer classes this diet is palatable